INTERIM AGREEMENT on trade and trade-related matters between the European Community, the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the Republic of Slovenia of the other part

THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY, THE EUROPEAN COAL AND STEEL COMMUNITY and THE EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMUNITY, hereinafter referred to as 'the Community`,

of the one part, and

THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA, hereinafter referred to as 'Slovenia`,

of the other part,

WHEREAS the Europe Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, acting within the framework of the European Union, of the one part, and the Republic of Slovenia, of the other part, was signed in Luxembourg on 10 June 1996;

WHEREAS one aim of the Europe Agreement is to provide an appropriate framework for political dialogue; whereas it is to govern commercial and economic relations between the Parties and includes provisions relating to financial cooperation, assistance and promotion of cooperation in prevention of illegal activities and cultural matters;

WHEREAS the Europe Agreement is intended to establish close and lasting relations, based on reciprocity, which should allow Slovenia to take part in the process of European integration;

WHEREAS it is necessary to ensure the development of trade links by strengthening and widening the relations established previously, notably by the Cooperation Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Slovenia signed on 5 April 1993, which entered into force on 1 September 1993;

WHEREAS to this end it is necessary to implement as speedily as possible, by means of an Interim Agreement, provisions of the Europe Agreement on trade and trade-related matters;

WHEREAS it is necessary to ensure that pending the entry into force of the Europe Agreement and the establishment of the Association Council, the Cooperation Council set up by the Cooperation Agreement can exercise the powers assigned by the Europe Agreement to the Association Council which are necessary in order to implement the Interim Agreement,

HAVE DECIDED to conclude this Agreement and to this end have designated as their plenipotentiaries:

THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY:

Denis O'LEARY,

Ambassador,

Permanent Representative of Ireland,

Chairman of the Permanent Representatives Committee,

Günther BURGHARDT,

Director-General of the Directorate-General for External Political Relations of the Commission of the European Communities,

THE EUROPEAN COAL AND STEEL COMMUNITY and

THE EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMUNITY:

Günther BURGHARDT,

Director-General of the Directorate-General for External Political Relations of the Commission of the European Communities,

THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA:

Boris CIZELJ,

Ambassador,

Head of the Mission of the Republic of Slovenia to the European Union,

WHO, having exchanged their full powers, found in good and due form,

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

TITLE I GENERAL PRINCIPLES

Article 1 (Europe Agreement (EA) 2)

Respect for democratic principles and human rights as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and as defined in the Helsinki Final Act and the Charter of Paris for a new Europe, as well as for the principles of market economy as reflected in the Document of the CSCE Bonn Conference on Economic Cooperation, shall form the basis of the domestic and external policies of the Parties and constitute essential elements of this Agreement.

TITLE II FREE MOVEMENT OF GOODS

Article 2 (EA 8)

1. The Community and Slovenia shall gradually establish a free trade area in a transitional period lasting a maximum of six years starting from the entry into force of this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and in conformity with those of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, hereinafter referred to as 'the GATT 1994` and the World Trade Organization, hereinafter referred to as 'the WTO`.

2. The combined nomenclature of goods shall be applied to the classification of goods in trade between the two Parties.

3. For each product the basic duty to which the successive reductions set out in this Agreement are to be applied shall be the duty actually applied erga omnes on 9 June 1996.

4. If, after entry into force of this Agreement, any tariff reduction is applied on an erga omnes basis, in particular reductions resulting from the tariff agreement concluded as a result of the GATT Uruguay Round, such reduced duties shall replace the basic duty referred to in paragraph 3 as from the date when such reductions are applied.

5. The Community and Slovenia shall communicate to each other their respective basic duties.

CHAPTER I INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS

Article 3 (EA 9)

1. The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to products originating in the Community or Slovenia listed in Chapters 25 to 97 of the combined nomenclature, with the exception of the products listed in Annex I.

2. The provisions of Articles 4 to 8 shall not apply to textile products or to products covered by the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, as specified in Articles 10 and 11.

3. Trade between the Parties in products covered by the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of that Treaty.

Article 4 (EA 10)

1. Customs duties on imports into the Community of products originating in Slovenia other than those listed in Annex II shall be abolished upon the entry into force of this Agreement.

2. Customs duties on imports into the Community of products of Slovenian origin listed in Annex II shall be suspended within the limits of annual Community tariff ceilings increasing progressively in accordance with the conditions specified in that Annex with a view to complete abolition of customs duties on imports of the products concerned on 1 January 2000.

3. Quantitative restrictions on imports into the Community and measures having equivalent effect on imports into the Community shall be abolished on the date of entry into force of this Agreement with regard to products originating in Slovenia.

Article 5 (EA 11)

1. Customs duties on imports into Slovenia of goods originating in the Community other than those listed in Annexes III and IV shall be abolished upon the entry into force of this Agreement.

2. Customs duties on imports into Slovenia of products originating in the Community which are listed in Annex III shall be progressively reduced in accordance with the following timetable:

- on 1 January 1997 each duty shall be reduced to 55 % of the basic duty,

- on 1 January 1998 each duty shall be reduced to 30 % of the basic duty,

- on 1 January 1999 each duty shall be reduced to 15 % of the basic duty,

- on 1 January 2000 the remaining duties shall be abolished.

3. Customs duties on imports into Slovenia of products originating in the Community which are listed in Annex IV shall be progressively reduced in accordance with the following timetable:

- on 1 January 1997 each duty shall be reduced to 70 % of the basic duty,

- on 1 January 1998 each duty shall be reduced to 45 % of the basic duty,

- on 1 January 1999 each duty shall be reduced to 35 % of the basic duty,

- on 1 January 2000 each duty shall be reduced to 20 % of the basic duty,

- on 1 January 2001 the remaining duties shall be abolished.

4. All quantitative restrictions on imports into Slovenia of goods originating in the Community and measures having equivalent effect shall be abolished upon the entry into force of this Agreement.

Article 6 (EA 12)

The provisions concerning the abolition of customs duties on imports shall also apply to customs duties of a fiscal nature.

Article 7 (EA 13)

The Community and Slovenia shall abolish on the entry into force of this Agreement, in trade between themselves, any charges having an effect equivalent to customs duties on imports.

Article 8 (EA 14)

1. The Community shall abolish any customs duties on exports and charges having equivalent effect on the entry into force of this Agreement.

Slovenia shall abolish customs duties on exports and charges having equivalent effect on entry into force of this Agreement except for the products listed in Annex XII where the abolition will take place in accordance with the timetable set out in that Annex.

2. The Community and Slovenia shall abolish between themselves any quantitative restrictions on exports and measures having equivalent effect upon the entry into force of this Agreement.

Article 9 (EA 15)

Slovenia declares its readiness to reduce its customs duties in trade with the Community more rapidly than is provided for in Article 5 if its general economic situation and the situation of the economic sector concerned so permit.

The Community declares its readiness in similar circumstances to increase further or to abolish more speedily the tariff ceilings referred to in Article 4 (2).

The Cooperation Council referred to in Article 38 shall make recommendations to this effect.

Article 10 (EA 16)

Protocol 1 lays down the arrangements applicable to the textile products referred to therein.

Article 11 (EA 17)

Protocol 2 lays down the arrangements applicable to products covered by the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community.

Article 12 (EA 18)

1. The provisions of this Chapter shall not preclude the retention by the Community of an agricultural component in the duties applicable to products listed in Annex V in respect of products originating in Slovenia.

2. The provisions of this Chapter shall not preclude the introduction of an agricultural component by Slovenia in the duties applicable to the products listed in Annex V in respect of products originating in the Community.

CHAPTER II AGRICULTURE

Article 13 (EA 19)

1. The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to agricultural products originating in the Community and Slovenia.

2. The term 'agricultural products` means the products listed in Chapters 1 to 24 of the combined nomenclature and the products listed in Annex I, but excluding fishery products as defined by Regulation (EEC) No 3759/92.

Article 14 (EA 20)

1. Protocol 3 lays down the trade arrangements for processed agricultural products which are listed in the Protocol.

2. A separate agreement will be negotiated for wine and spirits.

Article 15 (EA 21)

1. The Community shall abolish on the date of entry into force of this Agreement the quantitative restrictions, and measures having equivalent effect, on imports of agricultural products originating in Slovenia.

2. From the date of entry into force of this Agreement the Community shall apply to imports into its market of agricultural products originating in Slovenia the concessions listed in Annex VI.

3. Slovenia shall abolish quantitative restrictions, and measures having equivalent effect, on imports of agricultural products originating in the Community on the date of entry into force of this Agreement.

4. From the date of entry into force of this Agreement, Slovenia shall apply to imports into Slovenia of products originating in the Community the concessions listed in Annex VII.

