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I Rättsakter vilkas publicering är obligatorisk

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EUROPAPARLAMENTETS OCH RÅDETS BESLUT nr 1364/2006/EG

av den 6 september 2006

om riktlinjer för transeuropeiska energinät och om upphävande av beslut 96/391/EG och beslut nr 1229/2003/EG

EUROPAPARLAMENTET OCH EUROPEISKA UNIONENS RÅD HAR ANTAGIT DETTA BESLUT

med beaktande av fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen, särskilt artikel 156,

med beaktande av kommissionens förslag,

med beaktande av Europeiska ekonomiska och sociala kommitténs yttrande (1),

efter att ha hört Regionkommittén,

i enlighet med förfarandet i artikel 251 i fördraget (2), och

av följande skäl:

HÄRIGENOM FÖRESKRIVS FÖLJANDE.

Artikel 1

Syfte

I detta beslut definieras arten av och räckvidden för gemenskapens insatser för att fastställa riktlinjer för transeuropeiska energinät. I detta beslut fastställs en serie riktlinjer som omfattar mål, prioriteringar och huvudlinjer för gemenskapens insatser vad avser transeuropeiska energinät. I riktlinjerna anges projekt som är av gemensamt intresse och prioriterade projekt, även sådana av europeiskt intresse, i fråga om de transeuropeiska näten för el och gas.

Artikel 2

Tillämpningsområde

Detta beslut omfattar följande:

Artikel 3

Mål

Gemenskapen skall främja sammankoppling, driftskompatibilitet och utveckling av transeuropeiska energinät samt tillgång till sådana nät, i enlighet med gällande gemenskapslagstiftning, i syfte att

Artikel 4

Prioriterade insatser

Gemenskapens prioriterade insatser för transeuropeiska energinät skall vara förenliga med en hållbar utveckling och skall omfatta följande:

Artikel 5

Insatser

Huvudlinjerna för gemenskapens insatser för transeuropeiska energinät skall vara

Artikel 6

Projekt av gemensamt intresse

1.   Följande allmänna kriterier skall tillämpas när ett beslut fattas om identifiering, ändringar, specifikationer eller framställningar om uppdatering av projekt av gemensamt intresse:

Bedömningen av den ekonomiska bärkraften skall grunda sig på en lönsamhetsanalys, där hänsyn skall tas till alla kostnader och intäkter, även på medellång och/eller lång sikt, i samband med miljöaspekter, försörjningstrygghet och bidraget till ekonomisk och social sammanhållning. För projekt av gemensamt intresse som berör en medlemsstats territorium skall denna medlemsstats godkännande krävas.

2.   Tilläggskriterier för identifiering av projekt av gemensamt intresse anges i bilaga II. Ändringar av de tilläggskriterier för identifiering av projekt av gemensamt intresse som anges i bilaga II skall fastställas i enlighet med förfarandet i artikel 251 i fördraget.

3.   Endast de projekt i bilaga III som uppfyller kriterierna i punkt 1 och i bilaga II skall vara berättigade till gemenskapens finansiella stöd enligt förordning (EG) nr 2236/95.

4.   De vägledande projektspecifikationerna, inklusive en detaljerad – och vid behov också geografisk – beskrivning av projekten, återges i bilaga III. Specifikationerna skall uppdateras i enlighet med förfarandet i artikel 14.2. Uppdateringarna skall vara av teknisk art och begränsas till tekniska ändringar av projekt, modifiering av en del av den specificerade sträckningen eller en begränsad justering av projektets lokalisering.

5.   Medlemsstaterna skall vidta alla åtgärder som de finner nödvändiga för att underlätta och påskynda slutförandet av projekt av gemensamt intresse och minimera förseningarna, med beaktande av gemenskapslagstiftningen och internationella miljökonventioner, särskilt vad gäller projekt som förklarats vara av europeiskt intresse. I synnerhet skall nödvändiga tillståndsförfaranden slutföras skyndsamt.

6.   Om delar av projekt av gemensamt intresse är belägna inom tredjeländers territorium, får kommissionen genom överenskommelse med berörda medlemsstater lägga fram förslag, när så är lämpligt, inom ramen för gemenskapens avtal med berörda tredjeländer och, i fråga om tredjeländer som är parter i energistadgefördraget, i enlighet med energistadgefördraget och andra multilaterala avtal, för att få de berörda tredjeländerna att erkänna projekten som projekt av ömsesidigt intresse och på så sätt underlätta projektens genomförande.

Artikel 7

Prioriterade projekt

1.   De projekt av gemensamt intresse som avses i artikel 6.3 och som omfattas av axlarna för prioriterade projekt enligt bilaga I skall vara prioriterade i fråga om gemenskapens finansiella stöd enligt förordning (EG) nr 2236/95. Ändringar i bilaga I skall beslutas i enlighet med förfarandet i artikel 251 i fördraget.

2.   När det gäller gränsöverskridande investeringsprojekt skall medlemsstaterna vidta nödvändiga åtgärder för att säkerställa att det faktum att sådana projekt ökar kapaciteten för sammankoppling av två eller flera medlemsstater och därigenom ökar försörjningstryggheten i hela Europa, behandlas som ett bedömningskriterium av de behöriga nationella myndigheterna, i enlighet med nationella tillståndsförfaranden.

3.   Berörda medlemsstater och kommissionen skall, var och en inom sitt behörighetsområde, tillsammans med de ansvariga företagen sträva efter att främja genomförandet av de prioriterade projekten, särskilt gränsöverskridande projekt.

4.   Prioriterade projekt skall vara förenliga med en hållbar utveckling och skall uppfylla minst ett av följande kriterier:

Artikel 8

Projekt av europeiskt intresse

1.   Ett urval av projekt som omfattas av axlarna för prioriterade projekt enligt artikel 7 och som är av gränsöverskridande art eller som på ett betydande sätt påverkar gränsöverskridande överföringskapacitet förklaras härmed vara projekt av europeiskt intresse. Sådana projekt anges i bilaga I.

2.   När projekt väljs ut inom ramen för de transeuropeiska energinätens budget i enlighet med artikel 10 i förordning (EG) nr 2236/95, skall de projekt som förklarats vara av europeiskt intresse prioriteras på lämpligt sätt.

3.   När projekt väljs ut inom ramen för andra samfinansieringsfonder i gemenskapen, skall särskild uppmärksamhet riktas mot projekt som förklarats vara av europeiskt intresse.

4.   Om utvecklingen av ett projekt som förklarats vara av europeiskt intresse är kraftigt försenad eller riskerar att kraftigt försenas, får kommissionen uppmana den berörda medlemsstaten att se till att skälen till förseningen anges inom tre månader.

För projekt som förklarats vara av europeiskt intresse och för vilka en europeisk samordnare har utsetts skall den europeiska samordnaren i sin rapport ange skälen till förseningen.

5.   Fem år efter slutförandet av ett projekt eller en del av ett projekt som förklarats vara av europeiskt intresse skall kommissionen, med hjälp av den kommitté som avses i artikel 14.1, göra en bedömning av projektet som skall innefatta projektets socioekonomiska effekter, miljökonsekvenser och dess följder för handeln mellan medlemsstaterna, den territoriella sammanhållningen och den hållbara utvecklingen. Kommissionen skall informera den kommitté som avses i artikel 14.1 om resultatet av bedömningen.

6.   För alla projekt som förklarats vara av europeiskt intresse, särskilt gränsöverskridande delar, skall de berörda medlemsstaterna vidta lämpliga åtgärder som garanterar att

De gemensamma samordningsmötena skall vid behov organiseras utifrån projektets särskilda behov, såsom projektets utvecklingsfas och förväntade eller uppkomna svårigheter. De gemensamma samordningsmötena skall framför allt behandla utvärderingen och de offentliga samråden. De berörda medlemsstaterna skall se till att kommissionen informeras om de gemensamma samordningsmötena och informationsutbytet.

Artikel 9

Genomförande av projekt av europeiskt intresse

1.   Projekt av europeiskt intresse skall genomföras snabbt.

Senast den 12 april 2007 skall medlemsstaterna, på grundval av ett förslag till tidsplan som kommissionen tagit fram i detta syfte, till kommissionen lämna en uppdaterad och vägledande tidsplan för genomförandet av dessa projekt med, i den mån de finns tillgängliga, uppgifter om

2.   Kommissionen skall, i nära samarbete med den kommitté som avses i artikel 14.1, lägga fram en rapport vartannat år om utvecklingen av de projekt som anges i punkt 1.

För projekt som förklarats vara av europeiskt intresse och för vilka en europeisk samordnare har utsetts skall de årliga rapporterna som läggs fram av den europeiska samordnaren ersätta tvåårsrapporterna.

Artikel 10

Europeisk samordnare

1.   När ett projekt som förklarats vara av europeiskt intresse blir kraftigt försenat eller stöter på svårigheter, även i de fall då tredjeländer är inblandade, får kommissionen i överenskommelse med de berörda medlemsstaterna och efter samråd med Europaparlamentet utse en europeisk samordnare. Vid behov får även medlemsstaterna begära att kommissionen utser en europeisk samordnare för andra projekt för transeuropeiska energinät.

2.   Den europeiska samordnaren skall framför allt utses på grundval av sina erfarenheter med europeiska institutioner och sin kunskap om energipolitik, finansiering av stora projekt samt socioekonomisk och miljörelaterad utvärdering av stora projekt.

3.   I beslutet om den europeiska samordnarens utnämning skall det anges hur samordnaren skall utföra sina uppgifter.

4.   Den europeiska samordnaren skall

5.   De berörda medlemsstaterna skall samarbeta med den europeiska samordnaren när denne utför uppgifter som anges i punkt 4.

6.   Kommissionen får inhämta ett yttrande från den europeiska samordnaren i samband med granskningen av ansökningar om gemenskapsmedel till projekt eller projektgrupper för vilka den europeiska samordnaren utsetts.

7.   Samordningsnivån måste stå i proportion till projektets kostnad för att undvika onödig administration.

Artikel 11

Bättre förutsättningar

1.   För att bidra till att skapa bättre förutsättningar för utvecklingen av transeuropeiska energinät och deras driftskompatibilitet skall gemenskapen beakta medlemsstaternas insatser i enlighet med det målet, fästa den största vikt vid och vid behov främja följande åtgärder:

2.   Kommissionen skall, i nära samarbete med de berörda medlemsstaterna, göra allt för att främja samordningen av de åtgärder som avses i punkt 1.

3.   De beslut som är nödvändiga för genomförandet av de åtgärder som avses i punkt 1 a och b skall fattas av kommissionen i enlighet med förfarandet i artikel 14.2.

Artikel 12

Följder för konkurrensen

Vid bedömningen av projekt skall följderna för konkurrensen och försörjningstryggheten beaktas. Privat finansiering eller finansiering genom berörda ekonomiska aktörer skall vara den huvudsakliga finansieringskällan och skall uppmuntras. I enlighet med bestämmelserna i fördraget skall all snedvridning av konkurrensen mellan marknadsaktörerna undvikas.

Artikel 13

Begränsningar

1.   Detta beslut skall inte påverka en medlemsstats eller gemenskapens finansiella åtaganden.

2.   Detta beslut skall inte påverka resultatet av miljökonsekvensbeskrivningar av projekt, planer eller program som definierar ramarna för framtida tillstånd för sådana projekt. Resultatet av miljökonsekvensbeskrivningar, om sådana krävs i enlighet med relevant gemenskapslagstiftning, skall beaktas innan det verkligen fattas beslut om projektens genomförande i enlighet med relevant gemenskapslagstiftning.

Artikel 14

Kommittéförfarande

1.   Kommissionen skall biträdas av en kommitté.

2.   När det hänvisas till denna punkt skall artiklarna 5 och 7 i beslut 1999/468/EG tillämpas, med beaktande av bestämmelserna i artikel 8 i det beslutet.

Den tid som avses i artikel 5.6 i beslut 1999/468/EG skall vara tre månader.

3.   Kommittén skall själv anta sin arbetsordning.

Artikel 15

Rapport

Kommissionen skall vartannat år utarbeta en rapport om genomförandet av detta beslut och överlämna rapporten till Europaparlamentet, rådet, Europeiska ekonomiska och sociala kommittén samt Regionkommittén.

