EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels, 14.12.2015

COM(2015) 640 final

ANNEX

PROTOCOL
to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Community and its member states, of the one part, and the Republic of Lebanon, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union

to the

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the signing, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, and provisional application of a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Lebanon, of the other part to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union

ANNEX

PROTOCOL
to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Community and its member states, of the one part, and the Republic of Lebanon of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union

THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM,

THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA,

THE CZECH REPUBLIC,

THE KINGDOM OF DENMARK,

THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY,

THE REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA,

IRELAND,

THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC,

THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN,

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC,

THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA,

THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC,

THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS,

THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA,

THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA,

THE GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG,

HUNGARY,

THE REPUBLIC OF MALTA,

THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS,

THE REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA,

THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND,

THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC,

ROMANIA,

THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA,

THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC,

THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND,

THE KINGDOM OF SWEDEN,

THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND

Contracting Parties to the Treaty on European Union, the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, hereinafter referred to as the "Member States", represented by the Council of the European Union,

and

THE EUROPEAN UNION, hereinafter referered to as the "European Union",

of the one part,

and

THE REPUBLIC OF LEBANON, hereinafter referred to as "Lebanon"

of the other part,

hereinafter referred to together as the "Contracting Parties", for the pruposes of this Protocol

Whereas:

(1)The Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Lebanon, of the other part hereinafter referred to as "the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement", was signed in Brussels on 1 April 2002 and entered into force on 1 April 2006.

(2)The Treaty of Accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union, hereinafter referred to as "Treaty of Accession", was signed in Brussels on 9 December 2011 and entered into force on 1 July 2013.

(3)Pursuant to Article 6(2) of the Act of Accession of the Republic of Croatia its accession to the Agreement is to be agreed by the conclusion of a protocol to the Agreement.

(4)Consultations pursuant to Article 22(2) of the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement have taken place in order to ensure that account has been taken of the mutual interests of the Union and Lebanon.

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Republic of Croatia hereby accedes as Party to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Lebanon, of the other part and shall respectively adopt and take note, in the same manner as the other Member States of the Union, of the texts of the Agreement, as well as of the Joint Declarations and the Declarations.

CHAPTER I

Amendments to the text of the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement, and in particular to its annexes and protocols

Article 2

Rules of origin

Protocol 4 shall be amended as follows:

1.In Article 18(4), the following phrase shall be added : “Izdano naknadno”.

2.Annex V shall be replaced by the following

1. Annex V

TEXT OF THE INVOICE DECLARATION

The invoice declaration, the text of which is given below, must be made out in accordance with the footnotes. However, the footnotes do not have to be reproduced

Bulgarian version

Износителят на продуктите, обхванати от този документ (митническо разрешение № … ( 1 ) декларира, че освен където е отбелязано друго, тези продукти са с … преференциален произход ( 2 ).

Spanish version

El exportador de los productos incluidos en el presente documento [autorización aduanera no …(1)] declara que, salvo indicación en sentido contrario, estos productos gozan de un origen preferencial…(2).

Czech version

Vývozce výrobků uvedených v tomto dokumentu (číslo povolení … (1)) prohlašuje, že kromě zřetelně označených mají tyto výrobky preferenční původ v … (2).

Danish version

Eksportøren af varer, der er omfattet af nærværende dokument, (toldmyndighedernes tilladelse nr. … (1)), erklærer, at varerne, medmindre andet tydeligt er angivet, har præferenceoprindelse i … (2).

German version

Der Ausführer (Ermächtigter Ausführer; Bewilligungs-Nr. … (1)) der Waren, auf die sich dieses Handelspapier bezieht, erklärt, dass diese Waren, soweit nicht anders angegeben, präferenzbegünstigte … (2) Ursprungswaren sind.

Estonian version

Käesoleva dokumendiga hõlmatud toodete eksportija (tolliameti kinnitus nr … (1)) deklareerib, et need tooted on … (2) sooduspäritoluga, välja arvatud juhul, kui on selgelt näidatud teisiti.

Greek version

Ο εξαγωγέας των προϊόντων που καλύπτονται από το παρόν έγγραφο [άδεια τελωνείου υπ’ αριθ. … (1)] δηλώνει ότι, εκτός εάν δηλώνεται σαφώς άλλως, τα προϊόντα αυτά είναι προτιμησιακής καταγωγής … (2).

English version

The exporter of the products covered by this document (customs authorisation No … (1)) declares that, except where otherwise clearly indicated, these products are of … (2) preferential origin.

French version

L’exportateur des produits couverts par le présent document [autorisation douanière no … (1)] déclare que, sauf indication claire du contraire, ces produits ont l’origine préférentielle … (2).

Croatian version

Izvoznik proizvoda obuhvaćenih ovom ispravom (carinsko ovlaštenje br. ...(1)) izjavljuje da su, osim ako je drukčije izričito navedeno, ovi proizvodi .... (2) preferencijalnog podrijetla.

Italian version

L’esportatore delle merci contemplate nel presente documento [autorizzazione doganale n. … (1)] dichiarache, salvo indicazione contraria, le merci sono di origine preferenziale … (2).

Latvian version

Eksportētājs produktiem, kuri ietverti šajā dokumentā (muitas pilnvara Nr. … (1)), deklarē, ka, izņemot tur, kur ir citādi skaidri noteikts, šiem produktiem ir priekšrocību izcelsme no … (2).