5. Taking account of the volume of trade in agricultural products between them, of its particular sensitivity, of the rules of the common agricultural policy of the Community, of the rules of the agricultural policy of Slovenia, and of the consequences of the multilateral trade negotiations under the GATT 1994 and the WTO, the Community and Slovenia shall examine in the Cooperation Council, product by product, and on an orderly and reciprocal basis, the opportunities for granting each other further concessions.

Article 16 (EA 22)

Notwithstanding other provisions of this Agreement, and in particular Article 25, if, given the particular sensitivity of the agricultural markets, imports of products originating in one of the two Parties, which are the subject of concessions granted pursuant to Article 15, cause serious disturbance to the markets in the other Party, both Parties shall enter into consultations immediately to find an appropriate solution. Pending such solution, the Party concerned may take the measures it deems necessary.

CHAPTER III FISHERIES

Article 17 (EA 23)

The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to fishery products originating in the Community and Slovenia which are covered by Regulation (EEC) No 3759/92 on the common organization of the market in fishery and aquaculture products.

Article 18 (EA 24)

1. The fishery products originating in Slovenia listed in Annex VIII (a) shall be subject from the date of entry into force of this Agreement to the reduced customs duties provided for in that Annex. The provisions of Articles 15 and 16 shall apply mutatis mutandis to fishery products.

2. The fishery products originating in the Community listed in Annex VIII (b) shall be subject from the date of entry into force of this Agreement to the reduced customs duties provided for in that Annex. The provisions of Articles 15 and 16 shall apply mutatis mutandis to fishery products.

CHAPTER IV COMMON PROVISIONS

Article 19 (EA 25)

The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to trade in all products between the two Parties except where otherwise provided herein, or in Protocols 1, 2 and 3.

Article 20 (EA 26) Standstill

1. No new customs duties on imports or exports or charges having equivalent effect shall be introduced, nor shall those already applied be increased, in trade between the Community and Slovenia from the date of entry into force of this Agreement.

2. No new quantitative restriction on imports or exports or measure having equivalent effect shall be introduced, nor shall those existing be made more restrictive, in trade between the Community and Slovenia from the date of entry into force of this Agreement.

3. Without prejudice to the concessions granted pursuant to Article 15, the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall not restrict in any way the pursuit of the respective agricultural policies of Slovenia and the Community or the taking of any measures under those policies as far as the import regime in Annexes VI and VII is not affected.

Article 21 (EA 27) Prohibition of fiscal discrimination

1. The Parties shall refrain from any measure or practice of an internal fiscal nature establishing, whether directly or indirectly, discrimination between the products of one Party and like products originating in the territory of the other Party.

2. Products exported to the territory of one of the two Parties may not benefit from repayment of internal indirect taxation in excess of the amount of indirect taxation imposed on them.

Article 22 (EA 28) Customs unions, free trade areas, cross-border arrangements

1. This Agreement shall not preclude the maintenance or establishment of customs unions, free trade areas or arrangements for frontier trade except in so far as they alter the trade arrangements provided for in this Agreement. This Agreement shall in particular not affect the implementation of the specific arrangements governing the movement of goods laid down in frontier agreements previously concluded between one or more Member States and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and succeeded to by the Republic of Slovenia.

2. Consultations between the Parties shall take place within the Cooperation Council concerning agreements establishing such customs unions or free trade areas and, where requested, on other major issues related to their respective trade policies towards third countries. In particular in the event of a third country acceding to the Community, such consultations shall take place so as to ensure that account is taken of the mutual interests of the Community and Slovenia stated in this Agreement.

Article 23 (EA 29) Exceptional tariff measures

Exceptional measures of limited duration which derogate from the provisions of Article 5 and Article 20 (1) may be taken by Slovenia in the form of increased customs duties.

These measures may only concern infant industries, or certain sectors undergoing restructuring or facing serious difficulties, particularly where these difficulties produce major social problems.

Customs duties introduced by these measures on imports into Slovenia of products originating in the Community may not exceed 25 % ad valorem and must maintain an element of preference for products originating in the Community. The total value of imports of the products which are subject to these measures may not exceed 15 % of total imports from the Community of industrial products as defined in Chapter I, during the last year for which statistics are available.

The measures shall be applied for a period not exceeding five years unless a longer duration is authorized by the Cooperation Council. They shall cease to apply at the latest on the expiry of the transitional period.

No such measures may be introduced in respect of a product if more than three years have elapsed since the elimination of all duties and quantitative restrictions or charges or measures having equivalent effect concerning that product.

Slovenia shall inform the Cooperation Council of any exceptional measures it intends to adopt and, at the request of the Community, consultations shall be held in the Cooperation Council on such measures and the sectors to which they apply before they are put into effect. When adopting such measures Slovenia shall provide the Cooperation Council with a schedule for the elimination of the customs duties introduced under this Article. This schedule shall provide for a phasing-out of these duties at equal annual rates starting at the latest two years after their introduction. The Cooperation Council may decide on a different schedule.

Article 24 (EA 30) Dumping

If one of the Parties finds that dumping is taking place in trade with the other Party within the meaning of Article VI of the GATT 1994, it may take appropriate measures against this practice in accordance with the Agreement on implementation of Article VI of the GATT 1994, its own related internal legislation and the conditions and procedures laid down in Article 28.

Article 25 (EA 31) General safeguard clause

Where any product is being imported in such increased quantities and under such conditions as to cause or threaten to cause:

- serious injury to domestic producers of like or directly competing products in the territory of one of the contracting Parties, or

- serious disturbances in any sector of the economy or difficulties which could bring about serious deterioration in the economic situation of a region,

the Community or Slovenia, whichever is concerned, may take appropriate measures under the conditions and in accordance with the procedures laid down in Article 28.

Article 26 (EA 32) Shortage clause

Where compliance with Articles 8 and 20 leads to:

- re-export to a third country of a product in respect of which the exporting Party maintains quantitative export restrictions, export duties or measures or charges having equivalent effect, or

- a serious shortage, or threat thereof, of a product essential to the exporting Party, and where the situation described above gives rise, or is likely to give rise, to major difficulties for the exporting Party, that Party may take appropriate measures under the conditions and in accordance with the procedures laid down in Article 28. The measures shall be non-discriminatory and shall be abolished when conditions no longer justify their maintenance.

Article 27 (EA 33) State monopolies

The Member States and Slovenia shall progressively adjust any State monopolies of a commercial character so as to ensure that, by the end of the fourth year following the entry into force of this Agreement, no discrimination regarding the conditions under which goods are procured and marketed exists between nationals of the Member States and of Slovenia. The Cooperation Council will be informed about the measures adopted to attain this objective.

Article 28 (EA 34) Procedures

1. In the event of the Community or Slovenia subjecting imports of products liable to give rise to the difficulties referred to in Article 25 to an administrative procedure having as its purpose the rapid provision of information on the trend of trade flows, it shall inform the other Party.

2. In the cases specified in Articles 24, 25 and 26, before taking the measures provided for therein or, in cases to which paragraph 3 (d) applies, as soon as possible, the Community or Slovenia, as the case may be, shall supply the Cooperation Council with all relevant information, with a view to seeking a solution acceptable to the two Parties.

In the selection of measures, priority must be given to those which least disturb the functioning of this Agreement.

The safeguard measures shall be notified immediately to the Cooperation Council and shall be the subject of periodic consultations within that body, notably with a view to establishing a timetable for their abolition as soon as circumstances permit.

3. For the implementation of paragraph 2, the following provisions shall apply:

(a) As regards Article 25, the difficulties arising from the situation referred to in that Article shall be referred for examination to the Cooperation Council, which may take any decision needed to put an end to such difficulties.

If the Cooperation Council or the exporting Party has not taken a decision putting an end to the difficulties or no other satisfactory solution has been reached within 30 days of the matter being referred, the importing Party may adopt the appropriate measures to remedy the problem. These measures must not exceed the scope of what is necessary to remedy the difficulties which have arisen.

(b) As regards Article 24, the Cooperation Council shall be informed of the instance of dumping as soon as the authorities of the importing Party have initiated an investigation. Where no end has been put to the dumping within the meaning of Article VI of the GATT 1994, or no other satisfactory solution has been reached within 30 days of the matter being referred to the Cooperation Council, the importing Party may adopt the appropriate measures.

(c) As regards Article 26, the difficulties arising from the situations referred to in that Article shall be referred for examination to the Cooperation Council.

The Cooperation Council may take any decision needed to put an end to the difficulties. If it has not taken such a decision within 30 days of the matter being referred to it, the exporting Party may apply appropriate measures to the export of the product concerned.

(d) Where exceptional circumstances requiring immediate action make prior information or examination, as the case may be, impossible, the Community or Slovenia, whichever is concerned, may, in the situations specified in Articles 24, 25 and 26, apply forthwith the safeguard measures strictly necessary to deal with the situation and inform the Cooperation Council immediately.

