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DECISION OF THE COUNCIL AND OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE MEMBER STATES, MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL

of 4 December 2006

on the signature and provisional application of the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Morocco, of the other part

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2006/959/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE MEMBER STATES, MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 80(2), in conjunction with the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2) and Article 300(4) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Signature and provisional application

1.   The signing of the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Morocco, of the other part, hereinafter ‘the Agreement’, is hereby approved on behalf of the Community, subject to the conclusion of the Agreement.

2.   The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the Agreement on behalf of the Community, subject to its conclusion.

3.   Pending its entry into force, the Agreement shall be applied in accordance with Article 30(1) thereof.

4.   The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

Joint Committee

1.   The Community and the Member States shall be represented in the Joint Committee established under Article 22 of the Agreement by representatives of the Commission and of the Member States.

2.   The position to be taken by the Community and the Member States within the Joint Committee as regards the amendment of the Annexes to the Agreement others than Annex I (Agreed Services and Specific Routes) and Annex IV (Transitional Provisions), and any matters falling within Article 7 or 8 of the Agreement shall be adopted by the Commission, following consultation with a Special Committee of the Representatives of the Member States appointed by the Council.

3.   For other Joint Committee decisions concerning matters that fall within Community competence, the position of the Community and its Member States shall be adopted by the Council, acting by qualified majority, on a proposal from the Commission.

4.   For other Joint Committee decisions concerning matters that fall within Member States' competence, the position to be presented shall be adopted by the Council, acting by unanimity, on a proposal from the Commission or from Member States.

5.   The position of the Community and of the Member States within the Joint Committee shall be presented by the Commission, except in areas that fall exclusively within Member States' competence, in which case it shall be presented by the Presidency of the Council or, if the Council so decides, by the Commission.

Article 3

Arbitration

1.   The Commission shall represent the Community and the Member States in arbitration proceedings under Article 23 of the Agreement.

2.   A decision to limit, suspend or revoke the application of rights or privileges pursuant to Article 23(6) of the Agreement shall be taken by the Council on the basis of a Commission proposal. The Council shall decide by qualified majority.

3.   Any other appropriate action to be taken under Article 23 of the Agreement on matters which fall within Community competence shall be decided by the Commission, with the assistance of a Special Committee of Representatives of the Member States appointed by the Council.

Article 4

Safeguard measures

1.   A decision to take safeguard measures pursuant to Article 24 of the Agreement shall be taken, on its own initiative or upon a request from a Member State, by the Commission, which shall be assisted by a Special Committee of Representatives of the Member States appointed by the Council.

2.   Where a Member State requests the Commission to apply safeguard measures, it shall provide the Commission, in support of its request, with the information necessary to justify it. The Commission shall take a decision on such request within one month or, in cases of urgency, within 10 working days, and inform the Council and the Member States of its decision. Any Member State may refer the Commission's decision to the Council within 10 working days of its notification. The Council may take a different decision within one month of the referral. The Council shall decide by qualified majority.

Article 5

Informing the Commission

1.   Member States shall promptly inform the Commission of any decision to refuse, revoke, suspend or limit the authorisations of an air carrier of Morocco that they have adopted under Articles 3 or 4 of the Agreement.

2.   Member States shall inform the Commission immediately of any requests or notifications made or received by them under Article 14 of the Agreement.

3.   Member States shall inform the Commission immediately of any requests or notifications made or received by them under Article 15 of the Agreement.

Done at Brussels, 4 December 2006.

For the Council

The President

M. PEKKARINEN

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EURO-MEDITERRANEAN AVIATION AGREEMENT

between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part and the Kingdom of Morocco, of the other part

THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM,

THE CZECH REPUBLIC,

THE KINGDOM OF DENMARK,

THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY,

THE REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA,

THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC,

THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN,

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC,

IRELAND,

THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC,

THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS,

THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA,

THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA,

THE GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG,

THE REPUBLIC OF HUNGARY,

MALTA,

THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS,

THE REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA,

THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND,

THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC,

THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA,

THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC,

THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND,

THE KINGDOM OF SWEDEN,

THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND,

Contracting Parties to the Treaty establishing the European Community, hereinafter referred to as the ‘Member States’, and

THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Community’,

of the one part, and

THE KINGDOM OF MOROCCO, hereinafter referred to as ‘Morocco’,

of the other part,

DESIRING to promote an international aviation system based on fair competition among air carriers in the marketplace with minimum government interference and regulation;

DESIRING to facilitate the expansion of international air transport opportunities, including through the development of air transport networks to meet the needs of passengers and shippers for convenient air transport services;

DESIRING to make it possible for air carriers to offer the travelling and shipping public competitive prices and services in open markets;

DESIRING to have all sectors of the air transport industry, including air carrier workers, benefit in a liberalised agreement;

