# EUR-Lex - 52013PC0546 - EN

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# 52013PC0546

**Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the signing and provisional application of a Protocol to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Montenegro, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union /* COM/2013/0546 final - 2013/0263 (NLE) */**

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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

On 24 September 2012 the Council authorised
the Commission to open negotiations, on behalf of the European Union and its
Member States and the Republic of Croatia, with Montenegro in order to conclude
a Protocol to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European
Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of
Montenegro, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic
of Croatia to the European Union.

These negotiations started on 22 November
2012, following prior technical consultations with Montenegro on the issue.
Further negotiating rounds took place on 25 January 2013 and 7 March 2013. The
Protocol was initialled by the Commission and the Government of Montenegro on
16 May 2013. The text of the initialled protocol is attached.

The Commission proposes that the Council
decides on the signature and provisional application of the Protocol on behalf
of the European Union and concludes the Protocol on behalf of the European
Union and its Member States. For the conclusion of the Protocol on behalf of
the European Atomic Energy Community, the Commission proposes that the Council
gives its approval, pursuant to the second paragraph of Article 101 of the
Treaty establishing the EAEC.

The attached proposal is for a Council
decision on the signature and provisional application of the protocol. The
Commission proposes that the Council:

– 
decides on the signature and provisional
application of the Protocol on behalf of the European Union.

2013/0263 (NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the signing and provisional application
of a Protocol to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the
European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic
of Montenegro, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the
Republic of Croatia to the European Union

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
and in particular Article 217 in conjunction with Article 218(5) and the
second subparagraph of Article 218(8) thereof,

Having regard to the Act concerning the conditions of accession of
the Republic of Croatia, and in particular Article 6(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission[1],

Whereas:

(1)       On
24 September 2012 the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations,
on behalf of the Union and its Member States and the Republic of Croatia, with
Montenegro in order to conclude a Protocol to the Stabilisation and Association
Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one
part, and the Republic of Montenegro, of the other part, to take account of the
accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union.

(2)       These
negotiations have been successfully completed and subject to its possible
conclusion at a later date, the Protocol should be signed on behalf of the
European Union.

(3)       The
signature and conclusion of the Protocol is subject to a separate procedure as
regards matters falling under the European Atomic Energy Community.

(4)       The
Protocol should be applied on a provisional basis with effect from 1 July 2013.

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The signing of the Protocol to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the
European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic
of Montenegro, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the
Republic of Croatia to the European Union (the
"Protocol") is hereby approved on behalf of the Union, subject to the
conclusion of the said Protocol.

The text of the Protocol is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The Council Secretariat General
shall establish the instrument of full powers to sign the Protocol, subject to
its conclusion, for the person(s) indicated by the negotiator of the Protocol.

Article 3

Pending its
entry into force, the Protocol shall be applied on a provisional basis from
1 July 2013.

Done at Brussels,

For
the Council

The
President

PROTOCOL

to
the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities
and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Montenegro, 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 and the
Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, hereinafter referred
to as the 'Member States', and

THE
EUROPEAN UNION and THE EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMUNITY,

hereinafter referred to as 'the European
Union',

of the one part, and

MONTENEGRO,

of the other part,

Having regard to the accession of the Republic of Croatia (hereinafter referred to as 'Croatia') to the European Union on 1 July
2013,

Whereas:

(1) 
The Stabilisation and Association Agreement
between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the
  Republic of Montenegro, of the other part, (hereinafter referred to as 'the
SAA') was signed in Luxemburg on 15 October 2007 and entered into force on 1
May 2010.

(2) 
The Treaty concerning the accession of Croatia to the European Union (hereinafter referred to as 'the Treaty of Accession') was signed in Brussels on 9 December 2011.

(3) 
Croatia acceded to the
European Union on 1 July 2013.

(4) 
Pursuant to Article 6(2) of the Act of Accession
of Croatia, the accession of Croatia to the SAA shall be agreed by the
conclusion of a protocol to the SAA.

(5) 
Consultations pursuant to Article 39(3) of the
SAA have taken place so as to ensure that account is taken of the mutual
interests of the European Union and Montenegro stated in this Agreement,

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

Section I

Contracting Parties

Article
1

Croatia shall be Party to the Stabilisation
and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member
States, of the one part, and the Republic of Montenegro, of the other part,
signed in Luxemburg on 15 October 2007 and shall respectively adopt and take
note, in the same manner as the other Member States of the European Union, of
the texts of the Agreement, as well as of the Joint Declarations, and the
Unilateral Declarations annexed to the Final Act signed on the same date.