Article 29 (EA 35)

Protocol 4 lays down rules of origin for the application of tariff preferences provided for in this Agreement.

Article 30 (EA 36) Restrictions authorized

This Agreement shall not preclude prohibitions or restrictions on imports, exports or goods in transit justified on grounds of public morality, public policy or public security; the protection of health and life of humans, animals or plants; the protection of exhaustible natural resources; the protection of national treasures of artistic, historic or archaeological value or the protection of intellectual, industrial and commercial property, or rules relating to gold and silver. Such prohibitions or restrictions shall not, however, constitute a means of arbitrary discrimination or a disguised restriction on trade between the Parties.

Article 31 (EA 37)

The application of this Agreement shall be without prejudice to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1911/91 of 26 June 1991 on the application of the provisions of Community law to the Canary Islands.

TITLE III PAYMENTS, COMPETITION AND OTHER ECONOMIC PROVISIONS

Article 32 (EA 62)

The Parties undertake to authorize, in freely convertible currency, any payments on the balance of payments current account to the extent that the transactions underlying the payments concern movements of goods, services or persons between the Parties which have been liberalized pursuant to this Agreement.

Article 33 (EA 65)

1. The following are incompatible with the proper functioning of this Agreement, in so far as they may affect trade between the Community and Slovenia:

(i) all agreements between undertakings, decisions by associations of undertakings and concerted practices between undertakings which have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition;

(ii) abuse by one or more undertakings of a dominant position in the territories of the Community or of Slovenia as a whole or in a substantial part thereof;

(iii) any public aid which distorts or threatens to distort competition by favouring certain undertakings or certain products.

2. Any practices contrary to this Article shall be assessed on the basis of criteria arising from the application of the rules of Articles 85, 86 and 92 of the Treaty establishing the European Community.

3. The Cooperation Council shall, within three years of the entry into force of this Agreement, adopt the necessary rules for the implementation of paragraphs 1 and 2. Until the implementing rules are adopted, practices incompatible with paragraph 1 shall be dealt with by the Parties on their respective territories according to their respective legislation. This shall be without prejudice to paragraph 6.

4. (a) For the purposes of applying the provisions of paragraph 1 (iii), the Parties recognize that during the first four years after the entry into force of this Agreement, any public aid granted by Slovenia shall be assessed taking into account the fact that Slovenia shall be regarded as an area identical to those areas of the Community described in Article 92 (3) (a) of the Treaty establishing the European Community. The Cooperation Council shall, taking into account the economic situation of Slovenia, decide whether that period should be extended by further periods of four years.

(b) Each Party shall ensure transparency in the area of public aid, inter alia by reporting annually to the other Party on the total amount and the distribution of the aid given and by providing, on request, information on aid schemes. On request by one Party, the other Party shall provide information on particular individual cases of public aid.

5. With regard to products referred to in Chapters II and III of Title II

- paragraph 1 (iii) shall not apply,

- any practices contrary to paragraph 1 (i) must be assessed according to the criteria established by the Community on the basis of Articles 42 and 43 of the Treaty establishing the European Community and in particular of those established in Council Regulation No 26/1962.

6. If the Community or Slovenia considers that a particular practice is incompatible with the terms of paragraph 1, and:

- is not adequately dealt with under the implementing rules referred to in paragraph 3, or

- in the absence of such rules, and if such practice causes or threatens to cause serious injury to the interests of the other Party or material injury to its domestic industry, including its services industry,

it may take appropriate measures after consultation within the Cooperation Council or after 30 working days following referral for such consultation.

In the case of practices incompatible with paragraph 1 (iii), such appropriate measures may, where the WTO Agreement applies thereto, only be adopted in accordance with the procedures and under the conditions laid down thereby and by any other relevant instrument negotiated under its auspices which are applicable between the Parties.

7. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary adopted in accordance with paragraph 3, the Parties shall exchange information taking into account the limitations imposed by the requirements of professional and business confidentiality.

8. This Article shall not apply to the products covered by the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community which are the subject of Protocol 2.

Article 34 (EA 66)

1. The Parties shall endeavour wherever possible to avoid the imposition of restrictive measures, including measures relating to imports for balance of payments purposes. A Party adopting such measures shall present as soon as possible to the other Party a timetable for their removal.

2. Where one or more Member States of the Community or Slovenia is in serious balance of payments difficulties, or under imminent threat thereof, the Community or Slovenia, as the case may be, may, in accordance with the conditions established under the WTO Agreement, adopt restrictive measures, including measures relating to imports, which shall be of limited duration and may not go beyond what is strictly necessary to remedy the balance of payments situation. The Community or Slovenia, as the case may be, shall inform the other Party forthwith.

3. Any restrictive measures shall not apply to transfers related to investment and in particular to the repatriation of amounts invested or reinvested or any kind of revenues stemming therefrom.

Article 35 (EA 67)

With regard to public undertakings, and undertakings to which special or exclusive rights have been granted, the Cooperation Council shall ensure that as from the third year following the date of entry into force of this Agreement, the principles of the Treaty establishing the European Community, in particular Article 90 thereof, are upheld.

Article 36 (EA 68)

1. Pursuant to the provisions of this Article and Annex X, the Parties confirm the importance that they attach to ensuring adequate and effective protection and enforcement of intellectual, industrial and commercial property rights.

2. By the end of the third year after the entry into force of this Agreement, and in any case from the entry into force of the Europe Agreement, Slovenia shall protect intellectual, industrial and commercial property rights at a level of protection similar to that provided in the Community by Community acts, in particular the ones referred to in Annex X, including effective means of enforcing such rights.

Article 37 (EA 94,3)

Mutual assistance between administrative authorities in customs matters of the Parties shall take place in accordance with the provisions of Protocol 5.

TITLE IV INSTITUTIONAL, GENERAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 38

The Cooperation Council set up by the Cooperation Agreement signed between the European Economic Community and Slovenia on 5 April 1993 shall perform the duties assigned to it by this Agreement.

Article 39 (EA 112)

The Cooperation Council shall, for the purpose of attaining the objectives of this Agreement, have the power to take decisions in the cases provided for therein. The decisions taken shall be binding on the Parties, which shall take the measures necessary to implement the decisions taken. The Cooperation Council may also make appropriate recommendations.

It shall draw up its decisions and recommendations by agreement between the two Parties.

1. The Cooperation Council shall be assisted in the performance of its duties by a Joint Committee composed of representatives of the Community, on the one hand, and of representatives of the Government of Slovenia, on the other, normally at senior civil servant level.

The duties of the Joint Committee shall include the preparation of meetings of the Cooperation Council.

2. The Cooperation Council may delegate to the Joint Committee any of its powers. In this event the Joint Committee shall take its decisions in accordance with the conditions laid down in the first and second paragraph of this Article.

3. The Joint Committee shall, as necessary, adopt its own rules of procedure. The Joint Committee shall meet for the first time within three months after the entry into force of the Agreement, thereafter the Committee will meet once a year. Special meetings may be convened by mutual agreement, at the request of either Party. The Joint Committee shall be chaired alternately by each of the Parties. Wherever possible, the agenda for meetings of the Joint Committee shall be agreed beforehand.

Article 40 (EA 113)

1. Each of the two Parties may refer to the Cooperation Council any dispute relating to the application or interpretation of this Agreement.

2. The Cooperation Council may settle the dispute by means of a decision.

3. Each Party shall be bound to take the measures involved in carrying out the decision referred to in paragraph 2.

4. In the event of it not being possible to settle the dispute in accordance with paragraph 2, either Party may notify the other of the appointment of an arbitrator; the other Party must then appoint a second arbitrator within two months. For the application of this procedure, the Community and the Member States shall be deemed to be one party to the dispute.

The Cooperation Council shall appoint a third arbitrator.

The arbitrators' decisions shall be taken by majority vote.

Each Party to the dispute must take the steps required to implement the decision of the arbitrators.

Article 41 (EA 119)

Within the scope of this Agreement, each Party undertakes to ensure that natural and legal persons of the other Party have access free of discrimination in relation to its own nationals to the competent courts and administrative organs of the Parties to defend their individual rights and their property rights, including those concerning intellectual, industrial and commercial property.

Article 42 (EA 120)

Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent a Party from taking any measures:

(a) which it considers necessary to prevent the disclosure of information contrary to its essential security interests;

(b) which relate to the production of, or trade in, arms, munitions or war materials or to research, development or production indispensable for defence purposes, provided that such measures do not impair the conditions of competition in respect of products not intended for specifically military purposes;

(c) which it considers essential to its own security in the event of serious internal disturbances affecting the maintenance of law and order, in time of war or serious international tension constituting threat of war or in order to carry out obligations it has accepted for the purpose of maintaining peace and international security.