DESIRING to ensure the highest degree of safety and security in international air transport and reaffirming their grave concern with regard to acts or threats against the security of aircraft, which jeopardise the safety of persons or property, adversely affect the operation of air transport and undermine public confidence in the safety of civil aviation;

NOTING the Convention on International Civil Aviation, opened for signature at Chicago on 7 December 1944;

DESIRING to ensure a level playing field for air carriers;

RECOGNISING that government subsidies may adversely affect air carrier competition and may jeopardise the basic objectives of this Agreement;

AFFIRMING the importance of protecting the environment in developing and implementing international aviation policy and recognising the rights of sovereign States to take appropriate measures to this effect;

NOTING the importance of protecting consumers, including the protections afforded by the Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air, done at Montreal 28 May 1999, insofar as both the Contracting Parties are parties to this Convention;

INTENDING to build upon the framework of existing air transport agreements with the goal of opening access to markets and maximising benefits for the consumers, air carriers, labour, and communities of both Contracting Parties;

CONSIDERING that an agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and Morocco, of the other part, can constitute a reference in Euro-Mediterranean aviation relations in order fully to promote the benefits of liberalisation in this crucial economic sector;

NOTING that the purpose of such an agreement is that it be applied in a progressive but integral way, and that a suitable mechanism can ensure ever closer harmonisation with Community legislation,

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Definitions

For the purposes of this Agreement, unless otherwise stated, the term:

TITLE I

ECONOMIC PROVISIONS

Article 2

Traffic Rights

1.   Each Party shall grant to the other Party, except as otherwise specified in Annex I, the following rights for the conduct of international air transport by the air carriers of the other Party:

2.   Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to confer on the air carriers of:

Article 3

Authorisation

On receipt of applications for operating authorisation from an air carrier of one of the Contracting Parties, the competent authorities of the other Party shall grant appropriate authorisations with minimum procedural delay, provided that:

Article 4

Revocation of Authorisation

1.   The competent authorities of either Contracting Party may revoke, suspend or limit the operating authorisations or otherwise suspend or limit the operations of an air carrier of the other Contracting Party where:

2.   Unless immediate action is essential to prevent further non-compliance with points (c) or (d) of paragraph 1, the rights established by this Article shall be exercised only after consultation with the competent authorities of the other Contracting Party.

Article 5

Investment

The majority ownership or the effective control of an air carrier of Morocco by Member States or their nationals, or of an air carrier of the European Community by Morocco or its nationals, shall be subject to a preliminary decision of the Joint Committee established by this Agreement.

This decision shall specify the conditions associated with the operation of the agreed services under this Agreement and with the services between third countries and the Contracting Parties. The provisions of Article 22(9) of this Agreement shall not apply to this type of decisions.

Article 6

Compliance with laws and regulations

1.   While entering, within, or leaving the territory of one Contracting Party, the laws and regulations applicable within that territory relating to the admission to or departure from its territory of aircraft engaged in international air transport, or to the operation and navigation of aircraft shall be complied with by the other Contracting Party's air carriers.

2.   While entering, within, or leaving the territory of one Contracting Party, the laws and regulations applicable within that territory relating to the admission to or departure from its territory of passengers, crew or cargo on aircraft (including regulations relating to entry, clearance, immigration, passports, customs and quarantine or, in the case of mail, postal regulations) shall be complied with by, or on behalf of, such passengers, crew or cargo of the other Contracting Party's air carriers.

Article 7

Competition

Within the scope of this Agreement, the provisions of Chapter II (‘Competition and other Economic Provisions’) of Title IV of the Association Agreement shall apply, except where more specific rules are contained in this Agreement.

Article 8

Subsidies

1.   The Contracting Parties recognise that public subsidies to air carriers distort or threaten to distort competition by favouring certain undertakings in the provision of air transport services, that they jeopardise the basic objectives of the Agreement and that they are incompatible with the principle of an open aviation area.

2.   When a Contracting Party deems it essential to grant public subsidies to an air carrier operating under this Agreement in order to achieve a legitimate objective, it shall see to it that such subsidies are proportionate to the objective, transparent and designed to minimise, to the extent feasible, their adverse impact on the air carriers of the other Contracting Party. The Contracting Party intending to grant any such subsidy shall inform the other Contracting Party of its intention and shall make sure that such subsidy is consistent with the criteria laid down in this Agreement.

3.   If one Contracting Party believes that a subsidy provided by the other Contracting Party, or, as the case may be, by a public or governmental body of a country other than the Contracting Parties, is inconsistent with the criteria laid down in paragraph 2, it may request a meeting of the Joint Committee, as provided in Article 22 to consider the issue and develop appropriate responses to concerns found to be legitimate.

4.   When a dispute can not be settled by the Joint Committee, the Contracting Parties retain the possibility of applying their respective anti-subsidy measures.

5.   The provisions of this Article shall apply without prejudice to the Contracting Parties' laws and regulations regarding essential air services and public service obligations in the territories of the Contracting Parties.