Kommissionen skall i sin rapport uppmärksamma genomförandet av de prioriterade projekt som rör gränsöverskridande förbindelser enligt punkterna 2, 4 och 7 i bilaga II, och de framsteg som gjorts vid genomförandet av dessa samt hur de har finansierats, särskilt när det gäller andelen gemenskapsmedel.

Artikel 16

Upphävande

Beslut 96/391/EG och beslut nr 1229/2003/EG skall upphöra att gälla.

Artikel 17

Ikraftträdande

Detta beslut träder i kraft den tjugonde dagen efter det att det har offentliggjorts i Europeiska unionens officiella tidning.

Artikel 18

Adressater

Detta beslut riktar sig till medlemsstaterna.

Utfärdat i Strasbourg den 6 september 2006.

På Europaparlamentets vägnar

J. BORRELL FONTELLES

Ordförande

På rådets vägnar

P. LEHTOMÄKI

Ordförande

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(1)EUT C 241, 28.9.2004, s. 17.

(2)  Europaparlamentets yttrande av den 7 juni 2005 (EUT C 124 E, 25.5.2006, s. 68). Rådets gemensamma ståndpunkt av den 1 december 2005 (EUT C 80 E, 4.4.2006, s. 1). Europaparlamentets ståndpunkt av den 4 april 2006 (ännu ej offentliggjord i EUT) och rådets beslut av den 24 juli 2006.

(3)EUT L 176, 15.7.2003, s. 11.

(4)EUT L 176, 15.7.2003, s. 37. Direktivet ändrat genom rådets direktiv 2004/85/EG (EUT L 236, 7.7.2004, s. 10).

(5)EUT L 176, 15.7.2003, s. 57.

(6)EGT L 228, 23.9.1995, s. 1. Förordningen senast ändrad genom Europaparlamentets och rådets förordning (EG) nr 1159/2005 (EUT L 191, 22.7.2005, s. 16).

(7)EGT L 184, 17.7.1999, s. 23. Beslutet ändrat genom beslut 2006/512/EG (EUT L 200, 22.7.2006, s. 11).

(8)EGT L 161, 29.6.1996, s. 154.

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BILAGA I

TRANSEUROPEISKA ENERGINÄT

Axlarna för prioriterade projekt, inbegripet anläggningar för projekt av europeiskt intresse, enligt artiklarna 7 och 8

Förteckning över prioriterade projekt, inbegripet projekt av europeiskt intresse, inom varje axel

ELNÄT

GASNÄT

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BILAGA II

TRANSEUROPEISKA ENERGINÄT

Tilläggskriterier för identifiering av projekt av gemensamt intresse enligt artikel 6.2

ELNÄT

GASNÄT

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BILAGA III

TRANSEUROPEISKA ENERGINÄT

Projekt av gemensamt intresse och därtill hörande specifikationer, för närvarande fastställda enligt kriterierna i bilaga II

ELNÄT

1.   Utbyggnad av elnät i isolerade områden

2.   Utbyggnad av elförbindelserna mellan medlemsstaterna

3.   Utbyggnad av elförbindelser i medlemsstaterna

4.   Utbyggnad av elförbindelser med icke-medlemsstater

5.   Insatser för att förbättra funktionen hos de sammankopplade elnäten på den inre marknaden

(Ännu inga specifikationer fastställda)

GASNÄT

6.   Införande av naturgas i nya områden

7.   Utbyggnad av gasförbindelser för att täcka den inre marknadens behov eller öka försörjningstryggheten, inklusive anslutning av fristående naturgasnät

8.   Ökad kapacitet för att ta emot LNG och lagra naturgas

9.   Ökad gastransportkapacitet (genom försörjningsledningar)

10.   Insatser för att förbättra funktionen hos de sammankopplade gasnäten på den inre marknaden

(Ännu inga specifikationer fastställda)

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II Rättsakter vilkas publicering inte är obligatorisk

Rådet

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RÅDETS BESLUT

av den 24 juli 2006

om ingående på Europeiska gemenskapens vägnar av tilläggsprotokollet mot smuggling av migranter land-, luft- och sjövägen till Förenta nationernas konvention mot gränsöverskridande organiserad brottslighet avseende protokollets bestämmelser i den utsträckning som bestämmelserna i detta protokoll omfattas av artiklarna 179 och 181a i fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen

(2006/616/EG)

EUROPEISKA UNIONENS RÅD HAR BESLUTAT FÖLJANDE

med beaktande av fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen, särskilt artiklarna 179 och 181a jämförda med artikel 300.2 första stycket och artikel 300.3 första stycket,

med beaktande av kommissionens förslag,

med beaktande av Europaparlamentets yttrande (1), och

av följande skäl:

HÄRIGENOM FÖRESKRIVS FÖLJANDE.

Artikel 1

Tilläggsprotokollet mot smuggling av migranter land-, sjö- och luftvägen till Förenta nationernas konvention mot gränsöverskridande organiserad brottslighet, som återges i bilaga I, godkänns härmed på Europeiska gemenskapens vägnar.

Gemenskapens instrument med formell bekräftelse skall innehålla en förklaring om behörighet i enlighet med artikel 21.3 i protokollet med den lydelse som framgår av bilaga II.

Artikel 2

Detta beslut skall tillämpas i den utsträckning som bestämmelserna i protokollet omfattas av artiklarna 179 och 181a i fördraget.

Artikel 3

Rådets ordförande bemyndigas att utse den person som skall ha rätt att deponera instrumentet med formell bekräftelse så att protokollet blir bindande för gemenskapen.

Detta beslut skall offentliggöras i Europeiska unionens officiella tidning.

Utfärdat i Bryssel den 24 juli 2006.

På rådets vägnar

K. RAJAMÄKI

Ordförande

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(1)  Ännu ej offentliggjort i EUT.

(2)EGT L 30, 1.2.2001, s. 44.

(3)EUT L 261, 6.8.2004, s. 69.

(4)  Se sidan 34 i detta nummer av EUT.

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BILAGA I

PROTOCOL

against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime

PREAMBLE

THE STATES PARTIES TO THIS PROTOCOL,

DECLARING that effective action to prevent and combat the smuggling of migrants by land, sea and air requires a comprehensive international approach, including cooperation, the exchange of information and other appropriate measures, including socio-economic measures, at the national, regional and international levels,

RECALLING General Assembly resolution 54/212 of 22 December 1999, in which the Assembly urged Member States and the United Nations system to strengthen international cooperation in the area of international migration and development in order to address the root causes of migration, especially those related to poverty, and to maximize the benefits of international migration to those concerned, and encouraged, where relevant, interregional, regional and subregional mechanisms to continue to address the question of migration and development,

CONVINCED of the need to provide migrants with humane treatment and full protection of their rights,

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the fact that, despite work undertaken in other international forums, there is no universal instrument that addresses all aspects of smuggling of migrants and other related issues,

CONCERNED at the significant increase in the activities of organised criminal groups in smuggling of migrants and other related criminal activities set forth in this Protocol, which bring great harm to the States concerned,

ALSO CONCERNED that the smuggling of migrants can endanger the lives or security of the migrants involved,

RECALLING General Assembly resolution 53/111 of 9 December 1998, in which the Assembly decided to establish an open-ended intergovernmental ad hoc committee for the purpose of elaborating a comprehensive international convention against transnational organised crime and of discussing the elaboration of, inter alia, an international instrument addressing illegal trafficking in and transporting of migrants, including by sea,

CONVINCED that supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime with an international instrument against the smuggling of migrants by land, sea and air will be useful in preventing and combating that crime,

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

I.   GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1

Relation with the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime

1.   This Protocol supplements the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime. It shall be interpreted together with the Convention.

2.   The provisions of the Convention shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to this Protocol unless otherwise provided herein.

3.   The offences established in accordance with article 6 of this Protocol shall be regarded as offences established in accordance with the Convention.

Article 2

Statement of purpose

The purpose of this Protocol is to prevent and combat the smuggling of migrants, as well as to promote cooperation among States Parties to that end, while protecting the rights of smuggled migrants.

Article 3

Use of terms

For the purposes of this Protocol:

Article 4

Scope of application

This Protocol shall apply, except as otherwise stated herein, to the prevention, investigation and prosecution of the offences established in accordance with article 6 of this Protocol, where the offences are transnational in nature and involve an organised criminal group, as well as to the protection of the rights of persons who have been the object of such offences.

Article 5

Criminal liability of migrants

Migrants shall not become liable to criminal prosecution under this Protocol for the fact of having been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol.

Article 6

Criminalisation

1.   Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences, when committed intentionally and in order to obtain, directly or indirectly, a financial or other material benefit:

2.   Each State Party shall also adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences:

3.   Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as aggravating circumstances to the offences established in accordance with paragraph 1 (a), (b) (i) and (c) of this article and, subject to the basic concepts of its legal system, to the offences established in accordance with paragraph 2 (b) and (c) of this article, circumstances:

4.   Nothing in this Protocol shall prevent a State Party from taking measures against a person whose conduct constitutes an offence under its domestic law.

II.   SMUGGLING OF MIGRANTS BY SEA

Article 7

Cooperation

States Parties shall cooperate to the fullest extent possible to prevent and suppress the smuggling of migrants by sea, in accordance with the international law of the sea.

Article 8

Measures against the smuggling of migrants by sea

1.   A State Party that has reasonable grounds to suspect that a vessel that is flying its flag or claiming its registry, that is without nationality or that, though flying a foreign flag or refusing to show a flag, is in reality of the nationality of the State Party concerned is engaged in the smuggling of migrants by sea may request the assistance of other States Parties in suppressing the use of the vessel for that purpose. The States Parties so requested shall render such assistance to the extent possible within their means.

2.   A State Party that has reasonable grounds to suspect that a vessel exercising freedom of navigation in accordance with international law and flying the flag or displaying the marks of registry of another State Party is engaged in the smuggling of migrants by sea may so notify the flag State, request confirmation of registry and, if confirmed, request authorisation from the flag State to take appropriate measures with regard to that vessel. The flag State may authorise the requesting State, inter alia:

3.   A State Party that has taken any measure in accordance with paragraph 2 of this article shall promptly inform the flag State concerned of the results of that measure.

4.   A State Party shall respond expeditiously to a request from another State Party to determine whether a vessel that is claiming its registry or flying its flag is entitled to do so and to a request for authorisation made in accordance with paragraph 2 of this article.

5.   A flag State may, consistent with article 7 of this Protocol, subject its authorisation to conditions to be agreed by it and the requesting State, including conditions relating to responsibility and the extent of effective measures to be taken. A State Party shall take no additional measures without the express authorisation of the flag State, except those necessary to relieve imminent danger to the lives of persons or those which derive from relevant bilateral or multilateral agreements.

6.   Each State Party shall designate an authority or, where necessary, authorities to receive and respond to requests for assistance, for confirmation of registry or of the right of a vessel to fly its flag and for authorisation to take appropriate measures. Such designation shall be notified through the Secretary-General to all other States Parties within one month of the designation.

7.   A State Party that has reasonable grounds to suspect that a vessel is engaged in the smuggling of migrants by sea and is without nationality or may be assimilated to a vessel without nationality may board and search the vessel. If evidence confirming the suspicion is found, that State Party shall take appropriate measures in accordance with relevant domestic and international law.

Article 9

Safeguard clauses

1.   Where a State Party takes measures against a vessel in accordance with article 8 of this Protocol, it shall:

2.   Where the grounds for measures taken pursuant to article 8 of this Protocol prove to be unfounded, the vessel shall be compensated for any loss or damage that may have been sustained, provided that the vessel has not committed any act justifying the measures taken.

3.   Any measure taken, adopted or implemented in accordance with this chapter shall take due account of the need not to interfere with or to affect:

4.   Any measure taken at sea pursuant to this chapter shall be carried out only by warships or military aircraft, or by other ships or aircraft clearly marked and identifiable as being on government service and authorised to that effect.