ADJUSTMENTS
TO THE TEXT OF THE SAA INCLUDING ITS ANNEXES AND PROTOCOLS

Section II

AGricultural Products

Article
2

Montenegrin
concessions on agricultural products

1. 
In Article 27, a new paragraph 3 is inserted:

'3. From the entry into force of this Protocol,
Montenegro shall apply the custom duties applicable on imports of certain
agricultural products originating in the European Union within the quantities
indicated, listed in Annex III(d).'

2. 
Annex I to this Protocol shall be added as Annex
III(d) of the SAA and shall form an integral part of the SAA.

Article 3

Fisheries products

1. 
In Article 30, a new paragraph 3 is inserted:

'3. From the entry into force of this Protocol,
Montenegro shall eliminate all customs duties and measures having equivalent
effect on fish and fishery products originating in the Community other than
those listed in Annex Va. Products listed in Annex V shall be subject to the
provisions laid down therein.'

2. 
Annex II to this Protocol shall be added as Annex Va of the SAA and shall form an integral part of the SAA.

Article
4

Montenegrin
concessions on Processed Agricultural Products

Annex III to this Protocol shall be added
as Annex IIa to Protocol 1 to the SAA and shall form an integral part of the
SAA.

Section III

Rules of Origin

Article
5

Annex IV to Protocol 3 to the SAA shall be
replaced by the text set out in Annex IV to this Protocol.

TRANSITIONAL
PROVISIONS

Section IV

Article 6

WTO

Montenegro
undertakes that it shall not 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 European Union.

Article
7

Proof
of origin and administrative cooperation

1.           Proofs of origin properly
issued by either Montenegro or Croatia in the framework of preferential
agreements or autonomous arrangements applied between them shall be accepted in
the respective countries, provided that:

(a) 
the acquisition of such origin confers
preferential tariff treatment on the basis of the preferential tariff measures
contained in the SAA;

(b) 
the proof of origin and the transport documents
were issued no later than the day before the date of accession;

(c) 
the proof of origin is submitted to the customs
authorities within the period of four months from the date of accession.

Where goods were declared for importation in
either Montenegro or Croatia, prior to the date of accession, under
preferential agreements or autonomous arrangements applied between Montenegro
and Croatia at that time, proof of origin issued retrospectively under those
agreements or arrangements may also be accepted provided that it is submitted
to the customs authorities within a period of four months from the date of
accession.

2.           Montenegro and Croatia are
authorised to retain the authorisations with which the status of “approved
exporters” has been granted in the framework of preferential agreements or
autonomous arrangements applied between them, provided that:

(a) 
such a provision is also provided for in the
agreement concluded prior to the date of Croatia's accession between Montenegro and the European Union; and

(b) 
the approved exporters apply the rules of origin
in force under that agreement.

These authorisations shall be replaced, no
later than one year after the date of accession of Croatia, by new
authorisations issued under the conditions of the SAA.

3.           Requests for subsequent
verification of proof of origin issued under the preferential agreements or
autonomous arrangements referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be accepted by
the competent customs authorities of either Montenegro or Croatia for a period
of three years after the issue of the proof of origin concerned and may be made
by those authorities for a period of three years after acceptance of the proof
of origin submitted to those authorities in support of an import declaration.

Article
8

Goods
in transit

1.           The provisions of the SAA
may be applied to goods exported from either Montenegro to Croatia or from
Croatia to Montenegro, which comply with the provisions of Protocol 3 to the
SAA 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 Montenegro or
in Croatia.

2.           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.

Article
9

Quotas
in 2013

For the year 2013, the volumes of the new
tariff quotas and the increases of the volumes of existing tariff quotas shall
be calculated as a pro rata of the basic volumes, taking into account the part
of the period elapsed before 1 July 2013.

GENERAL
AND FINAL PROVISIONS

Section V

Article
10

This Protocol and the Annexes thereto shall
form an integral part of the SAA.

Article
11

1.           This Protocol shall be
approved by the European Union and its Member States and by Montenegro in accordance with their own procedures.

2.           The Parties shall notify
each other of the completion of the corresponding procedures referred to in
paragraph 1. The instruments of approval shall be deposited with the General
Secretariat of the Council of the European Union.

Article
12

1.           This Protocol shall enter
into force on the first day of the first month following the date of the
deposit of the last instrument of approval.

2.           If not all the instruments
of approval of this Protocol have been deposited before 1 July 2013, this
Protocol shall apply provisionally with effect from 1 July 2013.

Article
13

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

Article
15

The text of the SAA, including the Annexes
and Protocols which form an integral part thereof, and the Final Act together
with the declarations annexed thereto shall be drawn up in the Croatian
language, and these texts shall be authentic in the same way as the original
texts. The Stabilisation and Association Council shall approve these texts.