Article 9

Commercial opportunities

1.   The air carriers of each Contracting Party shall have the right to establish offices in the territory of the other Contracting Party for the promotion and sale of air transport and related activities.

2.   The air carriers of each Contracting Party shall be entitled, in accordance with the laws and regulations of the other Contracting Party relating to entry, residence, and employment, to bring in and maintain in the territory of the other Contracting Party managerial, sales, technical, operational, and other specialist staff who are required to support the provision of air transport.

4.   Any air carrier of each Contracting Party may engage in the sale of air transport in the territory of the other Contracting Party directly and/or, at the air carrier's discretion, through its sales agents or other intermediaries appointed by the air carrier. Each air carrier shall have the right to sell such transportation, and any person shall be free to purchase such transportation, in the currency of that territory or in freely convertible currencies.

5.   Each air carrier shall have the right to convert and remit from the territory of the other Contracting Party to its home territory and, except where inconsistent with generally applicable law or regulation, to the country or countries of its choice, on demand, local revenues. Conversion and remittance shall be permitted promptly without restrictions or taxation in respect thereof at the rate of exchange applicable to current transactions and remittance on the date the carrier makes the initial application for remittance.

6.   The air carriers of each Contracting Party shall be permitted to pay for local expenses, including purchases of fuel, in the territory of the other Contracting Party in local currency. At their discretion, the air carriers of each Party may pay for such expenses in the territory of the other Party in freely convertible currencies according to local currency regulation.

7.   In operating or holding out services under the Agreement, any air carrier of a Contracting Party may enter into cooperative marketing arrangements, such as blocked-space agreements or code-sharing arrangements, with:

provided that (i) all participants in such arrangements hold the appropriate authority and (ii) the arrangements meet the requirements relating to safety and competition normally applied to such arrangements. In respect of passenger transport sold involving code-shares, the purchaser shall be informed at the point of sale, or in any case before boarding, which transportation providers will operate each sector of the service.

Article 10

Customs duties and charges

1.   On arriving in the territory of one Contracting Party, aircraft operated in international air transport by the air carriers of the other Contracting Party, their regular equipment, fuel, lubricants, consumable technical supplies, ground equipment, spare parts (including engines), aircraft stores (including but not limited to such items of food, beverages and liquor, tobacco and other products destined for sale to or use by passengers in limited quantities during flight), and other items intended for or used solely in connection with the operation or servicing of aircraft engaged in international air transport shall be exempt, on the basis of reciprocity, from all import restrictions, property taxes and capital levies, customs duties, excise taxes, and similar fees and charges that are (a) imposed by the national or local authorities or the European Community, and (b) not based on the cost of services provided, provided that such equipment and supplies remain on board the aircraft.

2.   There shall also be exempt, on the basis of reciprocity, from the taxes, levies, duties, fees and charges referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, with the exception of charges based on the cost of the service provided:

3.   This Agreement does not exempt fuel supplied by a Contracting Party to air carriers within its territory from taxes, levies, duties, fees, and charges similar to those referred to in paragraph 1. While entering, within, or leaving the territory of one Contracting Party, its laws and regulations relating to the sale, supply, and use of aircraft fuel shall be complied with by the other Contracting Party's air carriers.

4.   Equipment and supplies referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article may be required to be kept under the supervision or control of the appropriate authorities.

5.   The exemptions provided by this Article shall also be available where the air carriers of one Contracting Party have contracted with another air carrier, which similarly enjoys such exemptions from the other Contracting Party, for the loan or transfer in the territory of the other Party of the items specified in paragraphs 1 and 2.

6.   Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent either Contracting Party from imposing taxes, levies, duties, fees or charges on goods sold other than for consumption on board to passengers during a sector of an air service between two points within its territory at which embarkation or disembarkation is permitted.

Article 11

User Charges

1.   Each Contracting Party shall undertake not to impose on the air carriers of the other Contracting Party user charges higher than those imposed on its own air carriers operating similar international air services.

2.   Increased or new charges should only follow adequate consultation between the competent charging authorities and the air carriers of each Contracting Party. Reasonable notice of any proposals for changes in user charges should be given to users to enable them to express their views before changes are made. The Contracting Parties shall also encourage the exchange of such information as may be necessary to permit an accurate assessment of the reasonableness of, justification for and apportionment of the charges in accordance with the principles set out above.

Article 12

Pricing

Prices for air transport services operated pursuant to this Agreement shall be established freely and shall not be subject to approval, but they may be required to be filed for information purposes only. Prices to be charged for carriage wholly within the European Community shall be subject to European Community law.

Article 13

Statistics

The competent authorities of either Contracting Party shall supply the competent authorities of the other Contracting Party, at their request, with the information and statistics related to the traffic carried by the air carriers authorised by one Contracting Party on the agreed services to or from the territory of the other Contracting Party in the same form as they have been prepared and submitted by the authorised air carriers to their national competent authorities. Any additional statistical data related to traffic which the competent authorities of one Contracting Party may request from the authorities of the other Contracting Party shall be subject to discussions by the Joint Committee, at the request of either Contracting Party.