Article 43 (EA 121)

1. In the fields covered by this Agreement and without prejudice to any special provisions contained therein:

- the arrangements applied by Slovenia in respect of the Community shall not give rise to any discrimination between the Member States, their nationals, or their companies or firms,

- the arrangements applied by the Community in respect of Slovenia shall not give rise to any discrimination between Slovenian nationals or its companies or firms.

2. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall be without prejudice to the right of the Parties to apply the relevant provisions of their fiscal legislation to taxpayers who are not in identical situations as regards their place of residence.

Article 44 (EA 122)

Products originating in Slovenia shall not receive more favourable treatment when imported into the Community than that applied by Member States among themselves.

Article 45 (EA 123)

1. The 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 Party considers that the other Party has failed to fulfil an obligation under this Agreement, it may take appropriate measures. Before so doing, except in cases of special urgency, it shall supply the Cooperation Council with all relevant information required for a thorough examination of the situation with a view to seeking a solution acceptable to the Parties.

In the selection of measures, priority must be given to those which least disturb the functioning of this Agreement. These measures shall be notified immediately to the Cooperation Council and shall be the subject of consultations within the Cooperation Council if the other Party so requests.

Article 46 (EA 126)

Protocols 1 to 6 and Annexes I to VIII (b), X and XII shall form an integral part of this Agreement.

Article 47 (EA 127)

This Agreement shall be applicable until the entry into force of the Europe Agreement signed in Luxembourg on 10 June 1996.

Either Party may denounce this Agreement by notifying the other Party. This Agreement shall cease to apply six months after the date of such notification.

Article 48 (EA 129)

This Agreement shall apply, on the one hand, to the territories in which the Treaties establishing the European Community, the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Atomic Energy Community are applied and under the conditions laid down in those Treaties, and to the territory of Slovenia on the other.

Article 49 (EA 130)

This Agreement is drawn up in duplicate in the Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish and Slovenian languages, each of these texts being equally authentic.

Article 50 (EA 128)

The Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union shall be the depository of this Agreement.

Article 51 (EA 131)

This Agreement shall be approved by the Parties in accordance with their own procedures.

This Agreement shall enter into force on the first day of the second month following the date on which the Parties notify the Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union that the procedures referred to have been completed.

Upon its entry into force, Articles 14 to 34 of the Cooperation Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Slovenia signed in Luxembourg on 5 April 1993 shall be suspended.

Article 52 (EA 132)

1. In the event that this Agreement enters into force on or after 1 January 1997, for the purposes of Title III and Protocols 1 to 6 of this Agreement, the term 'date of entry into force of this Agreement` shall mean:

- the date of entry into force of the Interim Agreement in relation to obligations taking effect on that date, and

- 1 January of the year of entry into force in relation to obligations taking effect after the date of entry into force by reference to the date of entry into force.

2. In the case of entry into force after 1 January in any year, the provisions of Protocol 6 shall apply.

Hecho en Bruselas, el once de noviembre de mil novecientos noventa y seis.

Udfærdiget i Bruxelles, den ellevte november nitten hundrede og seksoghalvfems.

Geschehen zu Brüssel am elften November neunzehnhundertsechsundneunzig.

¸ãéíå óôéò ÂñõîÝëëåò, óôéò Ýíäåêá Íïåìâñßïõ ÷ßëéá åííéáêüóéá åíåíÞíôá Ýîé.

Done at Brussels on the eleventh day of November in the year one thousand nine hundred and ninety-six.

Fait à Bruxelles, le onze novembre mil neuf cent quatre-vingt-seize.

Fatto a Bruxelles, addì undici novembre millenovecentonovantasei.

Gedaan te Brussel, de elfde november negentienhonderd zesennegentig.

Feito em Bruxelas, em onze de Novembro de mil novecentos e noventa e seis.

Tehty Brysselissä yhdentenätoista päivänä marraskuuta vuonna tuhatyhdeksänsataayhdeksänkymmentäkuusi.

Som skedde i Bryssel den elfte november nittonhundranittiosex.

V Bruslju, enajstega novembra tiso Ocdevetsto Osestindevetdeset.

Por las Comunidades Europeas

For De Europæiske Fælleskaber

Für die Europäischen Gemeinschaften

Ãéá ôéò ÅõñùðáúêÝò Êïéíüôçôåò

For the European Communities

Pour les Communautés européennes

Per le Comunità europee

Voor de Europese Gemeenschappen

Pelas Comunidades Europeias

Euroopan yhteisöjen puolesta

För Europeiska gemenskaperna

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Za Republiko Slovenijo

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ANNEX I

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ANNEX II

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ANNEX III

LIST OF PRODUCTS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 5 (2)

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ANNEX IV

LIST OF PRODUCTS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 5 (3)

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(1) See note for the description of the product referred to.

ANNEX V

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ANNEX VI

LIST OF PRODUCTS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 15 (2)

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ANNEX VII

LIST OF PRODUCTS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 15 (4)

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ANNEX VIII(a)

LIST OF PRODUCTS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 18

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ANNEX VIII(b)

LIST OF PRODUCTS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 18

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ANNEX X

COMMUNITY ACTS CONCERNING INTELLECTUAL, INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTY RIGHTS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 36

1. Community Acts referred to in Article 36:

- First Council Directive 89/104/EEC of 21 December 1988 to approximate the laws of the Member States relating to trade marks

- Council Directive 87/54/EEC of 16 December 1986 on the legal protection of topographies of semiconductor products

- Council Directive 91/250/EEC of 14 May 1991 on the legal protection of computer programs

- Council Regulation (EEC) No 1768/92 of 18 June 1992 concerning the creation of a supplementary protection certificate for medicinal products

- Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 of 14 July 1992 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs

- Council Directive 93/83/EEC of 27 September 1993 on the coordination of certain rules concerning copyright and rights related to copyright applicable to satellite broadcasting and cable retransmission

- Council Directive 93/98/EEC of 29 October 1993 harmonizing the term of protection of copyright and certain related rights

- Council Directive 92/100/EEC of 19 November 1992 on rental right and lending right and on certain rights related to copyright in the field of intellectual property

- European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) No 1610/96 of 23 July 1996 concerning the creation of a supplementary protection certificate for plant protection products

- European Parliament and Council Directive 96/91/EC of 11 March 1996 on the legal protection of databases

2. If problems in the area of intellectual, industrial and commercial property as addressed in the above Community Acts and affecting trading conditions were to occur, urgent consultations would be undertaken under the auspices of the Cooperation Council, at the request of the Community or Slovenia, with a view to reaching mutually satisfactory solutions.

ANNEX XII

CUSTOMS DUTIES ON EXPORTS AND CHARGES HAVING EQUIVALENT EFFECT REFERRED TO ARTICLE 8 (1)

Slovenia shall progressively reduce export charges equivalent to customs duties in accordance with the following timetable:

- 1 January 1997: 4 %

- 1 January 1998: 0 %

for the following products:

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PROTOCOL 1 on textile and clothing products

Article 1

This Protocol applies to the textile and clothing products (hereinafter 'textile products`) listed in Section XI (Chapters 50 to 63) of the combined nomenclature of the Community.

Article 2

1. Customs duties on imports applicable in the Community to textile products falling within Section XI (Chapters 50 to 63) of the combined nomenclature and originating in Slovenia as defined in Protocol 4 of this Agreement other than those listed in Annex I to this Protocol (present Annex V of the Agreement between the European Economic Community and Slovenia on trade in textile products, initialled on 23 July 1993) shall be abolished on the date of entry into force of this Agreement.

2. Customs duties on imports into the Community on products of Slovenian origin listed in Annex I to this Protocol shall be suspended within the limits of annual Community tariff ceilings increasing progressively with a view to complete abolition of customs duties on imports of the products concerned by the end of the second year after entry into force of the Agreement.

3. The duties applied to direct imports into Slovenia of textile products falling within Section XI (Chapters 50 to 63) of the combined nomenclature and originating in the Community as defined in Protocol 4 of the Agreement, shall be abolished on the date of entry into force of the Agreement except for products listed in Annex II (a) and II (b) to this Protocol for which the rates of duties shall be progressively reduced as provided therein.

4. The customs duties applicable to compensating products imported into the Community which originate in Slovenia within the meaning of Protocol 4 of this Agreement, and which result from operations in Slovenia in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 3036/94, shall be eliminated on the date of entry into force of this Agreement. However, such products do not need to be subject to the arrangements or the specific measures referred to in Article 1 (3) or the annual limits referred to in Article 2 (2) (b) of that Regulation.

5. Subject to this Protocol, the provisions of the Agreement and in particular Articles 6 and 7 of the Agreement shall apply to trade in textile products between the Parties.

