COUNCIL DECISION
of 28 January 2008
on the conclusion on behalf of the European Union of the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation's association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis
(2008/149/JHA)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 24 and Article 38 thereof,
Having regard to the recommendation of the Presidency,
Whereas:
(1)
Following the authorisation given to the Presidency, assisted by the Commission, on 17 June 2002, negotiations with the Swiss Authorities, regarding the association of Switzerland with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis have been concluded.
(2)
In accordance with Council Decision 2004/849/EC (1), and subject to its conclusion at a later date, the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation's association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis has been signed on behalf of the European Community on 26 October 2004.
(3)
The Agreement should now be approved.
(4)
As far as the development of the Schengen acquis, which falls under Title VI of the Treaty on European Union, is concerned the provisions of Council Decision 1999/437/EC of 17 May 1999 on certain arrangements for the application of the Agreement concluded by the Council of the European Union and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the association of those two States with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis (2), apply mutatis mutandis to relations with Switzerland.
(5)
This Decision does not prejudice the position of the United Kingdom, under the Protocol integrating the Schengen acquis into the framework of the European Union annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty establishing the European Community and Council Decision 2000/365/of 29 May 2000 concerning the request of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis (3).
(6)
This Decision does not prejudice the position of Ireland, under the Protocol integrating the Schengen acquis into the framework of the European Union annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty establishing the European Community and Council Decision 2002/193/EC of 28 February 2002 concerning Ireland's request to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis (4),
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1
The Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation's association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis, and the related documents consisting of the Final Act, the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters on the Committees that assist the Commission in the exercise of its executive powers, and the Joint Declaration on joint meetings of Mixed Committees are hereby approved on behalf of the European Union.
The text of the Agreement, the Final Act, the Exchange of Letters, and the Joint Declaration are attached to this Decision.
Article 2
This Decision applies to the fields covered by the provisions listed in Annexes A and B of the Agreement and to their development to the extent that such provisions have, or, in accordance with Decision 1999/436/EC (5), have been determined to have, a legal base within the Treaty on European Union.
Article 3
The provisions of Articles 1 to 4 of Council Decision 1999/437/EC shall apply, in the same way, to the association of Switzerland with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis, which falls under Title VI of the Treaty on European Union.
Article 4
The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person empowered to deposit on behalf of the European Union the Instrument of approval provided for in Article 14 of the Agreement, in order to express the consent of the European Union to be bound.
Article 5
This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Done at Brussels, 28 January 2008.