TITLE II

REGULATORY COOPERATION

Article 14

Aviation safety

1.   The Contracting Parties shall act in conformity with the provisions of the Community's aviation safety legislation specified in Annex VI. A, under the conditions set out hereafter.

2.   The Contracting Parties shall ensure that aircraft registered in one Contracting Party suspected of non-compliance with international aviation safety standards established pursuant to the Convention landing at airports open to international air traffic in the territory of the other Contracting Party shall be subject to ramp inspections by the competent authorities of that other Contracting Party, on board and around the aircraft to check both the validity of the aircraft documents and those of its crew and the apparent condition of the aircraft and its equipment.

3.   Either Contracting Party may request consultations at any time concerning the safety standards maintained by the other Contracting Party.

4.   Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to limit the authority of the competent authorities of a Contracting Party to take all appropriate and immediate measures whenever they ascertain that an aircraft, a product or an operation may:

5.   Where the competent authorities of one Contracting Party take action under paragraph 4, they shall promptly inform the competent authorities of the other Contracting Party of taking such action, providing reasons for its action.

6.   Where measures taken in application of paragraph 4 are not discontinued even though the basis for taking them has ceased to exist, either Contracting Party may refer the matter to the Joint Committee.

Article 15

Aviation Security

1.   The assurance of safety for civil aircraft, their passengers and crew being a fundamental pre-condition for the operation of international air services, the Contracting Parties reaffirm their obligations to each other to provide for the security of civil aviation against acts of unlawful interference, and in particular their obligations under the Chicago Convention, the Convention on Offences and Certain Other Acts Committed on Board Aircraft, signed at Tokyo on 14 September 1963, the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft, signed at The Hague on 16 December 1970, the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation, signed at Montreal on 23 September 1971, the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts of Violence at Airports Serving International Civil Aviation, signed at Montreal on 24 February 1988 and the Convention on the marking of plastic explosives for purpose of detection signed at Montreal on 1 March 1991, insofar as both Contracting Parties are parties to these conventions, as well as all other conventions and protocols relating to civil aviation safety of which both Parties are parties.

2.   The Contracting Parties shall provide upon request all necessary assistance to each other to prevent acts of unlawful seizure of civil aircraft and other unlawful acts against the safety of such aircraft, their passengers and crew, airports and air navigation facilities, and any other threat to the security of civil aviation.

3.   The Contracting Parties shall, in their mutual relations, act in conformity with the aviation security Standards and, so far as they are applied by them, the Recommended Practices established by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and designated as Annexes to the Chicago Convention, to the extent that such security provisions are applicable to the Contracting Parties. Both Contracting Parties shall require that operators of aircraft of their registry, operators who have their principal place of business or permanent residence in their territory, and the operators of airports in their territory, act in conformity with such aviation security provisions.

4.   Each Contracting Party shall ensure that effective measures are taken within its territory to protect aircraft, to screen passengers and their carry-on items, and to carry out appropriate checks on crew, cargo (including hold baggage) and aircraft stores prior to and during boarding or loading and that those measures are adjusted to meet increases in the threat. Each Contracting Party agrees that their air carriers may be required to observe the aviation security provisions referred to in paragraph 3 required by the other Contracting Party, for entrance into, departure from, or while within, the territory of that other Contracting Party. Each Contracting Party shall also act favourably upon any request from the other Contracting Party for reasonable special security measures to meet a particular threat

5.   When an incident or threat of an incident of unlawful seizure of civil aircraft or other unlawful acts against the safety of such aircraft, their passengers and crew, airports or air navigation facilities occurs, the Contracting Parties shall assist each other by facilitating communications and other appropriate measures intended to terminate rapidly and safely such incident or threat thereof.

6.   When a Contracting Party has reasonable grounds to believe that the other Contracting Party has departed from the aviation security provisions of this Article, that Contracting Party may request immediate consultations with the other Contracting Party.

7.   Without prejudice to Article 4 (Revocation of Authorisations) of this Agreement, failure to reach a satisfactory agreement within fifteen (15) days from the date of such request shall constitute grounds to withhold, revoke, limit or impose conditions on the operating authorisation of one or more air carriers of such other Contracting Party.

8.   When required by an immediate and extraordinary threat, a Contracting Party may take interim action prior to the expiry of fifteen (15) days.

9.   Any action taken in accordance with the paragraph 7 shall be discontinued upon compliance by the other Contracting Party with the provisions of this Article.

Article 16

Air traffic management

1.   The Contracting Parties shall act in conformity with the provisions of the legislation specified in Part B of Annex VI, under the conditions set out hereafter.