Article 3

The quantitative arrangements and other related issues regarding exports of textile products originating in Slovenia to the Community and originating in the Community to the Republic of Slovenia shall be stipulated in an additional protocol to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Slovenia on trade in textile products. In the absence of an additional protocol, the provisions of the said Agreement on trade in textile products, initialled on 23 July 1993, as amended by the Agreement reached on 15 December 1994 to take account of the enlargement of the European Communities, shall continue to apply.

Article 4

From the entry into force of this Agreement no new quantitative restrictions or measures of equivalent effect shall be imposed except as provided for under the said Agreement and its Protocols.

ANNEX I

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ANNEX II (a)

CUSTOMS DUTIES REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 2 (3)

Customs duties on imports into the Republic of Slovenia of textile products listed in this Annex and originating in the Community shall be progressively reduced in accordance with the following timetable:

- on 1 January 1997 each duty shall be reduced to 55 % of the basic duty,

- on 1 January 1998 each duty shall be reduced to 30 % of the basic duty,

- on 1 January 1999 each duty shall be reduced to 15 % of the basic duty,

- on 1 January 2000 the remaining duties shall be abolished.

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ANNEX II (b)

CUSTOMS DUTIES REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 2 (3)

Customs duties on imports into the Republic of Slovenia of textile products listed in this Annex and originating in the Community shall be progressively reduced in accordance with the following timetable:

- on 1 January 1997 each duty shall be reduced to 70 % of the basic duty,

- on 1 January 1998 each duty shall be reduced to 45 % of the basic duty,

- on 1 January 1999 each duty shall be reduced to 35 % of the basic duty,

- on 1 January 2000 each duty shall be reduced to 20 % of the basic duty,

- on 1 January 2001 the remaining duties shall be abolished.

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PROTOCOL 2 on products covered by the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)

Article 1

This Protocol shall apply to the products listed in Annex I to the ECSC Treaty and defined in the Common Customs Tariff (1).

CHAPTER I ECSC steel products

Article 2

1. Once the Agreement enters into force, ECSC steel products originating in Slovenia shall be imported into the Community free of duty.

2. Once the Agreement enters into force, ECSC steel products originating in the Community shall be imported into Slovenia free of duty, except in the case of the products listed in the Annex to this Protocol. Customs duties on imports of such products shall be progressively reduced according to the following timetable:

- on 1 January 1997 each duty shall be reduced to 55 % of the basic duty,

- on 1 January 1998 each duty shall be reduced to 30 % of the basic duty,

- on 1 January 1999 each duty shall be reduced to 15 % of the basic duty,

- on 1 January 2000 the remaining duties shall be abolished.

Article 3

1. Quantitative restrictions on imports into the Community of ECSC steel products originating in Slovenia, and measures having an equivalent effect, shall be eliminated on the date on which the Agreement enters into force.

2. Quantitative restrictions on imports into Slovenia of ECSC steel products originating in the Community, and measures having an equivalent effect, shall be eliminated on the date on which the Agreement enters into force.

CHAPTER II ECSC coal products

Article 4

Starting on the date on which the Agreement enters into force, ECSC coal products originating in Slovenia shall be imported into the Community free of duty.

Article 5

Starting on the date on which the Agreement enters into force, ECSC coal products originating in the Community shall be imported into Slovenia free of duty.

Article 6

1. Quantitative restrictions on imports into the Community of ECSC coal products originating in Slovenia, and measures having an equivalent effect, shall be eliminated on the date on which the Agreement enters into force.

2. Quantitative restrictions on imports into Slovenia of ECSC coal products originating in the Community, and measures having an equivalent effect, shall be eliminated on the date on which the Agreement enters into force.

CHAPTER III Common provisions

Article 7

1. The following shall be incompatible with the proper functioning of the Agreement in so far as they may affect trade between the Community and Slovenia:

i) all cooperation or concentration agreements between undertakings, decisions by associations of undertakings and concerted practices between undertakings which have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition;

ii) abuse by one or more undertakings of a dominant position in the territories of the Community or of Slovenia as a whole or in a substantial part thereof;

iii) State aid of any kind, except in instances in which derogations are allowed under the terms of the ECSC Treaty.

2. Any practice contrary to the provisions of this Article shall be assessed on the basis of criteria arising from the application of the rules contained in Articles 65 and 66 of the ECSC Treaty and Article 85 of the EC Treaty and of the rules on State aid, including secondary legislation.

3. Within three years of the Agreement's entry into force, the Cooperation Council shall adopt the necessary rules for the implementation of paragraphs 1 and 2.

4. The Parties shall recognize that as a derogation from the provisions of paragraph 1 (iii) Slovenia may exceptionally, for the first five years following the Agreement's entry into force, grant State aid for restructuring purposes in connection with ECSC steel products, provided that:

- the aid helps the recipient firms to achieve viability under normal market conditions by the end of the restructuring period,

- the amount and degree of aid provided are limited to what is strictly necessary to restore viability and are progressively reduced,

- the restructuring programme is linked to a global rationalization and capacity-reduction plan for Slovenia.

5. Each Party shall ensure transparency with regard to State aid by conducting a full and continuous exchange of information with the other Party on the amount, degree and aim of the aid and by including in that information a detailed restructuring plan.

6. If the Community or Slovenia consider that a particular practice is incompatible with the terms of paragraph 1, as amended by paragraph 4, and:

- it is not suitably dealt with by the implementing rules referred to in paragraph 3, or

- no such rules exist, and the practice is causing or threatening to cause harm to the interests of the other Party or material injury to its domestic industry,

the injured Party may take appropriate measures if consultations lasting a maximum of thirty working days fail to find a solution. Such consultations must be held within thirty working days of being officially requested.

In the case of practices which are incompatible with the terms of paragraph 1 (iii), the appropriate measures in question may be implemented only in the manner and under the conditions laid down by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) or in accordance with any other appropriate instrument applicable between the Parties and negotiated under GATT auspices.

Article 8

The provisions of Articles 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the Agreement shall apply to trade in ECSC products between the Parties.

Article 9

The Parties agree that one of the special bodies established by the Cooperation Council shall be a contact group responsible for discussing the implementation of this Protocolo.

(1) OJ No L 345, 31. 12. 1994, p. 1.

ANNEX

LIST OF PRODUCTS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 2 (2)

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PROTOCOL 3 on trade between Slovenia and the Community in processed agricultural products

Article 1

1. The Community and Slovenia shall apply to processed agricultural products the duties listed in Annex I and Annex II respectively in accordance with the conditions mentioned therein.

2. The Cooperation Council shall decide on:

- the extension of the list of processed agricultural products under this Protocol,

- the amendment of the duties mentioned in the Annexes,

- the increase or abolition of tariff quotas.

3. The Cooperation Council may replace the duties established by this Protocol by a regime established on the basis of the respective market prices of the Community and Slovenia of the agricultural products actually used in the manufacture of processed agricultural products subject to this Protocol. It shall establish the list of goods subject to these amounts and as a consequence, the list of basic products; to this end, it shall decide the general rules of application.

Article 2

The duties applied conforming to Article 1 may be reduced by decision of the Cooperation Council:

- when in trade between the Community and Slovenia the duties applied to the basic agricultural products are reduced, or

- in response to reductions resulting from mutual concessions relating to processed agricultural products.

The reductions provided for under the first indent shall be calculated on the part of the duty designated as the agricultural component which shall correspond to the agricultural products actually used in the manufacture of the processed agricultural products in question and deducted from the duties applied to these basic agricultural products.

Article 3

The Community and Slovenia shall inform each other of the administrative arrangements adopted for the products covered by this Protocol.

These arrangements should ensure equal treatment for all interested parties and should be as simple and flexible as possible.