III.   PREVENTION, COOPERATION AND OTHER MEASURES

Article 10

Information

1.   Without prejudice to articles 27 and 28 of the Convention, States Parties, in particular those with common borders or located on routes along which migrants are smuggled, shall, for the purpose of achieving the objectives of this Protocol, exchange among themselves, consistent with their respective domestic legal and administrative systems, relevant information on matters such as:

2.   A State Party that receives information shall comply with any request by the State Party that transmitted the information that places restrictions on its use.

Article 11

Border measures

1.   Without prejudice to international commitments in relation to the free movement of people, States Parties shall strengthen, to the extent possible, such border controls as may be necessary to prevent and detect the smuggling of migrants.

2.   Each State Party shall adopt legislative or other appropriate measures to prevent, to the extent possible, means of transport operated by commercial carriers from being used in the commission of the offence established in accordance with article 6, paragraph 1 (a), of this Protocol.

3.   Where appropriate, and without prejudice to applicable international conventions, such measures shall include establishing the obligation of commercial carriers, including any transportation company or the owner or operator of any means of transport, to ascertain that all passengers are in possession of the travel documents required for entry into the receiving State.

4.   Each State Party shall take the necessary measures, in accordance with its domestic law, to provide for sanctions in cases of violation of the obligation set forth in paragraph 3 of this article.

5.   Each State Party shall consider taking measures that permit, in accordance with its domestic law, the denial of entry or revocation of visas of persons implicated in the commission of offences established in accordance with this Protocol.

6.   Without prejudice to article 27 of the Convention, States Parties shall consider strengthening cooperation among border control agencies by, inter alia, establishing and maintaining direct channels of communication.

Article 12

Security and control of documents

Each State Party shall take such measures as may be necessary, within available means:

Article 13

Legitimacy and validity of documents

At the request of another State Party, a State Party shall, in accordance with its domestic law, verify within a reasonable time the legitimacy and validity of travel or identity documents issued or purported to have been issued in its name and suspected of being used for purposes of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol.

Article 14

Training and technical cooperation

1.   States Parties shall provide or strengthen specialised training for immigration and other relevant officials in preventing the conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol and in the humane treatment of migrants who have been the object of such conduct, while respecting their rights as set forth in this Protocol.

2.   States Parties shall cooperate with each other and with competent international organisations, non-governmental organisations, other relevant organisations and other elements of civil society as appropriate to ensure that there is adequate personnel training in their territories to prevent, combat and eradicate the conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol and to protect the rights of migrants who have been the object of such conduct. Such training shall include:

3.   States Parties with relevant expertise shall consider providing technical assistance to States that are frequently countries of origin or transit for persons who have been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol. States Parties shall make every effort to provide the necessary resources, such as vehicles, computer systems and document readers, to combat the conduct set forth in article 6.

Article 15

Other prevention measures

1.   Each State Party shall take measures to ensure that it provides or strengthens information programmes to increase public awareness of the fact that the conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol is a criminal activity frequently perpetrated by organised criminal groups for profit and that it poses serious risks to the migrants concerned.

2.   In accordance with article 31 of the Convention, States Parties shall cooperate in the field of public information for the purpose of preventing potential migrants from falling victim to organised criminal groups.

3.   Each State Party shall promote or strengthen, as appropriate, development programmes and cooperation at the national, regional and international levels, taking into account the socio-economic realities of migration and paying special attention to economically and socially depressed areas, in order to combat the root socio-economic causes of the smuggling of migrants, such as poverty and underdevelopment.

Article 16

Protection and assistance measures

1.   In implementing this Protocol, each State Party shall take, consistent with its obligations under international law, all appropriate measures, including legislation if necessary, to preserve and protect the rights of persons who have been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol as accorded under applicable international law, in particular the right to life and the right not to be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

2.   Each State Party shall take appropriate measures to afford migrants appropriate protection against violence that may be inflicted upon them, whether by individuals or groups, by reason of being the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol.

3.   Each State Party shall afford appropriate assistance to migrants whose lives or safety are endangered by reason of being the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol.

4.   In applying the provisions of this article, States Parties shall take into account the special needs of women and children.

5.   In the case of the detention of a person who has been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol, each State Party shall comply with its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, (1) where applicable, including that of informing the person concerned without delay about the provisions concerning notification to and communication with consular officers.

Article 17

Agreements and arrangements

States Parties shall consider the conclusion of bilateral or regional agreements or operational arrangements or understandings aimed at:

Article 18

Return of smuggled migrants

1.   Each State Party agrees to facilitate and accept, without undue or unreasonable delay, the return of a person who has been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol and who is its national or who has the right of permanent residence in its territory at the time of return.

2.   Each State Party shall consider the possibility of facilitating and accepting the return of a person who has been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol and who had the right of permanent residence in its territory at the time of entry into the receiving State in accordance with its domestic law.

3.   At the request of the receiving State Party, a requested State Party shall, without undue or unreasonable delay, verify whether a person who has been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol is its national or has the right of permanent residence in its territory.

4.   In order to facilitate the return of a person who has been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol and is without proper documentation, the State Party of which that person is a national or in which he or she has the right of permanent residence shall agree to issue, at the request of the receiving State Party, such travel documents or other authorisation as may be necessary to enable the person to travel to and re-enter its territory.

5.   Each State Party involved with the return of a person who has been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol shall take all appropriate measures to carry out the return in an orderly manner and with due regard for the safety and dignity of the person.

6.   States Parties may cooperate with relevant international organisations in the implementation of this article.

7.   This article shall be without prejudice to any right afforded to persons who have been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol by any domestic law of the receiving State Party.

8.   This article shall not affect the obligations entered into under any other applicable treaty, bilateral or multilateral, or any other applicable operational agreement or arrangement that governs, in whole or in part, the return of persons who have been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol.

IV.   FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 19

Saving clause

1.   Nothing in this Protocol shall affect the other rights, obligations and responsibilities of States and individuals under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law and, in particular, where applicable, the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees and the principle of non-refoulement as contained therein.

2.   The measures set forth in this Protocol shall be interpreted and applied in a way that is not discriminatory to persons on the ground that they are the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol. The interpretation and application of those measures shall be consistent with internationally recognised principles of non-discrimination.

Article 20

Settlement of disputes

1.   States Parties shall endeavour to settle disputes concerning the interpretation or application of this Protocol through negotiation.

2.   Any dispute between two or more States Parties concerning the interpretation or application of this Protocol that cannot be settled through negotiation within a reasonable time shall, at the request of one of those States Parties, be submitted to arbitration. If, six months after the date of the request for arbitration, those States Parties are unable to agree on the organisation of the arbitration, any one of those States Parties may refer the dispute to the International Court of Justice by request in accordance with the Statute of the Court.

3.   Each State Party may, at the time of signature, ratification, acceptance or approval of or accession to this Protocol, declare that it does not consider itself bound by paragraph 2 of this article. The other States Parties shall not be bound by paragraph 2 of this article with respect to any State Party that has made such a reservation.

4.   Any State Party that has made a reservation in accordance with paragraph 3 of this article may at any time withdraw that reservation by notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Article 21

Signature, ratification, acceptance, approval and accession

1.   This Protocol shall be open to all States for signature from 12 to 15 December 2000 in Palermo, Italy, and thereafter at United Nations Headquarters in New York until 12 December 2002.

2.   This Protocol shall also be open for signature by regional economic integration organisations provided that at least one member State of such organisation has signed this Protocol in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article.

3.   This Protocol is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. A regional economic integration organisation may deposit its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval if at least one of its Member States has done likewise. In that instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval, such organisation shall declare the extent of its competence with respect to the matters governed by this Protocol. Such organisation shall also inform the depositary of any relevant modification in the extent of its competence.

4.   This Protocol is open for accession by any State or any regional economic integration organisation of which at least one Member State is a Party to this Protocol. Instruments of accession shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. At the time of its accession, a regional economic integration organisation shall declare the extent of its competence with respect to matters governed by this Protocol. Such organisation shall also inform the depositary of any relevant modification in the extent of its competence.

Article 22

Entry into force

1.   This Protocol shall enter into force on the 90th day after the date of deposit of the 40th instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, except that it shall not enter into force before the entry into force of the Convention. For the purpose of this paragraph, any instrument deposited by a regional economic integration organisation shall not be counted as additional to those deposited by member States of such organisation.

2.   For each State or regional economic integration organisation ratifying, accepting, approving or acceding to this Protocol after the deposit of the 40th instrument of such action, this Protocol shall enter into force on the 30th day after the date of deposit by such State or organisation of the relevant instrument or on the date this Protocol enters into force pursuant to paragraph 1 of this article, whichever is the later.

Article 23

Amendment

1.   After the expiry of five years from the entry into force of this Protocol, a State Party to the Protocol may propose an amendment and file it with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall thereupon communicate the proposed amendment to the States Parties and to the Conference of the Parties to the Convention for the purpose of considering and deciding on the proposal. The States Parties to this Protocol meeting at the Conference of the Parties shall make every effort to achieve consensus on each amendment. If all efforts at consensus have been exhausted and no agreement has been reached, the amendment shall, as a last resort, require for its adoption a two-thirds majority vote of the States Parties to this Protocol present and voting at the meeting of the Conference of the Parties.

2.   Regional economic integration organisations, in matters within their competence, shall exercise their right to vote under this article with a number of votes equal to the number of their Member States that are Parties to this Protocol. Such organisations shall not exercise their right to vote if their member States exercise theirs and vice versa.

3.   An amendment adopted in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval by States Parties.

4.   An amendment adopted in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article shall enter into force in respect of a State Party 90 days after the date of the deposit with the Secretary-General of the United Nations of an instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval of such amendment.

5.   When an amendment enters into force, it shall be binding on those States Parties which have expressed their consent to be bound by it. Other States Parties shall still be bound by the provisions of this Protocol and any earlier amendments that they have ratified, accepted or approved.

Article 24

Denunciation

1.   A State Party may denounce this Protocol by written notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Such denunciation shall become effective one year after the date of receipt of the notification by the Secretary-General.

2.   A regional economic integration organisation shall cease to be a Party to this Protocol when all of its member States have denounced it.

Article 25

Depositary and languages

1.   The Secretary-General of the United Nations is designated depositary of this Protocol.

2.   The original of this Protocol, of which the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned plenipotentiaries, being duly authorised thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Protocol.

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(1)  Ibid., vol. 596, Nos 8638 to 8640.

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BILAGA II

Förklaring om Europeiska gemenskapens behörighet med avseende på frågor som faller under tilläggsprotokollet mot smuggling av migranter land-, luft- och sjövägen till Förenta nationernas konvention mot gränsöverskridande organiserad brottslighet

Enligt artikel 21.3 i protokollet skall en regional organisation för ekonomisk integration i sitt instrument avseende anslutning förklara omfattningen av sin behörighet med avseende på frågor som faller under protokollet och i fråga om vilka organisationens medlemsstater som är parter i protokollet har överfört behörighet till organisationen.

Protokollet mot smuggling av migranter land-, luft- och sjövägen skall med avseende på frågor där behörighet har överförts till Europeiska gemenskapen gälla för de områden i vilka fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen tillämpas, på de villkor som anges i det fördraget, särskilt artikel 299 i detta och de protokoll som fogas till fördraget.

Denna förklaring skall inte påverka Förenade kungarikets och Irlands ställning enligt protokollet om införlivande av Schengenregelverket inom Europeiska unionens ramar eller enligt protokollet om Förenade kungarikets och Irlands ställning, som fogas till fördraget om Europeiska unionen och fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen.

Denna förklaring skall inte heller påverka Danmarks ställning enligt protokollet om Danmarks ställning som fogas till fördraget om Europeiska unionen och fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen.

