32002D0603

Commission Decision

of 8 July 2002

on the conclusion of an agreement between the European Coal and Steel Community and the Government of the Russian Federation on trade in certain steel products

(notified under document number C(2002) 2482)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2002/603/ECSC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, and in particular the first paragraph of Article 95 thereof,

Having regard to the opinion of the Consultative Committee,

After the unanimous assent of the Council,

Whereas:

(1) Following the Council Decision of 19 November 2001, the Commission opened negotiations with the Government of the Russian Federation, culminating in an Agreement concerning trade in certain steel products covered by the European Coal and Steel Community;

(2) The Agreement establishes quantitative limits for the entry into free circulation in the Community of certain steel products for the years 2002 to 2004,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

1. The Agreement with the Government of the Russian Federation concerning trade in certain steel products is hereby approved on behalf of the European Coal and Steel Community.

2. The text of the Agreement(1) is annexed to this Decision.

Article 2

The Commissioner responsible for Trade, or the person he designates for this purpose, is empowered to sign the Agreement referred to in Article 1 in order to bind the European Coal and Steel Community.

Done at Brussels, 8 July 2002.

For the Commission

Pascal Lamy

Member of the Commission

(1) See page 55 of this Official Journal.