2.   The Contracting Parties commit themselves to the highest degree of cooperation in the field of air traffic management with a view to extending the Single European Sky to Morocco in order to enhance current safety standards and overall efficiency for general air traffic standards in Europe, to optimise capacities and to minimise delays.

3.   With a view to facilitating the application of the Single European Sky legislation in their territories:

Article 17

Environment

1.   The Contracting Parties shall act in conformity with Community legislation relating to air transport specified in Part C of Annex VI.

2.   Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to limit the authority of the competent authorities of a Contracting Party to take all appropriate measures to prevent or otherwise address the environmental impacts of the international air transport performed under the Agreement provided that such measures are applied without distinction as to nationality.

Article 18

Consumer protection

The Contracting Parties shall act in accordance with Community legislation relating to air transport specified in Part D of Annex VI.

Article 19

Computer reservation systems

The Contracting Parties shall act in accordance with Community legislation relating to air transport specified in Part E of Annex VI.

Article 20

Social aspects

The Contracting Parties shall act in accordance with Community legislation relating to air transport specified in Part F of Annex VI.

TITLE III

INSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS

Article 21

Interpretation and enforcement

1.   The Contracting Parties shall take all appropriate measures, whether general or particular, to ensure fulfilment of the obligations arising out of this Agreement and shall refrain from any measures which would jeopardise attainment of the objectives of this Agreement.

2.   Each Contracting Party shall be responsible, in its own territory, for the proper enforcement of this Agreement and, in particular, the regulations and directives related to air transport listed in Annex VI.

3.   Each Contracting Party shall give the other Contracting Party all necessary information and assistance in the case of investigations on possible infringements which that other Contracting Party carries out under its respective competences as provided in this Agreement.

4.   Whenever the Contracting Parties act under the powers granted to them by this Agreement on matters which are of interest to the other Contracting Party and which concern the authorities or undertakings of the other Contracting Party, the competent authorities of the other Contracting Party shall be fully informed and given the opportunity to comment before a final decision is taken.

Article 22

The Joint Committee

1.   A committee composed of representatives of the Contracting Parties (hereinafter referred to as the Joint Committee) is hereby established, which shall be responsible for the administration of this Agreement and shall ensure its proper implementation. For this purpose it shall make recommendations and take decisions in the cases provided for in this Agreement.

2.   The decisions of the Joint Committee shall be jointly adopted and shall be binding upon the Contracting Parties. They will be put into effect by the Contracting Parties in accordance with their own rules.

3.   The Joint Committee shall meet as and when necessary and at least once a year. Either Contracting Party may request the convening of a meeting.

4.   A Contracting Party may also request a meeting of the Joint Committee to seek to resolve any question relating to the interpretation or application of this Agreement. Such a meeting shall begin at the earliest possible date, but not later than two months from the date of receipt of the request, unless otherwise agreed by the Contracting Parties.

5.   For the purpose of the proper implementation of this Agreement, the Contracting Parties shall exchange information and, at the request of either Contracting Party, shall hold consultations within the Joint Committee.

6.   The Joint Committee shall adopt, by a decision, its rules of procedure.

7.   If, in the view of one of the Contracting Parties, a decision of the Joint Committee is not properly implemented by the other Contracting Party, the former may request that the issue be discussed by the Joint Committee. If the Joint Committee cannot solve the issue within two months of its referral, the requesting Contracting Party may take appropriate temporary safeguard measures under Article 24.

8.   The decisions of the Joint Committee shall state the date of its implementation in the Contracting Parties and any other information likely to concern economic operators.

9.   Without prejudice to paragraph 2, if the Joint Committee does not take a decision on an issue which has been referred to it within six months of the date of referral, the Contracting Parties may take appropriate temporary safeguard measures under Article 24.

10.   The Joint Committee shall examine questions relating to bilateral investments of majority participation, or changes in the effective control of air carriers of the Contracting Parties.

11.   The Joint Committee shall also develop cooperation by:

Article 23

Dispute Resolution and Arbitration

1.   Either Contracting Party may refer to the Joint Committee any dispute relating to the application or interpretation of this Agreement, having not been resolved in accordance with Article 22. For the purposes of this Article, the Association Council established under the Association Agreement shall act as Joint Committee.

2.   The Joint Committee may settle the dispute by means of a decision.

3.   The Contracting Parties shall take the necessary measures to implement the decision referred to in paragraph 2.

4.   Should the Contracting Parties be unable to settle the dispute in accordance with paragraph 2, the dispute shall, at the request of either Contracting Party, be submitted to an arbitration panel of three arbitrators in accordance with the procedure laid down hereafter:

5.   Any provisional decision or final decision of the arbitration court shall be binding upon the Contracting Parties.

6.   If one of the Contracting Parties does not act in conformity with a decision of the arbitration court taken under the terms of this Article within thirty (30) days from the notification of the aforementioned decision, the other Contracting Party may, for as long as this failure endures, limit, suspend or revoke the rights or privileges which it had granted under the terms of this Agreement from the Party at fault.