I enlighet med artikel 299 gäller denna förklaring inte för de områden i medlemsstaterna där nämnda fördrag inte gäller, och den påverkar inte tillämpningen av sådana rättsakter eller ståndpunkter som kan komma att antas enligt protokollet av de berörda medlemsstaterna på sådana områdens vägnar eller i dessas intresse. I enlighet med de bestämmelser som angivits ovan anges det i denna förklaring i vilka avseenden medlemsstaterna genom fördragen har överfört behörighet till gemenskapen i frågor som faller under protokollet. Omfattningen och utövandet av denna gemenskapens behörighet är genom sin natur i ständig utveckling eftersom gemenskapen fortsätter att anta tillämpliga regler och föreskrifter, och gemenskapen kommer vid behov att komplettera eller ändra denna förklaring i enlighet med artikel 21.3 i protokollet.

Gemenskapen poängterar att den är behörig med avseende på åtgärder som avser passage av medlemsstaternas yttre gränser och med vilkas hjälp det fastställs normer och förfaranden som medlemsstaterna skall följa när de utför personkontroller vid sådana gränser och regler om visering för vistelser som inte är avsedda att vara längre än tre månader. Gemenskapen är också behörig med avseende på åtgärder som avser invandringspolitiken när det gäller villkoren för inresa och bosättning och åtgärder för att bekämpa olaglig invandring och olaglig bosättning, inbegripet återsändande av personer som vistas olagligt i gemenskapen. Det kan dessutom krävas åtgärder för att säkerställa samarbete inom ovannämnda områden mellan de relevanta enheterna i medlemsstaternas förvaltningar samt mellan dessa enheter och kommissionen. Inom dessa områden har gemenskapen antagit regler och föreskrifter, och när den har gjort detta är det således endast gemenskapen som skall göra åtaganden gentemot tredjeländer eller behöriga internationella organisationer.

Dessutom är gemenskapspolitiken inom området utvecklingssamarbete ett komplement till medlemsstaternas politik på detta område och inbegriper bestämmelser för att hindra och bekämpa smuggling av migranter.

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RÅDETS BESLUT

av den 24 juli 2006

om ingående på Europeiska gemenskapens vägnar av tilläggsprotokollet mot smuggling av migranter land-, luft- och sjövägen till Förenta nationernas konvention mot gränsöverskridande organiserad brottslighet avseende protokollets bestämmelser i den utsträckning som bestämmelserna i detta protokoll omfattas av tredje delen avdelning IV i fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen

(2006/617/EG)

EUROPEISKA UNIONENS RÅD HAR BESLUTAT FÖLJANDE

med beaktande av fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen, särskilt artiklarna 62.2, 63.3 och artikel 66 jämförda med artikel 300.2 första stycket och artikel 300.3 första stycket,

med beaktande av kommissionens förslag,

med beaktande av Europaparlamentets yttrande (1), och

av följande skäl:

HÄRIGENOM FÖRESKRIVS FÖLJANDE.

Artikel 1

Tilläggsprotokollet mot smuggling av migranter land-, sjö- och luftvägen till Förenta nationernas konvention mot gränsöverskridande organiserad brottslighet, som återges i bilaga I, godkänns härmed på Europeiska gemenskapens vägnar.

Gemenskapens instrument med formell bekräftelse skall innehålla en förklaring om behörighet i enlighet med artikel 21.3 i protokollet med den lydelse som framgår av bilaga II.

Artikel 2

Detta beslut skall tillämpas i den utsträckning som bestämmelserna i protokollet omfattas av tredje delen avdelning IV i fördraget.

Artikel 3

Rådets ordförande bemyndigas att utse den person som skall ha rätt att deponera instrumentet med formell bekräftelse så att protokollet blir bindande för gemenskapen.

Detta beslut skall offentliggöras i Europeiska unionens officiella tidning.

Utfärdat i Bryssel den 24 juli 2006.

På rådets vägnar

K. RAJAMÄKI

Ordförande

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(1)  Ännu ej offentliggjort i EUT.

(2)EGT L 30, 1.2.2001, s. 44.

(3)EUT L 261, 6.8.2004, s. 69.

(4)  Se sidan 24 i detta nummer av EUT.

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BILAGA I

PROTOCOL

against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime

PREAMBLE

THE STATES PARTIES TO THIS PROTOCOL,

DECLARING that effective action to prevent and combat the smuggling of migrants by land, sea and air requires a comprehensive international approach, including cooperation, the exchange of information and other appropriate measures, including socio-economic measures, at the national, regional and international levels,

RECALLING General Assembly resolution 54/212 of 22 December 1999, in which the Assembly urged Member States and the United Nations system to strengthen international cooperation in the area of international migration and development in order to address the root causes of migration, especially those related to poverty, and to maximize the benefits of international migration to those concerned, and encouraged, where relevant, interregional, regional and subregional mechanisms to continue to address the question of migration and development,

CONVINCED of the need to provide migrants with humane treatment and full protection of their rights,

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the fact that, despite work undertaken in other international forums, there is no universal instrument that addresses all aspects of smuggling of migrants and other related issues,

CONCERNED at the significant increase in the activities of organised criminal groups in smuggling of migrants and other related criminal activities set forth in this Protocol, which bring great harm to the States concerned,

ALSO CONCERNED that the smuggling of migrants can endanger the lives or security of the migrants involved,

RECALLING General Assembly resolution 53/111 of 9 December 1998, in which the Assembly decided to establish an open-ended intergovernmental ad hoc committee for the purpose of elaborating a comprehensive international convention against transnational organised crime and of discussing the elaboration of, inter alia, an international instrument addressing illegal trafficking in and transporting of migrants, including by sea,

CONVINCED that supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime with an international instrument against the smuggling of migrants by land, sea and air will be useful in preventing and combating that crime,

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

I.   GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1

Relation with the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime

1.   This Protocol supplements the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime. It shall be interpreted together with the Convention.

2.   The provisions of the Convention shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to this Protocol unless otherwise provided herein.

3.   The offences established in accordance with article 6 of this Protocol shall be regarded as offences established in accordance with the Convention.

Article 2

Statement of purpose

The purpose of this Protocol is to prevent and combat the smuggling of migrants, as well as to promote cooperation among States Parties to that end, while protecting the rights of smuggled migrants.

Article 3

Use of terms

For the purposes of this Protocol:

Article 4

Scope of application

This Protocol shall apply, except as otherwise stated herein, to the prevention, investigation and prosecution of the offences established in accordance with article 6 of this Protocol, where the offences are transnational in nature and involve an organised criminal group, as well as to the protection of the rights of persons who have been the object of such offences.

Article 5

Criminal liability of migrants

Migrants shall not become liable to criminal prosecution under this Protocol for the fact of having been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol.

Article 6

Criminalisation

1.   Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences, when committed intentionally and in order to obtain, directly or indirectly, a financial or other material benefit:

2.   Each State Party shall also adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences:

3.   Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as aggravating circumstances to the offences established in accordance with paragraph 1 (a), (b) (i) and (c) of this article and, subject to the basic concepts of its legal system, to the offences established in accordance with paragraph 2 (b) and (c) of this article, circumstances:

4.   Nothing in this Protocol shall prevent a State Party from taking measures against a person whose conduct constitutes an offence under its domestic law.

II.   SMUGGLING OF MIGRANTS BY SEA

Article 7

Cooperation

States Parties shall cooperate to the fullest extent possible to prevent and suppress the smuggling of migrants by sea, in accordance with the international law of the sea.

Article 8

Measures against the smuggling of migrants by sea

1.   A State Party that has reasonable grounds to suspect that a vessel that is flying its flag or claiming its registry, that is without nationality or that, though flying a foreign flag or refusing to show a flag, is in reality of the nationality of the State Party concerned is engaged in the smuggling of migrants by sea may request the assistance of other States Parties in suppressing the use of the vessel for that purpose. The States Parties so requested shall render such assistance to the extent possible within their means.

2.   A State Party that has reasonable grounds to suspect that a vessel exercising freedom of navigation in accordance with international law and flying the flag or displaying the marks of registry of another State Party is engaged in the smuggling of migrants by sea may so notify the flag State, request confirmation of registry and, if confirmed, request authorisation from the flag State to take appropriate measures with regard to that vessel. The flag State may authorise the requesting State, inter alia:

3.   A State Party that has taken any measure in accordance with paragraph 2 of this article shall promptly inform the flag State concerned of the results of that measure.

4.   A State Party shall respond expeditiously to a request from another State Party to determine whether a vessel that is claiming its registry or flying its flag is entitled to do so and to a request for authorisation made in accordance with paragraph 2 of this article.

5.   A flag State may, consistent with article 7 of this Protocol, subject its authorisation to conditions to be agreed by it and the requesting State, including conditions relating to responsibility and the extent of effective measures to be taken. A State Party shall take no additional measures without the express authorisation of the flag State, except those necessary to relieve imminent danger to the lives of persons or those which derive from relevant bilateral or multilateral agreements.

6.   Each State Party shall designate an authority or, where necessary, authorities to receive and respond to requests for assistance, for confirmation of registry or of the right of a vessel to fly its flag and for authorisation to take appropriate measures. Such designation shall be notified through the Secretary-General to all other States Parties within one month of the designation.

7.   A State Party that has reasonable grounds to suspect that a vessel is engaged in the smuggling of migrants by sea and is without nationality or may be assimilated to a vessel without nationality may board and search the vessel. If evidence confirming the suspicion is found, that State Party shall take appropriate measures in accordance with relevant domestic and international law.

Article 9

Safeguard clauses

1.   Where a State Party takes measures against a vessel in accordance with article 8 of this Protocol, it shall:

2.   Where the grounds for measures taken pursuant to article 8 of this Protocol prove to be unfounded, the vessel shall be compensated for any loss or damage that may have been sustained, provided that the vessel has not committed any act justifying the measures taken.

3.   Any measure taken, adopted or implemented in accordance with this chapter shall take due account of the need not to interfere with or to affect:

4.   Any measure taken at sea pursuant to this chapter shall be carried out only by warships or military aircraft, or by other ships or aircraft clearly marked and identifiable as being on government service and authorised to that effect.

III.   PREVENTION, COOPERATION AND OTHER MEASURES

Article 10

Information

1.   Without prejudice to articles 27 and 28 of the Convention, States Parties, in particular those with common borders or located on routes along which migrants are smuggled, shall, for the purpose of achieving the objectives of this Protocol, exchange among themselves, consistent with their respective domestic legal and administrative systems, relevant information on matters such as:

2.   A State Party that receives information shall comply with any request by the State Party that transmitted the information that places restrictions on its use.

Article 11

Border measures

1.   Without prejudice to international commitments in relation to the free movement of people, States Parties shall strengthen, to the extent possible, such border controls as may be necessary to prevent and detect the smuggling of migrants.

2.   Each State Party shall adopt legislative or other appropriate measures to prevent, to the extent possible, means of transport operated by commercial carriers from being used in the commission of the offence established in accordance with article 6, paragraph 1 (a), of this Protocol.

3.   Where appropriate, and without prejudice to applicable international conventions, such measures shall include establishing the obligation of commercial carriers, including any transportation company or the owner or operator of any means of transport, to ascertain that all passengers are in possession of the travel documents required for entry into the receiving State.

4.   Each State Party shall take the necessary measures, in accordance with its domestic law, to provide for sanctions in cases of violation of the obligation set forth in paragraph 3 of this article.

5.   Each State Party shall consider taking measures that permit, in accordance with its domestic law, the denial of entry or revocation of visas of persons implicated in the commission of offences established in accordance with this Protocol.

6.   Without prejudice to article 27 of the Convention, States Parties shall consider strengthening cooperation among border control agencies by, inter alia, establishing and maintaining direct channels of communication.

Article 12

Security and control of documents

Each State Party shall take such measures as may be necessary, within available means:

Article 13

Legitimacy and validity of documents

At the request of another State Party, a State Party shall, in accordance with its domestic law, verify within a reasonable time the legitimacy and validity of travel or identity documents issued or purported to have been issued in its name and suspected of being used for purposes of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol.

Article 14

Training and technical cooperation

1.   States Parties shall provide or strengthen specialised training for immigration and other relevant officials in preventing the conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol and in the humane treatment of migrants who have been the object of such conduct, while respecting their rights as set forth in this Protocol.