ANNEX I

'Annex III(d)

Montenegrin tariff concessions for agricultural primary products
originating in the European Union

(referred to in Article 27(3))

(Custom duties (ad valorem and/or specific duties) as indicated will
be applied for the products listed in this annex within the quantities
indicated for each product from the date of entry into force of this Protocol)

CN code 2013 || Description || Annual quantity (in tons) || Rate of in-quota duty (% of MFN)

0207 11 90 0207 12 90 0207 13 10 0207 13 30 0207 13 60 0207 13 99 0207 14 10 0207 14 30 0207 14 50 0207 14 60 0207 14 99 || Poultry || 500 || 20%

0406 10 20 0406 10 80 0406 30 31 0406 40 50 0406 90 78 0406 90 88 0406 90 99 || Cheese || 65 || 30%

1602 20 90 1602 32 11 1602 32 19 1602 32 30 1602 32 90 1602 41 10 1602 49 15 1602 49 30 1602 50 31 1602 50 95 || Preparations of meat || 130 || 30%

'

ANNEX II

'Annex Va

Montenegrin Concessions for European Union Fishery Products referred
to in Article 30(3) of this agreement.

Imports into Montenegro of the following products originating in the Community shall be subject to the
quotas set out below:

CN code 2013 || Description || Annual quantity (in tons) || Rate of in-quota duty

1604 13 11 1604 13 19 1604 13 90 || Prepared and preserved sardines || 200 || 0% (duty-free)

1604 14 11 1604 14 16 1604 14 18 || Prepared and preserved tunas and skipjack; fillets of tuna known as 'loins' || 75 || 0% (duty-free)

1604 15 11 1604 15 19 || Prepared and preserved mackerel || 30 || 0% (duty-free)

'

ANNEX III

(Products referred to in article 25 of the SAA)

'Annex IIa to Protocol 1

Tariff quotas applicable to goods originating in the European Union
on import into Montenegro

CN code 2013 || Description || Annual quantity (in litres) || Rate of in-quota duty

2201 2201 10 Ex 2201 90 2201 90 00 10 || Waters, including natural or artificial mineral waters and aerated waters, not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter nor flavoured; Mineral water and aerated water Other Regular natural water in packing || 240 000 430 000 || 0%

2202 || Waters, including mineral waters and aerated waters, containing added sugar or other sweetening matter or flavoured, and other non-alcoholic beverages, not including fruit or vegetable juices of heading 2009 || 810 000 || 0%

'

ANNEX IV

Annex IV

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[2]))
декларира, че
освен където
ясно е
отбелязано
друго, тези
продукти са с
....
преференциален
произход (2).

Spanish versión

El exportador de los productos incluidos en el
presente documento (autorización aduanera n° ... (1)) declara que, salvo
indicación en sentido contrario, estos productos gozan de un origen
preferencial ... (2).

Czech versión

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 anderes angegeben, präferenzbegünstigte
... (2) Ursprungswaren sind.

Estonian version

Käesoleva dokumendiga hõlmatud toodete
eksportija (tolli kinnitus nr. ... (1)) deklareerib, et need tooted on ... (2)
sooduspäritoluga, välja arvatud juhul, kui on selgelt näidetud 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 authorization 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 n° ... (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)) dichiara che, salvo
indicazione contraria, le merci sono di origine preferenziale ... (2).

Latvian version

To produktu eksportētājs, kuri
ietverti šajā dokumentā (muitas atļauja Nr. ... (1)),
deklarē, ka, izņemot tur, kur ir citādi skaidri noteikts, šiem
produktiem ir preferenciāla izcelsme ... (2).

Lithuanian version

Šiame dokumente išvardytų 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 hiányában 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 abaixo-assinado, exportador dos produtos
abrangidos pelo presente documento (autorização aduaneira n.° ... (1)), declara
que, salvo indicação expressa em contrário, estes produtos são de origem
preferencial ... (2).

Romanian version

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

Slovak version

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

Slovenian version

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

Finnish version

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

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).

Version of Montenegro

Izvoznik proizvoda obuhvaćenih ovim
dokumentom (carinsko odoborenje br.. (1)) izjavljuje da, osim u slučaju
kada je drugačije naznačeno, ovi proizvodi su ... (2) preferencijalnog porijekla.

(3)

(Place and date)

(4)

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

[1]               OJ C [...], [...], p.[...].

[2]

(1)           When the invoice
declaration is made out by an approved exporter, the authorization 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
shall 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 Mellila, 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)           In cases where the
exporter is not required to sign, the exemption of signature also implies the
exemption of the name of the signatory.'