ANNEX I

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ANNEX II

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PROTOCOL 4 concerning the definition of the concept of 'originating products` and methods of administrative cooperation

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE I GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1 Definitions

TITLE II DEFINITION OF THE CONCEPT OF 'ORIGINATING PRODUCTS`

Article 2 General requirements

Article 3 Bilateral cumulation of origin

Article 4 Diagonal cumulation of origin

Article 5 Wholly obtained products

Article 6 Sufficiently worked or processed products

Article 7 Insufficient working or processing operations

Article 8 Unit of qualification

Article 9 Accessories, spare parts and tools

Article 10 Sets

Article 11 Neutral elements

TITLE III TERRITORIAL REQUIREMENTS

Article 12 Principle of territoriality

Article 13 Direct transport

Article 14 Exhibitions

TITLE IV DRAWBACK OR EXEMPTION

Article 15 Prohibition of drawback of, or exemption from, customs duties

TITLE V PROOF OF ORIGIN

Article 16 General requirements

Article 17 Procedure for the issue of a movement certificate EUR.1

Article 18 Movement certificates EUR.1 issued retrospectively

Article 19 Issue of a duplicate movement certificate EUR.1

Article 20 Issue of movement certificates EUR.1 on the basis of a proof of origin issued or made out previously

Article 21 Conditions for making out an invoice declaration

Article 22 Approved exporter

Article 23 Validity of proof of origin

Article 24 Submission of proof of origin

Article 25 Importation by instalments

Article 26 Exemptions from proof of origin

Article 27 Supporting documents

Article 28 Preservation of proof of origin and supporting documents

Article 29 Discrepancies and formal errors

Article 30 Amounts expressed in ECU

TITLE VI ARRANGEMENTS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COOPERATION

Article 31 Mutual assistance

Article 32 Verification of proofs of origin

Article 33 Dispute settlement

Article 34 Penalties

Article 35 Free zones

TITLE VII CEUTA AND MELILLA

Article 36 Application of the Protocol

Article 37 Special conditions

TITLE VIII FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 38 Amendments to the Protocol

TITLE I GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1 Definitions

For the purposes of this Protocol:

(a) 'manufacture` means any kind of working or processing including assembly or specific operations;

(b) 'material` means any ingredient, raw material, component or part, etc., used in the manufacture of the product;

(c) 'product` means the product being manufactured, even if it is intended for later use in another manufacturing operation;

(d) 'goods` means both materials and products;

(e) 'customs value` means the value as determined in accordance with the 1994 Agreement on implementation of Article VII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (WTO Agreement on customs valuation);

(f) 'ex-works price` means the price paid for the product ex works to the manufacturer in the Community or Slovenia in whose undertaking the last working or processing is carried out, provided the price includes the value of all the materials used, minus any internal taxes which are, or may be, repaid when the product obtained is exported;

(g) 'value of materials` means the customs value at the time of importation of the non-originating materials used, or, if this is not known and cannot be ascertained, the first ascertainable price paid for the materials in the Community or Slovenia;

(h) 'value of originating materials` means the value of such materials as defined in subparagraph (g) applied mutatis mutandis;

(i) 'added value` shall be taken to be the ex-works price minus the customs value of each of the products incorporated which did not originate in the country in which those products were obtained;

(j) 'chapters` and 'headings` mean the chapters and the headings (four-digit codes) used in the nomenclature which makes up the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, referred to in this Protocol as 'the Harmonized System` or 'HS`;

(k) 'classified` refers to the classification of a product or material under a particular heading;

(l) 'consignment` means products which are either sent simultaneously from one exporter to one consignee or covered by a single transport document covering their shipment from the exporter to the consignee or, in the absence of such a document, by a single invoice;

(m) 'territories` includes territorial waters.

TITLE II DEFINITION OF THE CONCEPT OF 'ORIGINATING PRODUCTS`

Article 2 General requirements

1. For the purpose of implementing this Agreement, the following products shall be considered as originating in the Community:

(a) products wholly obtained in the Community within the meaning of Article 5 of this Protocol;

(b) products obtained in the Community incorporating materials which have not been wholly obtained there, provided that such materials have undergone sufficient working or processing in the Community within the meaning of Article 6 of this Protocol;

(c) goods originating in the European Economic Area (EEA) within the meaning of Protocol 4 to the Agreement on the European Economic Area.

2. For the purpose of implementing this Agreement, the following products shall be considered as originating in Slovenia:

(a) products wholly obtained in Slovenia within the meaning of Article 5 of this Protocol;

(b) products obtained in Slovenia incorporating materials which have not been wholly obtained there, provided that such materials have undergone sufficient working or processing in Slovenia within the meaning of Article 6 of this Protocol.

Article 3 Bilateral cumulation of origin

1. Materials originating in the Community shall be considered as materials originating in Slovenia when incorporated into a product obtained there. It shall not be necessary that such materials have undergone sufficient working or processing, provided they have undergone working or processing going beyond that referred to in Article 7 (1) of this Protocol.

2. Materials originating in Slovenia shall be considered as materials originating in the Community when incorporated into a product obtained there. It shall not be necessary that such materials have undergone sufficient working or processing, provided they have undergone working or processing going beyond that referred to in Article 7 (1) of this Protocol.

Article 4 Diagonal cumulation of origin

1. Subject to the provisions of paragraphs 2 and 3, materials originating in Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Bulgaria, Romania, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland within the meaning of the Agreements between the Community and Slovenia and these countries shall be considered as originating in the Community or Slovenia when incorporated into a product obtained there. It shall not be necessary that such materials have undergone sufficient working or processing.

2. Products which have acquired originating status by virtue of paragraph 1 shall only continue to be considered as products originating in the Community or Slovenia when the value added there exceeds the value of the materials used originating in any one of the other countries referred to in paragraph 1. If this is not so, the products concerned shall be considered as originating in the country referred to in paragraph 1 which accounts for the highest value of originating materials used. In the allocation of origin, no account shall be taken of materials originating in the other countries referred to in paragraph 1 which have undergone sufficient working or processing in the Community or Slovenia.

3. The cumulation provided for in this Article may only be applied where the materials used have acquired the status of originating products by an application of rules of origin identical to the rules in this Protocol. The Community and Slovenia shall provide each other, through the European Commission with details of agreements and their corresponding rules of origin which have been concluded with the other countries referred to in paragraph 1.

4. The European Commission shall publish in the Official Journal of the European Communities (C Series) the date on which the countries referred to in paragraph 1 have met the obligations laid down in paragraph 3.

Article 5 Wholly obtained products

1. The following shall be considered as wholly obtained in the Community or Slovenia:

(a) mineral products extracted from their soil or from their seabed;

(b) vegetable products harvested there;

(c) live animals born and raised there;

(d) products from live animals raised there;

(e) products obtained by hunting or fishing conducted there;

(f) products of sea fishing and other products taken from the sea outside the territorial waters of the Community or Slovenia by their vessels;

(g) products made aboard their factory ships exclusively from products referred to in subparagraph (f);

(h) used articles collected there fit only for the recovery of raw materials, including used tyres fit only for retreading or for use as waste;

(i) waste and scrap resulting from manufacturing operations conducted there;

(j) products extracted from marine soil or subsoil outside their territorial waters provided that they have sole rights to work that soil or subsoil;

(k) goods produced there exclusively from the products specified in subparagraphs (a) to (j).

2. The terms 'their vessels` and 'their factory ships` in paragraph 1 (f) and (g) shall apply only to vessels and factory ships:

(a) which are registered or recorded in an EC Member State or in Slovenia;

(b) which sail under the flag of an EC Member State or of Slovenia;

(c) which are owned to an extent of at least 50 per cent by nationals of EC Member States or of Slovenia, or by a company with its head office in one of these States, of which the manager or managers, Chairman of the Board of Directors or the Supervisory Board, and the majority of the members of such boards are nationals of EC Member States or of Slovenia and of which, in addition, in the case of partnerships or limited companies, at least half the capital belongs to those States or to public bodies or nationals of the said States;

(d) of which the master and officers are nationals of EC Member States or of Slovenia; and

(e) of which at least 75 per cent of the crew are nationals of EC Member States or of Slovenia.

Article 6 Sufficiently worked or processed products

1. For the purposes of Article 2, products which are not wholly obtained are considered to be sufficiently worked or processed when the conditions set out in the list in Annex II are fulfilled.

The conditions referred to above indicate, for all products covered by this Agreement, the working or processing which must be carried out on non-originating materials used in manufacturing and apply only in relation to such materials. Accordingly, it follows that if a product, which has acquired originating status by fulfilling the conditions set out in the list is used in the manufacture of another product, the conditions applicable to the product in which it is incorporated do not apply to it, and no account shall be taken of the non-originating materials which may have been used in its manufacture.

2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, non-originating materials which, according to the conditions set out in the list, should not be used in the manufacture of a product may nevertheless be used, provided that:

(a) their total value does not exceed 10 per cent of the ex-works price of the product;

(b) any of the percentages given in the list for the maximum value of non-originating materials are not exceeded through the application of this paragraph.

This paragraph shall not apply to products falling within Chapters 50 to 63 of the Harmonized System.

3. Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall apply except as provided in Article 7.

Article 7 Insufficient working or processing operations

1. Without prejudice to paragraph 2, the following operations shall be considered as insufficient working or processing to confer the status of originating products, whether or not the requirements of Article 6 are satisfied:

(a) operations to ensure the preservation of products in good condition during transport and storage (ventilation, spreading out, drying, chilling, placing in salt, sulphur dioxide or other aqueous solutions, removal of damaged parts, and like operations);

(b) simple operations consisting of removal of dust, sifting or screening, sorting, classifying, matching (including the making-up of sets of articles), washing, painting, cutting up;

(c) (i) changes of packaging and breaking up and assembly of packages;

(ii) simple placing in bottles, flasks, bags, cases, boxes, fixing on cards or boards, etc., and all other simple packaging operations;

(d) affixing marks, labels and other like distinguishing signs on products or their packaging;

(e) simple mixing of products, whether or not of different kinds, where one or more components of the mixtures do not meet the conditions laid down in this Protocol to enable them to be considered as originating in the Community or Slovenia;

(f) simple assembly of parts to constitute a complete product;

(g) a combination of two or more operations specified in subparagraphs (a) to (f);

(h) slaughter of animals.