2.   States Parties shall cooperate with each other and with competent international organisations, non-governmental organisations, other relevant organisations and other elements of civil society as appropriate to ensure that there is adequate personnel training in their territories to prevent, combat and eradicate the conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol and to protect the rights of migrants who have been the object of such conduct. Such training shall include:

3.   States Parties with relevant expertise shall consider providing technical assistance to States that are frequently countries of origin or transit for persons who have been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol. States Parties shall make every effort to provide the necessary resources, such as vehicles, computer systems and document readers, to combat the conduct set forth in article 6.

Article 15

Other prevention measures

1.   Each State Party shall take measures to ensure that it provides or strengthens information programmes to increase public awareness of the fact that the conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol is a criminal activity frequently perpetrated by organised criminal groups for profit and that it poses serious risks to the migrants concerned.

2.   In accordance with article 31 of the Convention, States Parties shall cooperate in the field of public information for the purpose of preventing potential migrants from falling victim to organised criminal groups.

3.   Each State Party shall promote or strengthen, as appropriate, development programmes and cooperation at the national, regional and international levels, taking into account the socio-economic realities of migration and paying special attention to economically and socially depressed areas, in order to combat the root socio-economic causes of the smuggling of migrants, such as poverty and underdevelopment.

Article 16

Protection and assistance measures

1.   In implementing this Protocol, each State Party shall take, consistent with its obligations under international law, all appropriate measures, including legislation if necessary, to preserve and protect the rights of persons who have been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol as accorded under applicable international law, in particular the right to life and the right not to be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

2.   Each State Party shall take appropriate measures to afford migrants appropriate protection against violence that may be inflicted upon them, whether by individuals or groups, by reason of being the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol.

3.   Each State Party shall afford appropriate assistance to migrants whose lives or safety are endangered by reason of being the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol.

4.   In applying the provisions of this article, States Parties shall take into account the special needs of women and children.

5.   In the case of the detention of a person who has been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol, each State Party shall comply with its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, (1) where applicable, including that of informing the person concerned without delay about the provisions concerning notification to and communication with consular officers.

Article 17

Agreements and arrangements

States Parties shall consider the conclusion of bilateral or regional agreements or operational arrangements or understandings aimed at:

Article 18

Return of smuggled migrants

1.   Each State Party agrees to facilitate and accept, without undue or unreasonable delay, the return of a person who has been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol and who is its national or who has the right of permanent residence in its territory at the time of return.

2.   Each State Party shall consider the possibility of facilitating and accepting the return of a person who has been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol and who had the right of permanent residence in its territory at the time of entry into the receiving State in accordance with its domestic law.

3.   At the request of the receiving State Party, a requested State Party shall, without undue or unreasonable delay, verify whether a person who has been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol is its national or has the right of permanent residence in its territory.

4.   In order to facilitate the return of a person who has been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol and is without proper documentation, the State Party of which that person is a national or in which he or she has the right of permanent residence shall agree to issue, at the request of the receiving State Party, such travel documents or other authorisation as may be necessary to enable the person to travel to and re-enter its territory.

5.   Each State Party involved with the return of a person who has been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol shall take all appropriate measures to carry out the return in an orderly manner and with due regard for the safety and dignity of the person.

6.   States Parties may cooperate with relevant international organisations in the implementation of this article.

7.   This article shall be without prejudice to any right afforded to persons who have been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol by any domestic law of the receiving State Party.

8.   This article shall not affect the obligations entered into under any other applicable treaty, bilateral or multilateral, or any other applicable operational agreement or arrangement that governs, in whole or in part, the return of persons who have been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol.

IV.   FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 19

Saving clause

1.   Nothing in this Protocol shall affect the other rights, obligations and responsibilities of States and individuals under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law and, in particular, where applicable, the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees and the principle of non-refoulement as contained therein.

2.   The measures set forth in this Protocol shall be interpreted and applied in a way that is not discriminatory to persons on the ground that they are the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol. The interpretation and application of those measures shall be consistent with internationally recognised principles of non-discrimination.

Article 20

Settlement of disputes

1.   States Parties shall endeavour to settle disputes concerning the interpretation or application of this Protocol through negotiation.

2.   Any dispute between two or more States Parties concerning the interpretation or application of this Protocol that cannot be settled through negotiation within a reasonable time shall, at the request of one of those States Parties, be submitted to arbitration. If, six months after the date of the request for arbitration, those States Parties are unable to agree on the organisation of the arbitration, any one of those States Parties may refer the dispute to the International Court of Justice by request in accordance with the Statute of the Court.

3.   Each State Party may, at the time of signature, ratification, acceptance or approval of or accession to this Protocol, declare that it does not consider itself bound by paragraph 2 of this article. The other States Parties shall not be bound by paragraph 2 of this article with respect to any State Party that has made such a reservation.

4.   Any State Party that has made a reservation in accordance with paragraph 3 of this article may at any time withdraw that reservation by notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Article 21

Signature, ratification, acceptance, approval and accession

1.   This Protocol shall be open to all States for signature from 12 to 15 December 2000 in Palermo, Italy, and thereafter at United Nations Headquarters in New York until 12 December 2002.

2.   This Protocol shall also be open for signature by regional economic integration organisations provided that at least one member State of such organisation has signed this Protocol in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article.

3.   This Protocol is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. A regional economic integration organisation may deposit its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval if at least one of its Member States has done likewise. In that instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval, such organisation shall declare the extent of its competence with respect to the matters governed by this Protocol. Such organisation shall also inform the depositary of any relevant modification in the extent of its competence.

4.   This Protocol is open for accession by any State or any regional economic integration organisation of which at least one Member State is a Party to this Protocol. Instruments of accession shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. At the time of its accession, a regional economic integration organisation shall declare the extent of its competence with respect to matters governed by this Protocol. Such organisation shall also inform the depositary of any relevant modification in the extent of its competence.

Article 22

Entry into force

1.   This Protocol shall enter into force on the 90th day after the date of deposit of the 40th instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, except that it shall not enter into force before the entry into force of the Convention. For the purpose of this paragraph, any instrument deposited by a regional economic integration organisation shall not be counted as additional to those deposited by member States of such organisation.

2.   For each State or regional economic integration organisation ratifying, accepting, approving or acceding to this Protocol after the deposit of the 40th instrument of such action, this Protocol shall enter into force on the 30th day after the date of deposit by such State or organisation of the relevant instrument or on the date this Protocol enters into force pursuant to paragraph 1 of this article, whichever is the later.

Article 23

Amendment

1.   After the expiry of five years from the entry into force of this Protocol, a State Party to the Protocol may propose an amendment and file it with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall thereupon communicate the proposed amendment to the States Parties and to the Conference of the Parties to the Convention for the purpose of considering and deciding on the proposal. The States Parties to this Protocol meeting at the Conference of the Parties shall make every effort to achieve consensus on each amendment. If all efforts at consensus have been exhausted and no agreement has been reached, the amendment shall, as a last resort, require for its adoption a two-thirds majority vote of the States Parties to this Protocol present and voting at the meeting of the Conference of the Parties.

2.   Regional economic integration organisations, in matters within their competence, shall exercise their right to vote under this article with a number of votes equal to the number of their Member States that are Parties to this Protocol. Such organisations shall not exercise their right to vote if their member States exercise theirs and vice versa.

3.   An amendment adopted in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval by States Parties.

4.   An amendment adopted in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article shall enter into force in respect of a State Party 90 days after the date of the deposit with the Secretary-General of the United Nations of an instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval of such amendment.

5.   When an amendment enters into force, it shall be binding on those States Parties which have expressed their consent to be bound by it. Other States Parties shall still be bound by the provisions of this Protocol and any earlier amendments that they have ratified, accepted or approved.

Article 24

Denunciation

1.   A State Party may denounce this Protocol by written notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Such denunciation shall become effective one year after the date of receipt of the notification by the Secretary-General.

2.   A regional economic integration organisation shall cease to be a Party to this Protocol when all of its member States have denounced it.

Article 25

Depositary and languages

1.   The Secretary-General of the United Nations is designated depositary of this Protocol.

2.   The original of this Protocol, of which the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned plenipotentiaries, being duly authorised thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Protocol.

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(1)  Ibid., vol. 596, Nos 8638 to 8640.

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BILAGA II

Förklaring om Europeiska gemenskapens behörighet med avseende på frågor som faller under tilläggsprotokollet mot smuggling av migranter land-, luft- och sjövägen till Förenta nationernas konvention mot gränsöverskridande organiserad brottslighet

Enligt artikel 21.3 i protokollet skall en regional organisation för ekonomisk integration i sitt instrument avseende anslutning förklara omfattningen av sin behörighet med avseende på frågor som faller under protokollet och i fråga om vilka organisationens medlemsstater som är parter i protokollet har överfört behörighet till organisationen.

Protokollet mot smuggling av migranter land-, luft- och sjövägen skall med avseende på frågor där behörighet har överförts till Europeiska gemenskapen gälla för de områden i vilka fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen tillämpas, på de villkor som anges i det fördraget, särskilt artikel 299 i detta och de protokoll som fogas till fördraget.

Denna förklaring skall inte påverka Förenade kungarikets och Irlands ställning enligt protokollet om införlivande av Schengenregelverket inom Europeiska unionens ramar eller enligt protokollet om Förenade kungarikets och Irlands ställning, som fogas till fördraget om Europeiska unionen och fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen.

Denna förklaring skall inte heller påverka Danmarks ställning enligt protokollet om Danmarks ställning som fogas till fördraget om Europeiska unionen och fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen.

I enlighet med artikel 299 gäller denna förklaring inte för de områden i medlemsstaterna där nämnda fördrag inte gäller, och den påverkar inte tillämpningen av sådana rättsakter eller ståndpunkter som kan komma att antas enligt protokollet av de berörda medlemsstaterna på sådana områdens vägnar eller i dessas intresse. I enlighet med de bestämmelser som angivits ovan anges det i denna förklaring i vilka avseenden medlemsstaterna genom fördragen har överfört behörighet till gemenskapen i frågor som faller under protokollet. Omfattningen och utövandet av denna gemenskapens behörighet är genom sin natur i ständig utveckling eftersom gemenskapen fortsätter att anta tillämpliga regler och föreskrifter, och gemenskapen kommer vid behov att komplettera eller ändra denna förklaring i enlighet med artikel 21.3 i protokollet.

Gemenskapen poängterar att den är behörig med avseende på åtgärder som avser passage av medlemsstaternas yttre gränser och med vilkas hjälp det fastställs normer och förfaranden som medlemsstaterna skall följa när de utför personkontroller vid sådana gränser och regler om visering för vistelser som inte är avsedda att vara längre än tre månader. Gemenskapen är också behörig med avseende på åtgärder som avser invandringspolitiken när det gäller villkoren för inresa och bosättning och åtgärder för att bekämpa olaglig invandring och olaglig bosättning, inbegripet återsändande av personer som vistas olagligt i gemenskapen. Det kan dessutom krävas åtgärder för att säkerställa samarbete inom ovannämnda områden mellan de relevanta enheterna i medlemsstaternas förvaltningar samt mellan dessa enheter och kommissionen. Inom dessa områden har gemenskapen antagit regler och föreskrifter, och när den har gjort detta är det således endast gemenskapen som skall göra åtaganden gentemot tredjeländer eller behöriga internationella organisationer.

Dessutom är gemenskapspolitiken inom området utvecklingssamarbete ett komplement till medlemsstaternas politik på detta område och inbegriper bestämmelser för att hindra och bekämpa smuggling av migranter.

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RÅDETS BESLUT

av den 24 juli 2006

om ingående på Europeiska gemenskapens vägnar av tilläggsprotokollet om förebyggande, bekämpande och bestraffande av handel med människor, särskilt kvinnor och barn, till Förenta nationernas konvention mot gränsöverskridande organiserad brottslighet avseende protokollets bestämmelser i den utsträckning som bestämmelserna i protokollet omfattas av artiklarna 179 och 181a i fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen

(2006/618/EG)

EUROPEISKA UNIONENS RÅD HAR BESLUTAT FÖLJANDE

med beaktande av fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen, särskilt artiklarna 179 och 181a jämförda med artikel 300.2 första stycket och artikel 300.3 första stycket,

med beaktande av kommissionens förslag,

med beaktande av Europaparlamentets yttrande (1), och

av följande skäl:

HÄRIGENOM FÖRESKRIVS FÖLJANDE.