Article 24

Safeguard measures

1.   The Contracting Parties shall take any general or specific measures required to fulfil their obligations under this Agreement. They shall see to it that the objectives set out in this Agreement are attained.

2.   If either Contracting Party considers that the other Party has failed to fulfil an obligation under this Agreement, it may take appropriate measures. Safeguard measures shall be restricted with regard to their scope and duration to what is strictly necessary in order to remedy the situation or maintain the balance of this Agreement. Priority shall be given to such measures as will least disturb the functioning of this Agreement.

3.   A Contracting Party which is considering taking safeguard measures shall notify the other Contracting Parties through the Joint Committee and shall provide all relevant information.

4.   The Contracting Parties shall immediately enter into consultations in the Joint Committee with a view to finding a commonly acceptable solution.

5.   Without prejudice to Articles 3(d), Article 4(d) and Articles 14 and 15, the Contracting Party concerned may not take safeguard measures until one month has elapsed after the date of notification under paragraph 3, unless the consultation procedure under paragraph 4 has been concluded before the expiration of the stated time limit.

6.   The Contracting Party concerned shall, without delay, notify the measures taken to the Joint Committee and shall provide all relevant information.

7.   Any action taken under the terms of this Article shall be suspended, as soon as the Contracting Party at fault satisfies the provisions of this Agreement.

Article 25

Geographic extension of the Agreement

The Contracting Parties, although recognising the bilateral nature of this Agreement, note that it lies within the scope of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership envisaged in the declaration of Barcelona of 28 November 1995. The Contracting Parties commit to conduct a continuous dialogue to ensure the coherence of this Agreement with the Barcelona process, and in particular with regard to the possibility of mutually agreeing amendments to take into account similar air transport agreements.

Article 26

Relationship to other Agreements

1.   The provisions of this Agreement supersede the relevant provisions of existing bilateral agreements between Morocco and the Member States. However, existing traffic rights which originate from these bilateral agreements and which are not covered under this Agreement can continue to be exercised, provided that there is no discrimination between the Member States and their nationals.

2.   If the Contracting Parties become parties to a multilateral agreement, or endorse a decision adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation or another international organisation, that addresses matters covered by this Agreement, they shall consult in the Joint Committee to determine whether this Agreement should be revised to take into account such developments.

3.   This Agreement shall be without prejudice to any decision by the two Contracting Parties to implement future recommendations that may be made by the ICAO. The Contracting Parties shall not cite this Agreement, or any part of it, as the basis for opposing consideration in the ICAO of alternative policies on any matter covered by this Agreement.

Article 27

Amendments

1.   If one of the Contracting Parties wishes to revise the provisions of this Agreement, it shall notify the Joint Committee accordingly. The agreed amendment to this Agreement shall enter into force after completion of the respective internal procedures.

2.   The Joint Committee may, upon the proposal of one Contracting Party and in accordance with this Article, decide to modify the Annexes of this Agreement.

3.   This Agreement shall be without prejudice to the right of each Contracting Party, subject to compliance with the principle of non-discrimination and the provisions of this Agreement to unilaterally adopt new legislation or amend its existing legislation in the field of air transport or an associated area mentioned in Annex VI, with respect to the principle of non-discrimination and in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

4.   As soon as new legislation is being drawn up by one of the Contracting Parties, it shall inform and consult the other Contracting Party as closely as possible. At the request of one of the Contracting Parties, a preliminary exchange of views may take place in the Joint Committee.

5.   As soon as a Contracting Party has adopted new legislation or an amendment to its legislation in the field of air transport or an associated area mentioned in Annex VI, it shall inform the other Contracting Party not later than thirty days after its adoption. Upon the request of any Contracting Party, the Joint Committee shall within sixty days thereafter hold an exchange of views on the implications of such new legislation or amendment for the proper functioning of this Agreement.

6.   The Joint Committee shall:

Article 28

Termination

1.   This Agreement is concluded for an unlimited period.

2.   Either Party may, at any time, give notice in writing through diplomatic channels to the other Party of its decision to terminate this Agreement. Such notice shall be sent simultaneously to the ICAO. This Agreement shall terminate twelve months after the date of receipt of the notice by the other Party, unless the notice to terminate is withdrawn before the expiry of this period.

3.   This Agreement shall cease to be in force or be suspended if the Association Agreement ceases to be in force or is suspended, respectively.

Article 29

Registration with the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the United Nations Secretariat

This Agreement and all amendments thereto shall be registered with the ICAO and with the UN Secretariat.

Article 30

Entry into force

1.   This Agreement shall be applied provisionally, in accordance with the national laws of the Contracting Parties, from the date of signature.