2. All the operations carried out in either the Community or Slovenia on a given product shall be considered together when determining whether the working or processing undergone by that product is to be regarded as insufficient within the meaning of paragraph 1.

Article 8 Unit of qualification

1. The unit of qualification for the application of the provisions of this Protocol shall be the particular product which is considered as the basic unit when determining classification using the nomenclature of the Harmonized System.

Accordingly, it follows that:

(a) when a product composed of a group or assembly of articles is classified under the terms of the Harmonized System in a single heading, the whole constitutes the unit of qualification;

(b) when a consignment consists of a number of identical products classified under the same heading of the Harmonized System, each product must be taken individually when applying the provisions of this Protocol.

2. Where, under General Rule 5 of the Harmonized System, packaging is included with the product for classification purposes, it shall be included for the purposes of determining origin.

Article 9 Accessories, spare parts and tools

Accessories, spare parts and tools dispatched with a piece of equipment, machine, apparatus or vehicle, which are part of the normal equipment and included in the price thereof or which are not separately invoiced, shall be regarded as one with the piece of equipment, machine, apparatus or vehicle in question.

Article 10 Sets

Sets, as defined in General Rule 3 of the Harmonized System, shall be regarded as originating when all component products are originating. Nevertheless, when a set is composed of originating and non-originating products, the set as a whole shall be regarded as originating, provided that the value of the non-originating products does not exceed 15 per cent of the ex-works price of the set.

Article 11 Neutral elements

In order to determine whether a product originates, it shall not be necessary to determine the origin of the following which might be used in its manufacture:

(a) energy and fuel;

(b) plant and equipment;

(c) machines and tools;

(d) goods which do not enter and which are not intended to enter into the final composition of the product.

TITLE III TERRITORIAL REQUIREMENTS

Article 12 Principle of territoriality

1. The conditions set out in Title II relative to the acquisition of originating status must be fulfilled without interruption in the Community or Slovenia, except as provided for in Article 2 (1) (c) and Article 4.

2. If originating goods exported from the Community or Slovenia to another country are returned, except insofar as provided for in Article 4 they must be considered as non-originating, unless it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the customs authorities that:

(a) the goods returned are the same goods as those exported; and

(b) they have not undergone any operation beyond that necessary to preserve them in good condition while in that country or while being exported.

Article 13 Direct transport

1. The preferential treatment provided for under the Agreement applies only to products, satisfying the requirements of this Protocol, which are transported directly between the Community and Slovenia or through the territories of the other countries referred to in Article 4. However, products constituting one single consignment may be transported through other territories with, should the occasion arise, trans-shipment or temporary warehousing in such territories, provided that they remain under the surveillance of the customs authorities in the country of transit or warehousing and do not undergo operations other than unloading, reloading or any operation designed to preserve them in good condition.

Originating products may be transported by pipeline across territory other than that of the Community or Slovenia.

2. Evidence that the conditions set out in paragraph 1 have been fulfilled shall be supplied to the customs authorities of the importing country by the production of:

(a) a single transport document covering the passage from the exporting country through the country of transit; or

(b) a certificate issued by the customs authorities of the country of transit:

(i) giving an exact description of the products;

(ii) stating the dates of unloading and reloading of the products and, where applicable, the names of the ships, or the other means of transport used; and

(iii) certifying the conditions under which the products remained in the transit country; or

(c) failing these, any substantiating documents.

Article 14 Exhibitions

1. Originating products, sent for exhibition in a country other than those referred to in Article 4 and sold after the exhibition for importation in the Community or Slovenia, shall benefit on importation from the provisions of the Agreement provided it is shown to the satisfaction of the customs authorities that:

(a) an exporter has consigned these products from the Community or Slovenia to the country in which the exhibition is held and has exhibited them there;

(b) the products have been sold or otherwise disposed of by that exporter to a person in the Community or Slovenia;

(c) the products have been consigned during the exhibition or immediately thereafter in the state in which they were sent for exhibition; and

(d) the products have not, since they were consigned for exhibition, been used for any purpose other than demonstration at the exhibition.

2. A proof of origin must be issued or made out in accordance with the provisions of Title V and submitted to the customs authorities of the importing country in the normal manner. The name and address of the exhibition must be indicated thereon. Where necessary, additional documentary evidence of the conditions under which they have been exhibited may be required.

3. Paragraph 1 shall apply to any trade, industrial, agricultural or crafts exhibition, fair or similar public show or display which is not organized for private purposes in shops or business premises with a view to the sale of foreign products, and during which the products remain under customs control.

TITLE IV DRAWBACK OR EXEMPTION

Article 15 Prohibition of drawback of, or exemption from, customs duties

1. (a) Non-originating materials used in the manufacture of products originating in the Community, in Slovenia or in one of the other countries referred to in Article 4 for which a proof of origin is issued or made out in accordance with the provisions of Title V shall not be subject in the Community or Slovenia to drawback of, or exemption from, customs duties of whatever kind.

(b) Products falling within Chapter 3 and heading Nos 1604 and 1605 of the Harmonized System and originating in the Community within the meaning of this Protocol as provided for in Article 2 (1) (c), for which a proof of origin is issued or made out in accordance with the provisions of Title V shall not be subject in the Community to drawback of, or exemption from, customs duties of whatever kind.

2. The prohibition in paragraph 1 shall apply to any arrangement for refund, remission or non-payment, partial or complete, of customs duties or charges having an equivalent effect, applicable in the Community or Slovenia to materials used in the manufacture and to products covered by paragraph 1 (b) above, where such refund, remission or non-payment applies, expressly or in effect, when products obtained from the said materials are exported and not when they are retained for home use there.

3. The exporter of products covered by a proof of origin shall be prepared to submit at any time, upon request from the customs authorities, all appropriate documents proving that no drawback has been obtained in respect of the non-originating materials used in the manufacture of the products concerned and that all customs duties or charges having equivalent effect applicable to such materials have actually been paid.

4. The provisions of paragraphs 1 to 3 shall also apply in respect of packaging within the meaning of Article 8 (2), accessories, spare parts and tools within the meaning of Article 9 and products in a set within the meaning of Article 10 when such items are non-originating.

5. The provisions of paragraphs 1 to 4 shall apply only in respect of materials which are of the kind to which the Agreement applies. Furthermore, they shall not preclude the application of an export refund system for agricultural products, applicable upon export in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement.

6. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, Slovenia may apply arrangements for drawback of, or exemption from, customs duties or charges having an equivalent effect, applicable to materials used in the manufacture of originating products, subject to the following provisions:

(a) a 5 per cent rate of customs charge shall be retained in respect of products falling within Chapters 25 to 49 and 64 to 97 of the Harmonized System, or such lower rate as is in force in Slovenia;

(b) a 10 per cent rate of customs charge shall be retained in respect of products falling within Chapters 50 to 63 of the Harmonized System, or such lower rate as is in force in Slovenia.

The provisions of this paragraph shall apply until 31 December 1998 and may be reviewed by common accord.

TITLE V PROOF OF ORIGIN

Article 16 General requirements

1. Products originating in the Community shall, on importation into Slovenia, and products originating in Slovenia shall, on importation into the Community, benefit from this Agreement upon submission of either:

(a) a movement certificate EUR.1, a specimen of which appears in Annex III; or

(b) in the cases specified in Article 21 (1), a declaration, the text of which appears in Annex IV, given by the exporter on an invoice, a delivery note or any other commercial document which describes the products concerned in sufficient detail to enable them to be identified (hereinafter referred to as the 'invoice declaration`).

2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, originating products within the meaning of this Protocol shall, in the cases specified in Article 26, benefit from this Agreement without it being necessary to submit any of the documents referred to above.

Article 17 Procedure for the issue of a movement certificate EUR.1

1. A movement certificate EUR.1 shall be issued by the customs authorities of the exporting country on application having been made in writing by the exporter or, under the exporter's responsibility, by his authorized representative.

2. For this purpose, the exporter or his authorized representative shall fill out both the movement certificate EUR.1 and the application form, specimens of which appear in Annex III. These forms shall be completed in one of the languages in which this Agreement is drawn up and in accordance with the provisions of the domestic law of the exporting country. If they are handwritten, they shall be completed in ink in printed characters. The description of the products must be given in the box reserved for this purpose without leaving any blank lines. Where the box is not completely filled, a horizontal line must be drawn below the last line of the description, the empty space being crossed through.