Artikel 1

Tilläggsprotokollet om förebyggande, bekämpande och bestraffande av handel med människor, särskilt kvinnor och barn, till Förenta nationernas konvention mot gränsöverskridande organiserad brottslighet, som återges i bilaga I, godkänns härmed på Europeiska gemenskapens vägnar.

Gemenskapens instrument med formell bekräftelse skall innehålla en förklaring om behörighet i enlighet med artikel 16.3 i protokollet med den lydelse som framgår av bilaga II.

Artikel 2

Detta beslut skall tillämpas i den utsträckning som bestämmelserna i protokollet omfattas av artiklarna 179 och 181a i fördraget.

Artikel 3

Rådets ordförande bemyndigas att utse den person som skall ha rätt att deponera instrumentet med formell bekräftelse så att protokollet blir bindande för gemenskapen.

Detta beslut skall offentliggöras i Europeiska unionens officiella tidning.

Utfärdat i Bryssel den 24 juli 2006.

På rådets vägnar

K. RAJAMÄKI

Ordförande

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(1)  Ännu ej offentliggjort i EUT.

(2)EGT L 30, 1.2.2001, s. 44.

(3)EUT L 261, 6.8.2004, s. 69.

(4)  Se sidan 51 i detta nummer av EUT.

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BILAGA I

PROTOCOL

to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime

PREAMBLE

THE STATES PARTIES TO THIS PROTOCOL,

DECLARING that effective action to prevent and combat trafficking in persons, especially women and children, requires a comprehensive international approach in the countries of origin, transit and destination that includes measures to prevent such trafficking, to punish the traffickers and to protect the victims of such trafficking, including by protecting their internationally recognised human rights,

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the fact that, despite the existence of a variety of international instruments containing rules and practical measures to combat the exploitation of persons, especially women and children, there is no universal instrument that addresses all aspects of trafficking in persons,

CONCERNED that, in the absence of such an instrument, persons who are vulnerable to trafficking will not be sufficiently protected,

RECALLING General Assembly resolution 53/111 of 9 December 1998, in which the Assembly decided to establish an open-ended intergovernmental ad hoc committee for the purpose of elaborating a comprehensive international convention against transnational organised crime and of discussing the elaboration of, inter alia, an international instrument addressing trafficking in women and children,

CONVINCED that supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime with an international instrument for the prevention, suppression and punishment of trafficking in persons, especially women and children, will be useful in preventing and combating that crime,

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

I.   GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1

Relation with the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime

1.   This Protocol supplements the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime. It shall be interpreted together with the Convention.

2.   The provisions of the Convention shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to this Protocol unless otherwise provided herein.

3.   The offences established in accordance with article 5 of this Protocol shall be regarded as offences established in accordance with the Convention.

Article 2

Statement of purpose

The purposes of this Protocol are:

Article 3

Use of terms

For the purposes of this Protocol:

Article 4

Scope of application

This Protocol shall apply, except as otherwise stated herein, to the prevention, investigation and prosecution of the offences established in accordance with article 5 of this Protocol, where those offences are transnational in nature and involve an organised criminal group, as well as to the protection of victims of such offences.

Article 5

Criminalisation

1.   Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences the conduct set forth in article 3 of this Protocol, when committed intentionally.

2.   Each State Party shall also adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences:

II.   PROTECTION OF VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

Article 6

Assistance to and protection of victims of trafficking in persons

1.   In appropriate cases and to the extent possible under its domestic law, each State Party shall protect the privacy and identity of victims of trafficking in persons, including, inter alia, by making legal proceedings relating to such trafficking confidential.

2.   Each State Party shall ensure that its domestic legal or administrative system contains measures that provide to victims of trafficking in persons, in appropriate cases:

3.   Each State Party shall consider implementing measures to provide for the physical, psychological and social recovery of victims of trafficking in persons, including, in appropriate cases, in cooperation with non-governmental organisations, other relevant organisations and other elements of civil society, and, in particular, the provision of:

4.   Each State Party shall take into account, in applying the provisions of this article, the age, gender and special needs of victims of trafficking in persons, in particular the special needs of children, including appropriate housing, education and care.

5.   Each State Party shall endeavour to provide for the physical safety of victims of trafficking in persons while they are within its territory.

6.   Each State Party shall ensure that its domestic legal system contains measures that offer victims of trafficking in persons the possibility of obtaining compensation for damage suffered.

Article 7

Status of victims of trafficking in persons in receiving States

1.   In addition to taking measures pursuant to article 6 of this Protocol, each State Party shall consider adopting legislative or other appropriate measures that permit victims of trafficking in persons to remain in its territory, temporarily or permanently, in appropriate cases.

2.   In implementing the provision contained in paragraph 1 of this article, each State Party shall give appropriate consideration to humanitarian and compassionate factors.

Article 8

Repatriation of victims of trafficking in persons

1.   The State Party of which a victim of trafficking in persons is a national or in which the person had the right of permanent residence at the time of entry into the territory of the receiving State Party shall facilitate and accept, with due regard for the safety of that person, the return of that person without undue or unreasonable delay.

2.   When a State Party returns a victim of trafficking in persons to a State Party of which that person is a national or in which he or she had, at the time of entry into the territory of the receiving State Party, the right of permanent residence, such return shall be with due regard for the safety of that person and for the status of any legal proceedings related to the fact that the person is a victim of trafficking and shall preferably be voluntary.

3.   At the request of a receiving State Party, a requested State Party shall, without undue or unreasonable delay, verify whether a person who is a victim of trafficking in persons is its national or had the right of permanent residence in its territory at the time of entry into the territory of the receiving State Party.

4.   In order to facilitate the return of a victim of trafficking in persons who is without proper documentation, the State Party of which that person is a national or in which he or she had the right of permanent residence at the time of entry into the territory of the receiving State Party shall agree to issue, at the request of the receiving State Party, such travel documents or other authorisation as may be necessary to enable the person to travel to and re-enter its territory.

5.   This article shall be without prejudice to any right afforded to victims of trafficking in persons by any domestic law of the receiving State Party.

6.   This article shall be without prejudice to any applicable bilateral or multilateral agreement or arrangement that governs, in whole or in part, the return of victims of trafficking in persons.

III.   PREVENTION, COOPERATION AND OTHER MEASURES

Article 9

Prevention of trafficking in persons

1.   States Parties shall establish comprehensive policies, programmes and other measures:

2.   States Parties shall endeavour to undertake measures such as research, information and mass media campaigns and social and economic initiatives to prevent and combat trafficking in persons.

3.   Policies, programmes and other measures established in accordance with this article shall, as appropriate, include cooperation with non-governmental organisations, other relevant organisations and other elements of civil society.

4.   States Parties shall take or strengthen measures, including through bilateral or multilateral cooperation, to alleviate the factors that make persons, especially women and children, vulnerable to trafficking, such as poverty, underdevelopment and lack of equal opportunity.

5.   States Parties shall adopt or strengthen legislative or other measures, such as educational, social or cultural measures, including through bilateral and multilateral cooperation, to discourage the demand that fosters all forms of exploitation of persons, especially women and children, that leads to trafficking.

Article 10

Information exchange and training

1.   Law enforcement, immigration or other relevant authorities of States Parties shall, as appropriate, cooperate with one another by exchanging information, in accordance with their domestic law, to enable them to determine:

2.   States Parties shall provide or strengthen training for law enforcement, immigration and other relevant officials in the prevention of trafficking in persons. The training should focus on methods used in preventing such trafficking, prosecuting the traffickers and protecting the rights of the victims, including protecting the victims from the traffickers. The training should also take into account the need to consider human rights and child- and gender-sensitive issues and it should encourage cooperation with non-governmental organisations, other relevant organisations and other elements of civil society.

3.   A State Party that receives information shall comply with any request by the State Party that transmitted the information that places restrictions on its use.

Article 11

Border measures

1.   Without prejudice to international commitments in relation to the free movement of people, States Parties shall strengthen, to the extent possible, such border controls as may be necessary to prevent and detect trafficking in persons.

2.   Each State Party shall adopt legislative or other appropriate measures to prevent, to the extent possible, means of transport operated by commercial carriers from being used in the commission of offences established in accordance with article 5 of this Protocol.

3.   Where appropriate, and without prejudice to applicable international conventions, such measures shall include establishing the obligation of commercial carriers, including any transportation company or the owner or operator of any means of transport, to ascertain that all passengers are in possession of the travel documents required for entry into the receiving State.

4.   Each State Party shall take the necessary measures, in accordance with its domestic law, to provide for sanctions in cases of violation of the obligation set forth in paragraph 3 of this article.

5.   Each State Party shall consider taking measures that permit, in accordance with its domestic law, the denial of entry or revocation of visas of persons implicated in the commission of offences established in accordance with this Protocol.

6.   Without prejudice to article 27 of the Convention, States Parties shall consider strengthening cooperation among border control agencies by, inter alia, establishing and maintaining direct channels of communication.

Article 12

Security and control of documents

Each State Party shall take such measures as may be necessary, within available means:

Article 13

Legitimacy and validity of documents

At the request of another State Party, a State Party shall, in accordance with its domestic law, verify within a reasonable time the legitimacy and validity of travel or identity documents issued or purported to have been issued in its name and suspected of being used for trafficking in persons.

IV.   FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 14

Saving clause

1.   Nothing in this Protocol shall affect the rights, obligations and responsibilities of States and individuals under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law and, in particular, where applicable, the 1951 Convention (1) and the 1967 Protocol (2) relating to the Status of Refugees and the principle of non-refoulement as contained therein.

2.   The measures set forth in this Protocol shall be interpreted and applied in a way that is not discriminatory to persons on the ground that they are victims of trafficking in persons. The interpretation and application of those measures shall be consistent with internationally recognised principles of non-discrimination.

Article 15

Settlement of disputes

1.   States Parties shall endeavour to settle disputes concerning the interpretation or application of this Protocol through negotiation.

2.   Any dispute between two or more States Parties concerning the interpretation or application of this Protocol that cannot be settled through negotiation within a reasonable time shall, at the request of one of those States Parties, be submitted to arbitration. If, six months after the date of the request for arbitration, those States Parties are unable to agree on the organisation of the arbitration, any one of those States Parties may refer the dispute to the International Court of Justice by request in accordance with the Statute of the Court.

3.   Each State Party may, at the time of signature, ratification, acceptance or approval of or accession to this Protocol, declare that it does not consider itself bound by paragraph 2 of this article. The other States Parties shall not be bound by paragraph 2 of this article with respect to any State Party that has made such a reservation.

4.   Any State Party that has made a reservation in accordance with paragraph 3 of this article may at any time withdraw that reservation by notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Article 16

Signature, ratification, acceptance, approval and accession

1.   This Protocol shall be open to all States for signature from 12 to 15 December 2000 in Palermo, Italy, and thereafter at United Nations Headquarters in New York until 12 December 2002.

2.   This Protocol shall also be open for signature by regional economic integration organisations provided that at least one member State of such organisation has signed this Protocol in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article.

3.   This Protocol is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. A regional economic integration organisation may deposit its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval if at least one of its member States has done likewise. In that instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval, such organisation shall declare the extent of its competence with respect to the matters governed by this Protocol. Such organisation shall also inform the depositary of any relevant modification in the extent of its competence.

4.   This Protocol is open for accession by any State or any regional economic integration organisation of which at least one Member State is a Party to this Protocol. Instruments of accession shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. At the time of its accession, a regional economic integration organisation shall declare the extent of its competence with respect to matters governed by this Protocol. Such organisation shall also inform the depositary of any relevant modification in the extent of its competence.

Article 17

Entry into force

1.   This Protocol shall enter into force on the 90th day after the date of deposit of the 40th instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, except that it shall not enter into force before the entry into force of the Convention. For the purpose of this paragraph, any instrument deposited by a regional economic integration organisation shall not be counted as additional to those deposited by Member States of such organisation.

