# L_2016205EN.01002401.xml

| 30.7.2016 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | L 205/24 |
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30.7.2016

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 205/24

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DECISION No 1/2016 OF THE EU-PLO JOINT COMMITTEE

of 18 February 2016

replacing Protocol 3 to the Euro-Mediterranean Interim Association Agreement on trade and cooperation between the European Community, of the one part, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, of the other part, concerning the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ and methods of administrative cooperation [2016/1256]

THE EU-PLO JOINT COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Euro-Mediterranean Interim Association Agreement on trade and cooperation between the European Community, of the one part, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, of the other part (1), and in particular Article 25 thereof,

Having regard to Protocol 3 to the Euro-Mediterranean Interim Association Agreement on trade and cooperation between the European Community, of the one part, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, of the other part, concerning the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ and methods of administrative cooperation,

Whereas:

| (1) | Article 25 of the Euro-Mediterranean Interim Association Agreement on trade and cooperation between the European Community, of the one part, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, of the other part (‘the Agreement’) refers to Protocol 3 to the Agreement (‘Protocol 3’) which lays down the rules of origin and provides for cumulation of origin between the European Union, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Stripand other Contracting Parties to the Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin (2) (‘the Convention’). |
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(1)

Article 25 of the Euro-Mediterranean Interim Association Agreement on trade and cooperation between the European Community, of the one part, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, of the other part (‘the Agreement’) refers to Protocol 3 to the Agreement (‘Protocol 3’) which lays down the rules of origin and provides for cumulation of origin between the European Union, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Stripand other Contracting Parties to the Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin (2) (‘the Convention’).

| (2) | Article 39 of Protocol 3 provides that the Joint Committee provided for in Article 63 of the Agreement may decide to amend the provisions of that protocol. |
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(2)

Article 39 of Protocol 3 provides that the Joint Committee provided for in Article 63 of the Agreement may decide to amend the provisions of that protocol.

| (3) | The Convention aims to replace the protocols on rules of origin currently in force among the countries of the pan-Euro-Mediterranean area with a single legal act. |
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(3)

The Convention aims to replace the protocols on rules of origin currently in force among the countries of the pan-Euro-Mediterranean area with a single legal act.

| (4) | The European Union and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Stripsigned the Convention on 15 June 2011 and 18 September 2013, respectively. |
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(4)

The European Union and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Stripsigned the Convention on 15 June 2011 and 18 September 2013, respectively.

| (5) | The European Union and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip deposited their instruments of acceptance with the depositary of the Convention on 26 March 2012 and 27 May 2014, respectively. Consequently, pursuant to Article 10(3) of the Convention, the Convention entered into force in relation to the Union and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip on 1 May 2012 and on 1 July 2014, respectively. |
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(5)

The European Union and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip deposited their instruments of acceptance with the depositary of the Convention on 26 March 2012 and 27 May 2014, respectively. Consequently, pursuant to Article 10(3) of the Convention, the Convention entered into force in relation to the Union and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip on 1 May 2012 and on 1 July 2014, respectively.

| (6) | Protocol 3 should therefore be replaced by a new protocol making reference to the Convention, |
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(6)

Protocol 3 should therefore be replaced by a new protocol making reference to the Convention,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Protocol 3 to the Euro-Mediterranean Interim Association Agreement on trade and cooperation between the European Community, of the one part, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, of the other part, concerning the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ and methods of administrative cooperation shall be replaced by the text set out in the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

It shall apply from 1 March 2016.

Done at Brussels, 18 February 2016.

For the Joint Committee

The Chairman

C. BERGER

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(1)  
  OJ L 187, 16.7.1997, p. 3.

1

(2)  
  OJ L 54, 26.2.2013, p. 4.

2

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ANNEX

PROTOCOL 3

concerning the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ and methods of administrative cooperation

Article 1

Applicable rules of origin

1.   For the purpose of implementing this Agreement, Appendix I and the relevant provisions of Appendix II to the Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin (1) (‘the Convention’) shall apply.

2.   All references to the ‘relevant agreement’ in Appendix I and in the relevant provisions of Appendix II to the Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin shall be construed so as to mean this Agreement.

Article 2

Dispute settlement

1.   Where disputes arise in relation to the verification procedures set out in Article 32 of Appendix I to the Convention that cannot be settled between the customs authorities requesting the verification and the customs authorities responsible for carrying out that verification, such disputes shall be submitted to the Joint Committee.

2.   In all cases the settlement of disputes between the importer and the customs authorities of the importing country shall take place under the legislation of that country.

Article 3

Amendments to the Protocol

The Joint Committee may decide to amend the provisions of this Protocol.

Article 4

Withdrawal from the Convention

1.   Should either the European Union or the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Stripgive notice in writing to the depositary of the Convention of their intention to withdraw from the Convention in accordance with Article 9 thereof, the Union and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip shall immediately enter into negotiations on rules of origin for the purpose of implementing this Agreement.

2.   Until the entry into force of such newly negotiated rules of origin, the rules of origin contained in Appendix I to the Convention and, where appropriate, the relevant provisions of Appendix II thereto, applicable at the moment of withdrawal, shall continue to apply to this Agreement. However, as of the moment of withdrawal, the rules of origin contained in Appendix I and, where appropriate, the relevant provisions of Appendix II to the Convention shall be construed so as to allow bilateral cumulation between the European Union and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip only.

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(1)  
  OJ L 54, 26.2.2013, p. 4.

1

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