2.   This Agreement shall enter into force one month after the date of the last note in an exchange of diplomatic notes between the Contracting Parties confirming that all necessary procedures for entry into force of this Agreement have been completed. For purposes of this exchange, the Kingdom of Morocco shall deliver to the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union its diplomatic note to the European Community and its Member States, and the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union shall deliver to the Kingdom of Morocco the diplomatic note from the European Community and its Member States. The diplomatic note from the European Community and its Member States shall contain communications from each Member State confirming that its necessary procedures for entry into force of this Agreement have been completed.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorised, have signed this Agreement.

Done at Brussels on the twelfth day of December in the year two thousand and six, in duplicate, in the Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish, Swedish and Arabic languages, each text being equally authentic.

Pour le Royaume de Belgique

Voor het Koninkrijk België

Für das Königreich Belgien

Za Českou republiku

På Kongeriget Danmarks vegne

Für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland

Eesti Vabariigi nimel

Για την Ελληνική Δημοκρατία

Por el Reino de España

Pour la République française

Thar cheann Na hÉireann

For Ireland

Per la Repubblica italiana

Για την Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία

Latvijas Republikas vārdā

Lietuvos Respublikos vardu

Pour le Grand-Duché de Luxembourg

A Magyar Köztársaság részéről

Għar-Repubblika ta' Malta

Voor het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden

Für die Republik Österreich

W imieniu Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej

Pela República Portuguesa

Za Republiko Slovenijo

Za Slovenskú republiku

Suomen tasavallan puolesta

För Republiken Finland

För Konungariket Sverige

For the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Por la Comunidad Europea

Za Evropské společenství

For Det Europæiske Fællesskab

Für die Europäische Gemeinschaft

Euroopa Ühenduse nimel

Για την Ευρωπαϊκή Κοινότητα

For the European Community

Pour la Communauté européenne

Per la Comunità europea

Eiropas Kopienas vārdā

Europos bendrijos vardu

az Európai Közösség részéről

Għall-Komunità Ewropea

Voor de Europese Gemeenschap

W imieniu Wspólnoty Europejskiej

Pela Comunidade Europeia

Za Európske spoločenstvo

Za Evropsko skupnost

Euroopan yhteisön puolesta

På Europeiska gemenskapens vägnar

Por el Reino de Marruecos

Za Marocké království

For Kongeriget Marokko

Für das Königreich Marokko

Maroko Kuningriigi nimel

Για το Βασίλειο του Μαρόκου

For the Kingdom of Morocco

Pour le Royaume du Maroc

Per il Regno del Marocco

Marokas Karalistes vārdā

Maroko Karalystès vardu

A Marokkói Királyság részéről

Għar-Renju tal-Marokk

Voor het Koninkrijk Marokko

W imieniu Królestwa Marokańskiego

Pelo Reino de Marrocos

Za Marocké kráľovstvo

Za Kraljevino Maroko

Marokon kuningaskunnan puolesta

För Konungariket Marocko

ANNEX I

AGREED SERVICES AND SPECIFIED ROUTES

ANNEX II

BILATERAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN MOROCCO AND THE MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY

As provided in Article 26 of this Agreement, the relevant provisions of the following bilateral air transport agreements between Morocco and the Member States shall be superseded by this Agreement:

ANNEX III

PROCEDURES FOR OPERATING AUTHORISATIONS AND TECHNICAL PERMISSIONS: COMPETENT AUTHORITIES

ANNEX IV

TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

ANNEX V

LIST OF OTHER STATES REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 3 AND 4 OF THE AGREEMENT

ANNEX VI

RULES APPLICABLE TO CIVIL AVIATION

The ‘Applicable provisions’ of the following acts shall be applicable in accordance with the Agreement unless otherwise specified in this Annex or in Annex IV on Transitional Provisions. Where necessary, specific adaptations for each individual act are set out hereafter:

A.   AVIATION SAFETY

Note: The precise conditions with regard to the participation as observer of Morocco to the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) will need to be discussed at a later stage.

No 3922/91

Council Regulation (EEC) 3922/91 of 16 December 1991 on the harmonisation of technical requirements and administrative procedures in the field of civil aviation

as amended by:

Applicable provisions: Articles 1 to 10, 12 to13 with the exception of Article 4, paragraph 1 and Article 8 paragraph 2, sentence 2, Annexes I, II and III

As regards the application of Article 12 ‘Member States’ shall read ‘EC Member States’.