2.   For each State or regional economic integration organisation ratifying, accepting, approving or acceding to this Protocol after the deposit of the 40th instrument of such action, this Protocol shall enter into force on the 30th day after the date of deposit by such State or organisation of the relevant instrument or on the date this Protocol enters into force pursuant to paragraph 1 of this article, whichever is the later.

Article 18

Amendment

1.   After the expiry of five years from the entry into force of this Protocol, a State Party to the Protocol may propose an amendment and file it with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall thereupon communicate the proposed amendment to the States Parties and to the Conference of the Parties to the Convention for the purpose of considering and deciding on the proposal. The States Parties to this Protocol meeting at the Conference of the Parties shall make every effort to achieve consensus on each amendment. If all efforts at consensus have been exhausted and no agreement has been reached, the amendment shall, as a last resort, require for its adoption a two-thirds majority vote of the States Parties to this Protocol present and voting at the meeting of the Conference of the Parties.

2.   Regional economic integration organisations, in matters within their competence, shall exercise their right to vote under this article with a number of votes equal to the number of their Member States that are Parties to this Protocol. Such organisations shall not exercise their right to vote if their Member States exercise theirs and vice versa.

3.   An amendment adopted in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval by States Parties.

4.   An amendment adopted in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article shall enter into force in respect of a State Party 90 days after the date of the deposit with the Secretary-General of the United Nations of an instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval of such amendment.

5.   When an amendment enters into force, it shall be binding on those States Parties which have expressed their consent to be bound by it. Other States Parties shall still be bound by the provisions of this Protocol and any earlier amendments that they have ratified, accepted or approved.

Article 19

Denunciation

1.   A State Party may denounce this Protocol by written notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Such denunciation shall become effective one year after the date of receipt of the notification by the Secretary-General.

2.   A regional economic integration organisation shall cease to be a Party to this Protocol when all of its Member States have denounced it.

Article 20

Depositary and languages

1.   The Secretary-General of the United Nations is designated depositary of this Protocol.

2.   The original of this Protocol, of which the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned plenipotentiaries, being duly authorised thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Protocol.

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(1)  United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No 2545.

(2)  Ibid., vol. 606, No 8791.

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BILAGA II

Förklaring om Europeiska gemenskapens behörighet med avseende på frågor som faller under tilläggsprotokollet om förebyggande, bekämpande och bestraffande av handel med människor, särskilt kvinnor och barn, till Förenta nationernas konvention mot gränsöverskridande organiserad brottslighet

Enligt artikel 16.3 i protokollet om förebyggande, bekämpande och bestraffande av handel med människor, särskilt kvinnor och barn, skall en regional organisation för ekonomisk integration i sitt instrument avseende ratifikation, godkännande eller godtagande förklara omfattningen av sin behörighet med avseende på frågor som faller under protokollet och i fråga om vilka organisationens medlemsstater som är parter i protokollet har överfört behörighet till organisationen.

Protokollet om förebyggande, bekämpande och bestraffande av handel med människor, särskilt kvinnor och barn, skall med avseende på frågor där behörighet har överförts till Europeiska gemenskapen gälla för de områden i vilka fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen tillämpas, på de villkor som anges i det fördraget, särskilt artikel 299 i detta och de protokoll som fogas till fördraget.

Denna förklaring skall inte påverka Förenade kungarikets och Irlands ställning enligt protokollet om införlivande av Schengenregelverket inom Europeiska unionens ramar eller enligt protokollet om Förenade kungarikets och Irlands ställning, som fogas till fördraget om Europeiska unionen och fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen.

Denna förklaring skall inte heller påverka Danmarks ställning enligt protokollet om Danmarks ställning som fogas till fördraget om Europeiska unionen och fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen.

I enlighet med artikel 299 gäller denna förklaring inte för de områden i medlemsstaterna där nämnda fördrag inte gäller, och den påverkar inte tillämpningen av sådana rättsakter eller ståndpunkter som kan komma att antas enligt protokollet av de berörda medlemsstaterna på sådana områdens vägnar eller i dessas intresse. I enlighet med de bestämmelser som angivits ovan anges det i denna förklaring i vilka avseenden medlemsstaterna genom fördragen har överfört behörighet till gemenskapen i frågor som faller under protokollet. Omfattningen och utövandet av denna gemenskapens behörighet är genom sin natur i ständig utveckling eftersom gemenskapen fortsätter att anta tillämpliga regler och föreskrifter, och gemenskapen kommer vid behov att komplettera eller ändra denna förklaring i enlighet med artikel 16.3 i protokollet.

Gemenskapen poängterar att den är behörig med avseende på åtgärder som avser passage av medlemsstaternas yttre gränser och med vilkas hjälp det fastställs normer och förfaranden som medlemsstaterna skall följa när de utför personkontroller vid sådana gränser och regler om visering för vistelser som inte är avsedda att vara längre än tre månader.

Gemenskapen är också behörig med avseende på åtgärder som avser invandringspolitiken när det gäller villkoren för inresa och bosättning och åtgärder för att bekämpa olaglig invandring och olaglig bosättning, inbegripet återsändande av personer som vistas olagligt i gemenskapen. Det kan dessutom krävas åtgärder för att säkerställa samarbete inom ovannämnda områden mellan de relevanta enheterna i medlemsstaternas förvaltningar samt mellan dessa enheter och kommissionen. Inom dessa områden har gemenskapen antagit regler och föreskrifter, och när den har gjort detta är det således endast gemenskapen som skall göra åtaganden gentemot tredjeländer eller behöriga internationella organisationer.

Dessutom är gemenskapspolitiken inom området utvecklingssamarbete ett komplement till medlemsstaternas politik på detta område och inbegriper bestämmelser för att hindra och bekämpa människohandel.

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RÅDETS BESLUT

av den 24 juli 2006

om ingående på Europeiska gemenskapens vägnar av tilläggsprotokollet om förebyggande, bekämpande och bestraffande av handel med människor, särskilt kvinnor och barn, till Förenta nationernas konvention mot gränsöverskridande organiserad brottslighet avseende protokollets bestämmelser i den utsträckning som bestämmelserna i protokollet omfattas av tredje delen avdelning IV i fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen

(2006/619/EG)

EUROPEISKA UNIONENS RÅD HAR BESLUTAT FÖLJANDE

med beaktande av fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen, särskilt artiklarna 62.2 och 63.3 samt artikel 66 jämförda med artikel 300.2 första stycket och artikel 300.3 första stycket,

med beaktande av kommissionens förslag,

med beaktande av Europaparlamentets yttrande (1), och

av följande skäl:

HÄRIGENOM FÖRESKRIVS FÖLJANDE.

Artikel 1

Tilläggsprotokollet om förebyggande, bekämpande och bestraffande av handel med människor, särskilt kvinnor och barn, till Förenta nationernas konvention mot gränsöverskridande organiserad brottslighet, som återges i bilaga I, godkänns härmed på Europeiska gemenskapens vägnar.

Gemenskapens instrument med formell bekräftelse skall innehålla en förklaring om behörighet i enlighet med artikel 16.3 i protokollet med den lydelse som framgår av bilaga II.

Artikel 2

Detta beslut skall tillämpas i den utsträckning som bestämmelserna i protokollet omfattas av tredje delen avdelning IV i fördraget.

Artikel 3

Rådets ordförande bemyndigas att utse den person som skall ha rätt att deponera instrumentet med formell bekräftelse så att protokollet blir bindande för gemenskapen.

Detta beslut skall offentliggöras i Europeiska unionens officiella tidning.

Utfärdat i Bryssel den 24 juli 2006.

På rådets vägnar

K. RAJAMÄKI

Ordförande

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(1)  Ännu ej offentliggjort i EUT.

(2)EGT L 30, 1.2.2001, s. 44.

(3)EUT L 261, 6.8.2004, s. 69.

(4)  Se sidan 44 i detta nummer av EUT.

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BILAGA I

PROTOCOL

to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime

PREAMBLE

THE STATES PARTIES TO THIS PROTOCOL,

DECLARING that effective action to prevent and combat trafficking in persons, especially women and children, requires a comprehensive international approach in the countries of origin, transit and destination that includes measures to prevent such trafficking, to punish the traffickers and to protect the victims of such trafficking, including by protecting their internationally recognised human rights,

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the fact that, despite the existence of a variety of international instruments containing rules and practical measures to combat the exploitation of persons, especially women and children, there is no universal instrument that addresses all aspects of trafficking in persons,

CONCERNED that, in the absence of such an instrument, persons who are vulnerable to trafficking will not be sufficiently protected,

RECALLING General Assembly resolution 53/111 of 9 December 1998, in which the Assembly decided to establish an open-ended intergovernmental ad hoc committee for the purpose of elaborating a comprehensive international convention against transnational organised crime and of discussing the elaboration of, inter alia, an international instrument addressing trafficking in women and children,

CONVINCED that supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime with an international instrument for the prevention, suppression and punishment of trafficking in persons, especially women and children, will be useful in preventing and combating that crime,

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

I.   GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1

Relation with the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime

1.   This Protocol supplements the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime. It shall be interpreted together with the Convention.

2.   The provisions of the Convention shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to this Protocol unless otherwise provided herein.

3.   The offences established in accordance with article 5 of this Protocol shall be regarded as offences established in accordance with the Convention.

Article 2

Statement of purpose

The purposes of this Protocol are:

Article 3

Use of terms

For the purposes of this Protocol:

Article 4

Scope of application

This Protocol shall apply, except as otherwise stated herein, to the prevention, investigation and prosecution of the offences established in accordance with article 5 of this Protocol, where those offences are transnational in nature and involve an organised criminal group, as well as to the protection of victims of such offences.

Article 5

Criminalisation

1.   Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences the conduct set forth in article 3 of this Protocol, when committed intentionally.

2.   Each State Party shall also adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences:

II.   PROTECTION OF VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

Article 6

Assistance to and protection of victims of trafficking in persons

1.   In appropriate cases and to the extent possible under its domestic law, each State Party shall protect the privacy and identity of victims of trafficking in persons, including, inter alia, by making legal proceedings relating to such trafficking confidential.

2.   Each State Party shall ensure that its domestic legal or administrative system contains measures that provide to victims of trafficking in persons, in appropriate cases:

3.   Each State Party shall consider implementing measures to provide for the physical, psychological and social recovery of victims of trafficking in persons, including, in appropriate cases, in cooperation with non-governmental organisations, other relevant organisations and other elements of civil society, and, in particular, the provision of:

4.   Each State Party shall take into account, in applying the provisions of this article, the age, gender and special needs of victims of trafficking in persons, in particular the special needs of children, including appropriate housing, education and care.

5.   Each State Party shall endeavour to provide for the physical safety of victims of trafficking in persons while they are within its territory.

6.   Each State Party shall ensure that its domestic legal system contains measures that offer victims of trafficking in persons the possibility of obtaining compensation for damage suffered.

Article 7

Status of victims of trafficking in persons in receiving States

1.   In addition to taking measures pursuant to article 6 of this Protocol, each State Party shall consider adopting legislative or other appropriate measures that permit victims of trafficking in persons to remain in its territory, temporarily or permanently, in appropriate cases.

2.   In implementing the provision contained in paragraph 1 of this article, each State Party shall give appropriate consideration to humanitarian and compassionate factors.

Article 8

Repatriation of victims of trafficking in persons

1.   The State Party of which a victim of trafficking in persons is a national or in which the person had the right of permanent residence at the time of entry into the territory of the receiving State Party shall facilitate and accept, with due regard for the safety of that person, the return of that person without undue or unreasonable delay.

2.   When a State Party returns a victim of trafficking in persons to a State Party of which that person is a national or in which he or she had, at the time of entry into the territory of the receiving State Party, the right of permanent residence, such return shall be with due regard for the safety of that person and for the status of any legal proceedings related to the fact that the person is a victim of trafficking and shall preferably be voluntary.

3.   At the request of a receiving State Party, a requested State Party shall, without undue or unreasonable delay, verify whether a person who is a victim of trafficking in persons is its national or had the right of permanent residence in its territory at the time of entry into the territory of the receiving State Party.