Lithuanian version

Šiame dokumente išvardintų prekių eksportuotojas (muitinės liudijimo Nr … (1)) deklaruoja, kad, jeigu kitaip nenurodyta, tai yra … (2) preferencinės kilmės prekės.

Hungarian version

A jelen okmányban szereplő áruk exportőre (vámfelhatalmazási szám: … (1)) kijelentem, hogy eltérő egyértelmű jelzés hianyában az áruk preferenciális … (2) származásúak.

Maltese version

L-esportatur tal-prodotti koperti b’dan id-dokument (awtorizzazzjoni tad-dwana nru. … (1)) jiddikjara li, ħlief fejn indikat b’mod ċar li mhux hekk, dawn il-prodotti huma ta’ oriġini preferenzjali … (2).

Dutch version

De exporteur van de goederen waarop dit document van toepassing is (douanevergunning nr. … (1)), verklaart dat, behoudens uitdrukkelijke andersluidende vermelding, deze goederen van preferentiële …oorsprong zijn (2).

Polish version

Eksporter produktów objętych tym dokumentem (upoważnienie władz celnych nr … (1)) deklaruje, że z wyjątkiem gdzie jest to wyraźnie określone, produkty te mają … (2) preferencyjne pochodzenie.

Portuguese version

O exportador dos produtos cobertos pelo presente documento [autorização aduaneira n.o … (1)], declara que, salvo expressamente indicado em contrário, estes produtos são de origem preferencial … (2).

Romanian version

Exportatorul produselor ce fac obiectul acestui document [autorizația vamală nr. … (1)] declară că, exceptând cazul în care în mod expres este indicat altfel, aceste produse sunt de origine preferențială … (2).

Slovenian version

Izvoznik blaga, zajetega s tem dokumentom (pooblastilo carinskih organov št. … (1)) izjavlja, da, razen če ni drugače jasno navedeno, ima to blago preferencialno … (2) poreklo.

Slovak version

Vývozca výrobkov uvedených v tomto dokumente [číslo povolenia … (1)] vyhlasuje, že okrem zreteľne označených, majú tieto výrobky preferenčný pôvod v … (2).

Finnish version

Tässä asiakirjassa mainittujen tuotteiden viejä (tullin lupa nro … (1)) ilmoittaa, että nämä tuotteet ovat, ellei toisin ole selvästi merkitty, etuuskohteluun oikeutettuja … (2) alkuperätuotteita.

Swedish version

Exportören av de varor som omfattas av detta dokument (tullmyndighetens tillstånd nr … (1)) försäkrar att dessa varor, om inte annat tydligt markerats, har förmånsberättigande … ursprung (2).

Arabic version

...................................................................................................................................................( 3 ) (Place and date)

...................................................................................................................................................( 4 )

(Signature of exporter; in addition the name of the person signing the declaration has to be indicated in clear script)

CHAPTER II

Transitional provisions

Article 3

Goods in transit

The provisions of the Agreement may be applied to goods exported from either Lebanon to Croatia or from Croatia to Lebanon, which comply with the provisions of Protocol 4 to the Agreement and that on the date of accession of Croatia are either en route or in temporary storage, in a customs warehouse or in a free zone in Lebanon or in Croatia.

Preferential treatment may be granted in such cases, subject to the submission to the customs authorities of the importing country, within four months from the date of accession of Croatia, of a proof of origin issued retrospectively by the customs authorities of the exporting country.

CHAPTER III

Final and general provisions

Article 4

The Republic of Lebanon undertakes that it shall neither make any claim, request or referral nor modify or withdraw any concession pursuant to GATT 1994 Articles XXIV.6 and XXVIII in relation to this enlargement of the Union.

Article 5

In due time after the initialling of this Protocol, the Union shall communicate to its Member States and the Republic of Lebanon, the Croatian language version of the Agreement. Subject to the entry into force of this Protocol, the language version referred to in the first sentence of this Article shall become authentic under the same conditions as the Arabic, Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish and Swedish language versions of the Agreement.

Article 6

This Protocol shall form an integral part of the Agreement.

Article 7

This Protocol shall be approved by the European Union, by the Council of the European Union on behalf of the Member States and by Lebanon, in accordance with their own procedures. The Contracting Parties shall notify each other of the completion of the procedures necessary for that purpose. The instruments of approval shall be deposited with the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union.

This Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the date on which all the Parties have notified each other of the completion of the procedures necessary for this purpose.

Pending the date of its entry into force, the Protocol shall apply provisionally with effect from 1 July 2013.

Article 8

This Protocol is drawn up in duplicate in Arabic, Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish and Swedish languages, each of these texts being equally authentic.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Plenipotentiaries, duly empowered to this effect, have signed this Protocol.

Done at …, this … day of .... in the year ...

For the European Union and its member states    


For the Republic of Lebanon

(1)

   When the invoice declaration is made out by an approved exporter within the meaning of Article 22 of the Protocol, the authorisation number of the approved exporter must be entered in this space. When the invoice declaration is not made out by an approved exporter, the words in brackets must be omitted or the space left blank.

(2)

   Origin of products to be indicated. When the invoice declaration relates in whole or in part, to products originating in Ceuta and Melilla within the meaning of Article 38 of the Protocol, the exporter must clearly indicate them in the document on which the declaration is made out by means of the symbol ‘CM’

(3)

   These indications may be omitted if the information is contained on the document itself

(4)

   See Article 22(5) of the Protocol. In cases where the exporter is not required to sign, the exemption of signature also implies the exemption of the name of the signatory.’