No 94/56

Council Directive 94/56/EC of 21 November 1994 establishing the fundamental principles governing the investigations of civil aviation accidents and incidents

Applicable provisions: Articles 1 to 12

No 1592/2002

Regulation (EC) No 1592/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 July 2002 on common rules in the field of civil aviation and establishing a European Aviation Safety Agency

as amended by:

Applicable provisions: Articles 1 to 57, Annexes I and II

No 2003/42

Directive 2003/42/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 13 June 2003 on occurrence reporting in civil aviation

Applicable provisions: Articles 1 to 11, Annexes I and II

No 1702/2003

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1702/2003 of 24 September 2003 laying down implementing rules for the airworthiness and environmental certification of aircraft and related products, parts and appliances, as well as for the certification of design and production organisations

Applicable provisions: Articles 1 to 4 Annex

No 2042/2003

Commission Regulation (EC) No 2042/2003 of 20 November 2003 on the continuing airworthiness of aircraft and aeronautical products, parts and appliances, and on the approval of organisations and personnel involved in these tasks

Applicable provisions: Articles 1 to 6, Annexes I to IV

No 104/2004

Commission Regulation (EC) No 104/2004 of 22 January 2004 laying down rules on the organisation and composition of the Board of Appeal of the European Aviation Safety Agency

Applicable provisions: Articles 1 to 7 and Annex

B.   AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

No 93/65

Council Directive 93/65/EC of 19 July 1993 on the definition and the use of compatible technical and operating specifications for the procurement of air traffic management equipment and systems

as amended by

Applicable provisions: Articles 1 to 9, Annexes I and II

Reference to Council Directive 93/65/EEC shall be deleted as of 20 October 2005.

No 2082/2000

Commission Regulation (EC) No 2082/2000 of 6 September 2000 adopting Eurocontrol standards and amending Directive 97/15, adopting Eurocontrol standards and amending Council Directive 93/65/EEC

as amended by

Applicable provisions: Articles 1 to 3, Annexes I to III

No 549/2004

Regulation (EC) No 549/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2004 laying down the framework for the creation of the single European sky (the ‘framework Regulation’)

Applicable provisions: Articles 1 to 4, 6, and 9 to 14.

No 550/2004

Regulation (EC) No 550/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2004 on the provision of air navigation services in the single European sky (the service provision Regulation)

Applicable provisions: Articles 1 to 19

No 551/2004

Regulation (EC) No 551/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2004 on the organisation and use of the airspace in the single European sky (the airspace Regulation)

Applicable provisions: Articles 1 to 11

No 552/2004

Regulation (EC) No 552/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2004 on the interoperability of the European Air Traffic Management network (the interoperability Regulation)

Applicable provisions: Articles 1 to 12

C.   ENVIRONMENT

No 89/629

Council Directive 89/629/EEC of 4 December 1989 on the limitation of noise emission from civil subsonic jet aeroplanes.

Applicable provisions: Articles 1 to 8

No 92/14

Council Directive 92/14/EEC of 2 March 1992 on the limitation of the operation of aeroplanes covered by Part II, Chapter 2, Volume 1 of Annex 16 of the Convention of International Civil Aviation, second edition (1988)

as amended by:

Applicable provisions: Articles 1 to 11 and Annex

No 2002/30

Directive 2002/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 March 2002 on the establishment of rules and procedures with regard to the introduction of noise-related operating restrictions at Community airports

Applicable provisions: Articles 1 to 15, Annexes I and II

No 2002/49

Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 June 2002 relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise

Applicable provisions: Articles 1 to 16, Annexes I to IV

D.   CONSUMER PROTECTION

No 90/314

Council Directive 90/314/EEC of 13 June 1990 on package travel, package holidays and package tours

Applicable provisions: Articles 1 to 10

No 92/59

Council Directive 92/59/EEC of 29 June 1992 on general product safety

Applicable provisions: Articles 1 to 19

No 93/13

Council Directive 93/13/EEC of 5 April 1993 on unfair terms in consumer contracts

Applicable provisions: Articles 1 to 10 and Annex

No 95/46

Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data

Applicable provisions: Articles 1 to 34

No 2027/97

Council Regulation (EC) No 2027/97 of 9 October 1997 on air carrier liability in the event of accidents

as amended by:

Applicable provisions: Articles 1 to 8

No 261/2004

Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 February 2004 establishing common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding and of cancellation or long delay of flights, and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 295/91

Applicable provisions: Articles 1 to 17

E.   COMPUTER RESERVATION SYSTEMS

No 2299/1989

Council Regulation (EEC) No 2299/1989 of 24 July 1989 introducing a code of conduct for computer reservation systems

as amended by:

Applicable provisions: Articles 1 to 22 and Annex

F.   SOCIAL ASPECTS

No 1989/391

Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work

Applicable provisions: Articles 1 to 16, and 18-19

No 2003/88

Directive 2003/88/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 November 2003 concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time

Applicable provisions: Articles 1 to 19, 21 to 24 and 26 to 29

No 2000/79

Council Directive 2000/79/EEC of 27 November 2000 concerning the European agreement on the organisation of working time of mobile workers in civil aviation concluded by the Association of European Airlines (AEA), the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF), the European Cockpit Association (ECA), the European Regions Airline Association (ERA) and the International Air Carrier Association (IACA)

Applicable provisions: Articles 1 to 5

G.   OTHER LEGISLATION

No 91/670

Council Directive 91/670/EEC of 16 December 1991 on mutual acceptance of personnel licences for the exercise of functions in civil aviation

Applicable provisions: Articles 1 to 8 and Annex

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