4.   In order to facilitate the return of a victim of trafficking in persons who is without proper documentation, the State Party of which that person is a national or in which he or she had the right of permanent residence at the time of entry into the territory of the receiving State Party shall agree to issue, at the request of the receiving State Party, such travel documents or other authorisation as may be necessary to enable the person to travel to and re-enter its territory.

5.   This article shall be without prejudice to any right afforded to victims of trafficking in persons by any domestic law of the receiving State Party.

6.   This article shall be without prejudice to any applicable bilateral or multilateral agreement or arrangement that governs, in whole or in part, the return of victims of trafficking in persons.

III.   PREVENTION, COOPERATION AND OTHER MEASURES

Article 9

Prevention of trafficking in persons

1.   States Parties shall establish comprehensive policies, programmes and other measures:

2.   States Parties shall endeavour to undertake measures such as research, information and mass media campaigns and social and economic initiatives to prevent and combat trafficking in persons.

3.   Policies, programmes and other measures established in accordance with this article shall, as appropriate, include cooperation with non-governmental organisations, other relevant organisations and other elements of civil society.

4.   States Parties shall take or strengthen measures, including through bilateral or multilateral cooperation, to alleviate the factors that make persons, especially women and children, vulnerable to trafficking, such as poverty, underdevelopment and lack of equal opportunity.

5.   States Parties shall adopt or strengthen legislative or other measures, such as educational, social or cultural measures, including through bilateral and multilateral cooperation, to discourage the demand that fosters all forms of exploitation of persons, especially women and children, that leads to trafficking.

Article 10

Information exchange and training

1.   Law enforcement, immigration or other relevant authorities of States Parties shall, as appropriate, cooperate with one another by exchanging information, in accordance with their domestic law, to enable them to determine:

2.   States Parties shall provide or strengthen training for law enforcement, immigration and other relevant officials in the prevention of trafficking in persons. The training should focus on methods used in preventing such trafficking, prosecuting the traffickers and protecting the rights of the victims, including protecting the victims from the traffickers. The training should also take into account the need to consider human rights and child- and gender-sensitive issues and it should encourage cooperation with non-governmental organisations, other relevant organisations and other elements of civil society.

3.   A State Party that receives information shall comply with any request by the State Party that transmitted the information that places restrictions on its use.

Article 11

Border measures

1.   Without prejudice to international commitments in relation to the free movement of people, States Parties shall strengthen, to the extent possible, such border controls as may be necessary to prevent and detect trafficking in persons.

2.   Each State Party shall adopt legislative or other appropriate measures to prevent, to the extent possible, means of transport operated by commercial carriers from being used in the commission of offences established in accordance with article 5 of this Protocol.

3.   Where appropriate, and without prejudice to applicable international conventions, such measures shall include establishing the obligation of commercial carriers, including any transportation company or the owner or operator of any means of transport, to ascertain that all passengers are in possession of the travel documents required for entry into the receiving State.

4.   Each State Party shall take the necessary measures, in accordance with its domestic law, to provide for sanctions in cases of violation of the obligation set forth in paragraph 3 of this article.

5.   Each State Party shall consider taking measures that permit, in accordance with its domestic law, the denial of entry or revocation of visas of persons implicated in the commission of offences established in accordance with this Protocol.

6.   Without prejudice to article 27 of the Convention, States Parties shall consider strengthening cooperation among border control agencies by, inter alia, establishing and maintaining direct channels of communication.

Article 12

Security and control of documents

Each State Party shall take such measures as may be necessary, within available means:

Article 13

Legitimacy and validity of documents

At the request of another State Party, a State Party shall, in accordance with its domestic law, verify within a reasonable time the legitimacy and validity of travel or identity documents issued or purported to have been issued in its name and suspected of being used for trafficking in persons.

IV.   FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 14

Saving clause

1.   Nothing in this Protocol shall affect the rights, obligations and responsibilities of States and individuals under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law and, in particular, where applicable, the 1951 Convention (1) and the 1967 Protocol (2) relating to the Status of Refugees and the principle of non-refoulement as contained therein.

2.   The measures set forth in this Protocol shall be interpreted and applied in a way that is not discriminatory to persons on the ground that they are victims of trafficking in persons. The interpretation and application of those measures shall be consistent with internationally recognised principles of non-discrimination.

Article 15

Settlement of disputes

1.   States Parties shall endeavour to settle disputes concerning the interpretation or application of this Protocol through negotiation.

2.   Any dispute between two or more States Parties concerning the interpretation or application of this Protocol that cannot be settled through negotiation within a reasonable time shall, at the request of one of those States Parties, be submitted to arbitration. If, six months after the date of the request for arbitration, those States Parties are unable to agree on the organisation of the arbitration, any one of those States Parties may refer the dispute to the International Court of Justice by request in accordance with the Statute of the Court.

3.   Each State Party may, at the time of signature, ratification, acceptance or approval of or accession to this Protocol, declare that it does not consider itself bound by paragraph 2 of this article. The other States Parties shall not be bound by paragraph 2 of this article with respect to any State Party that has made such a reservation.

4.   Any State Party that has made a reservation in accordance with paragraph 3 of this article may at any time withdraw that reservation by notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Article 16

Signature, ratification, acceptance, approval and accession

1.   This Protocol shall be open to all States for signature from 12 to 15 December 2000 in Palermo, Italy, and thereafter at United Nations Headquarters in New York until 12 December 2002.

2.   This Protocol shall also be open for signature by regional economic integration organisations provided that at least one member State of such organisation has signed this Protocol in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article.

3.   This Protocol is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. A regional economic integration organisation may deposit its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval if at least one of its member States has done likewise. In that instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval, such organisation shall declare the extent of its competence with respect to the matters governed by this Protocol. Such organisation shall also inform the depositary of any relevant modification in the extent of its competence.

4.   This Protocol is open for accession by any State or any regional economic integration organisation of which at least one Member State is a Party to this Protocol. Instruments of accession shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. At the time of its accession, a regional economic integration organisation shall declare the extent of its competence with respect to matters governed by this Protocol. Such organisation shall also inform the depositary of any relevant modification in the extent of its competence.

Article 17

Entry into force

1.   This Protocol shall enter into force on the 90th day after the date of deposit of the 40th instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, except that it shall not enter into force before the entry into force of the Convention. For the purpose of this paragraph, any instrument deposited by a regional economic integration organisation shall not be counted as additional to those deposited by Member States of such organisation.

2.   For each State or regional economic integration organisation ratifying, accepting, approving or acceding to this Protocol after the deposit of the 40th instrument of such action, this Protocol shall enter into force on the 30th day after the date of deposit by such State or organisation of the relevant instrument or on the date this Protocol enters into force pursuant to paragraph 1 of this article, whichever is the later.

Article 18

Amendment

1.   After the expiry of five years from the entry into force of this Protocol, a State Party to the Protocol may propose an amendment and file it with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall thereupon communicate the proposed amendment to the States Parties and to the Conference of the Parties to the Convention for the purpose of considering and deciding on the proposal. The States Parties to this Protocol meeting at the Conference of the Parties shall make every effort to achieve consensus on each amendment. If all efforts at consensus have been exhausted and no agreement has been reached, the amendment shall, as a last resort, require for its adoption a two-thirds majority vote of the States Parties to this Protocol present and voting at the meeting of the Conference of the Parties.

2.   Regional economic integration organisations, in matters within their competence, shall exercise their right to vote under this article with a number of votes equal to the number of their Member States that are Parties to this Protocol. Such organisations shall not exercise their right to vote if their Member States exercise theirs and vice versa.

3.   An amendment adopted in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval by States Parties.

4.   An amendment adopted in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article shall enter into force in respect of a State Party 90 days after the date of the deposit with the Secretary-General of the United Nations of an instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval of such amendment.

5.   When an amendment enters into force, it shall be binding on those States Parties which have expressed their consent to be bound by it. Other States Parties shall still be bound by the provisions of this Protocol and any earlier amendments that they have ratified, accepted or approved.

Article 19

Denunciation

1.   A State Party may denounce this Protocol by written notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Such denunciation shall become effective one year after the date of receipt of the notification by the Secretary-General.

2.   A regional economic integration organisation shall cease to be a Party to this Protocol when all of its Member States have denounced it.

Article 20

Depositary and languages

1.   The Secretary-General of the United Nations is designated depositary of this Protocol.

2.   The original of this Protocol, of which the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned plenipotentiaries, being duly authorised thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Protocol.

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(1)  United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No 2545.

(2)  Ibid., vol. 606, No 8791.

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BILAGA II

Förklaring om Europeiska gemenskapens behörighet med avseende på frågor som faller under tilläggsprotokollet om förebyggande, bekämpande och bestraffande av handel med människor, särskilt kvinnor och barn, till Förenta nationernas konvention mot gränsöverskridande organiserad brottslighet

Enligt artikel 16.3 i protokollet om förebyggande, bekämpande och bestraffande av handel med människor, särskilt kvinnor och barn, skall en regional organisation för ekonomisk integration i sitt instrument avseende ratifikation, godkännande eller godtagande förklara omfattningen av sin behörighet med avseende på frågor som faller under protokollet och i fråga om vilka organisationens medlemsstater som är parter i protokollet har överfört behörighet till organisationen.

Protokollet om förebyggande, bekämpande och bestraffande av handel med människor, särskilt kvinnor och barn, skall med avseende på frågor där behörighet har överförts till Europeiska gemenskapen gälla för de områden i vilka fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen tillämpas, på de villkor som anges i det fördraget, särskilt artikel 299 i detta och de protokoll som fogas till fördraget.

Denna förklaring skall inte påverka Förenade kungarikets och Irlands ställning enligt protokollet om införlivande av Schengenregelverket inom Europeiska unionens ramar eller enligt protokollet om Förenade kungarikets och Irlands ställning, som fogas till fördraget om Europeiska unionen och fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen.

Denna förklaring skall inte heller påverka Danmarks ställning enligt protokollet om Danmarks ställning som fogas till fördraget om Europeiska unionen och fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen.

I enlighet med artikel 299 gäller denna förklaring inte för de områden i medlemsstaterna där nämnda fördrag inte gäller, och den påverkar inte tillämpningen av sådana rättsakter eller ståndpunkter som kan komma att antas enligt protokollet av de berörda medlemsstaterna på sådana områdens vägnar eller i dessas intresse. I enlighet med de bestämmelser som angivits ovan anges det i denna förklaring i vilka avseenden medlemsstaterna genom fördragen har överfört behörighet till gemenskapen i frågor som faller under protokollet. Omfattningen och utövandet av denna gemenskapens behörighet är genom sin natur i ständig utveckling eftersom gemenskapen fortsätter att anta tillämpliga regler och föreskrifter, och gemenskapen kommer vid behov att komplettera eller ändra denna förklaring i enlighet med artikel 16.3 i protokollet.

Gemenskapen poängterar att den är behörig med avseende på åtgärder som avser passage av medlemsstaternas yttre gränser och med vilkas hjälp det fastställs normer och förfaranden som medlemsstaterna skall följa när de utför personkontroller vid sådana gränser och regler om visering för vistelser som inte är avsedda att vara längre än tre månader.

Gemenskapen är också behörig med avseende på åtgärder som avser invandringspolitiken när det gäller villkoren för inresa och bosättning och åtgärder för att bekämpa olaglig invandring och olaglig bosättning, inbegripet återsändande av personer som vistas olagligt i gemenskapen. Det kan dessutom krävas åtgärder för att säkerställa samarbete inom ovannämnda områden mellan de relevanta enheterna i medlemsstaternas förvaltningar samt mellan dessa enheter och kommissionen. Inom dessa områden har gemenskapen antagit regler och föreskrifter, och när den har gjort detta är det således endast gemenskapen som skall göra åtaganden gentemot tredjeländer eller behöriga internationella organisationer.

Dessutom är gemenskapspolitiken inom området utvecklingssamarbete ett komplement till medlemsstaternas politik på detta område och inbegriper bestämmelser för att hindra och bekämpa människohandel.

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