3. The exporter applying for the issue of a movement certificate EUR.1 shall be prepared to submit at any time, at the request of the customs authorities of the exporting country where the movement certificate EUR.1 is issued, all appropriate documents proving the originating status of the products concerned as well as the fulfilment of the other requirements of this Protocol.

4. A movement certificate EUR.1 shall be issued by the customs authorities of an EC Member State or Slovenia if the products concerned can be considered as products originating in the Community, Slovenia or in one of the other countries referred to in Article 4 and fulfil the other requirements of this Protocol.

5. The issuing customs authorities shall take any steps necessary to verify the originating status of the products and the fulfilment of the other requirements of this Protocol. For this purpose, they shall have the right to call for any evidence and to carry out any inspection of the exporter's accounts or any other check considered appropriate. The issuing customs authorities shall also ensure that the forms referred to in paragraph 2 are duly completed. In particular, they shall check whether the space reserved for the description of the products has been completed in such a manner as to exclude all possibility of fraudulent additions.

6. The date of issue of the movement certificate EUR.1 shall be indicated in Box 11 of the certificate.

7. A movement certificate EUR.1 shall be issued by the customs authorities and made available to the exporter as soon as actual exportation has been effected or ensured.

Article 18 Movement certificates EUR.1 issued retrospectively

1. Notwithstanding Article 17 (7), a movement certificate EUR.1 may exceptionally be issued after exportation of the products to which it relates if:

(a) it was not issued at the time of exportation because of errors or involuntary omissions or special circumstances; or

(b) it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the customs authorities that a movement certificate EUR.1 was issued but was not accepted at importation for technical reasons.

2. For the implementation of paragraph 1, the exporter must indicate in his application the place and date of exportation of the products to which the movement certificate EUR.1 relates, and state the reasons for his request.

3. The customs authorities may issue a movement certificate EUR.1 retrospectively only after verifying that the information supplied in the exporter's application agrees with that in the corresponding file.

4. Movement certificates EUR.1 issued retrospectively must be endorsed with one of the following phrases:

'NACHTRÄGLICH AUSGESTELLT`, 'DELIVRE A POSTERIORI`, 'RILASCIATO A POSTERIORI`, 'AFGEGEVEN A POSTERIORI`, 'ISSUED RETROSPECTIVELY`, 'UDSTEDT EFTERFØLGENDE`, 'ÅÊÄÏÈÅÍ ÅÊ ÔÙÍ ÕÓÔÅÑÙÍ`, 'EXPEDIDO A POSTERIORI`, 'EMITIDO A POSTERIORI`, 'ANNETTU JÄLKIKÄTEEN`, 'UTFÄRDAT I EFTERHAND`, 'IZDANO NAKNADNO`.

5. The endorsement referred to in paragraph 4 shall be inserted in the 'Remarks` box of the movement certificate EUR.1.

Article 19 Issue of a duplicate movement certificate EUR.1

1. In the event of theft, loss or destruction of a movement certificate EUR.1, the exporter may apply to the customs authorities which issued it for a duplicate made out on the basis of the export documents in their possession.

2. The duplicate issued in this way must be endorsed with one of the following words:

'DUPLIKAT`, 'DUPLICATA`, 'DUPLICATO`, 'DUPLICAAT`, 'DUPLICATE`, 'ÁÍÔÉÃÑÁÖÏ`, 'DUPLICADO`, 'SEGUNDA VIA`, 'KAKSOISKAPPALE`, 'DVOJNIK`.

3. The endorsement referred to in paragraph 2 shall be inserted in the 'Remarks` box of the duplicate movement certificate EUR.1.

4. The duplicate, which must bear the date of issue of the original movement certificate EUR.1, shall take effect as from that date.

Article 20 Issue of movement certificates EUR.1 on the basis of a proof of origin issued or made out previously

When originating products are placed under the control of a customs office in the Community or Slovenia, it shall be possible to replace the original proof of origin by one or more movement certificates EUR.1 for the purpose of sending all or some of these products elsewhere within the Community or Slovenia. The replacement movement certificate(s) EUR.1 shall be issued by the customs office under whose control the products are placed.

Article 21 Conditions for making out an invoice declaration

1. An invoice declaration as referred to in Article 16 (1) (b) may be made out:

(a) by an approved exporter within the meaning of Article 22, or

(b) by any exporter for any consignment consisting of one or more packages containing originating products whose total value does not exceed ECU 6 000.

2. An invoice declaration may be made out if the products concerned can be considered as products originating in the Community, Slovenia or in one of the other countries referred to in Article 4 and fulfil the other requirements of this Protocol.

3. The exporter making out an invoice declaration shall be prepared to submit at any time, at the request of the customs authorities of the exporting country, all appropriate documents proving the originating status of the products concerned as well as the fulfilment of the other requirements of this Protocol.

4. An invoice declaration shall be made out by the exporter by typing, stamping or printing on the invoice, the delivery note or another commercial document, the declaration, the text of which appears in Annex IV, using one of the linguistic versions set out in that Annex and in accordance with the provisions of the domestic law of the exporting country. If the declaration is handwritten, it shall be written in ink in printed characters.

5. Invoice declarations shall bear the original signature of the exporter in manuscript. However, an approved exporter within the meaning of Article 22 shall not be required to sign such declarations provided that he gives the customs authorities of the exporting country a written undertaking that he accepts full responsibility for any invoice declaration which identifies him as if it had been signed in manuscript by him.

6. An invoice declaration may be made out by the exporter when the products to which it relates are exported, or after exportation on condition that it is presented in the importing country no longer than two years after the importation of the products to which it relates.

Article 22 Approved exporter

1. The customs authorities of the exporting country may authorize any exporter who makes frequent shipments of products under this Agreement to make out invoice declarations irrespective of the value of the products concerned. An exporter seeking such authorization must offer to the satisfaction of the customs authorities all guarantees necessary to verify the originating status of the products as well as the fulfilment of the other requirements of this Protocol.

2. The customs authorities may grant the status of approved exporter subject to any conditions which they consider appropriate.

3. The customs authorities shall grant to the approved exporter a customs authorization number which shall appear on the invoice declaration.

4. The customs authorities shall monitor the use of the authorization by the approved exporter.

5. The customs authorities may withdraw the authorization at any time. They shall do so where the approved exporter no longer offers the guarantees referred to in paragraph 1, does not fulfil the conditions referred to in paragraph 2 or otherwise makes an incorrect use of the authorization.

Article 23 Validity of proof of origin

1. A proof of origin shall be valid for four months from the date of issue in the exporting country, and must be submitted within the said period to the customs authorities of the importing country.

2. Proofs of origin which are submitted to the customs authorities of the importing country after the final date for presentation specified in paragraph 1 may be accepted for the purpose of applying preferential treatment, where the failure to submit these documents by the final date set is due to exceptional circumstances.

3. In other cases of belated presentation, the customs authorities of the importing country may accept the proofs of origin where the products have been submitted before the said final date.

Article 24 Submission of proof of origin

Proofs of origin shall be submitted to the customs authorities of the importing country in accordance with the procedures applicable in that country. The said authorities may require a translation of a proof of origin and may also require the import declaration to be accompanied by a statement from the importer to the effect that the products meet the conditions required for the implementation of the Agreement.

Article 25 Importation by instalments

Where, at the request of the importer and on the conditions laid down by the customs authorities of the importing country, dismantled or non-assembled products within the meaning of General Rule 2 (a) of the Harmonized System falling within Sections XVI and XVII or heading Nos 7308 and 9406 of the Harmonized System are imported by instalments, a single proof of origin for such products shall be submitted to the customs authorities upon importation of the first instalment.

Article 26 Exemptions from proof of origin

1. Products sent as small packages from private persons to private persons or forming part of travellers' personal luggage shall be admitted as originating products without requiring the submission of a proof of origin, provided that such products are not imported by way of trade and have been declared as meeting the requirements of this Protocol and where there is no doubt as to the veracity of such a declaration. In the case of products sent by post, this declaration can be made on the customs declaration C2/CP3 or on a sheet of paper annexed to that document.

2. Imports which are occasional and consist solely of products for the personal use of the recipients or travellers or their families shall not be considered as imports by way of trade if it is evident from the nature and quantity of the products that no commercial purpose is in view.

3. Furthermore, the total value of these products shall not exceed ECU 500 in the case of small packages or ECU 1 200 in the case of products forming part of travellers' personal luggage.

Article 27 Supporting documents

The documents referred to in Articles 17 (3) and 21 (3) used for the purpose of proving that products covered by a movement certificate EUR.1 or an invoice declaration can be considered as products originating in the Community, Slovenia or in one of the other countries referred to in Article 4 and fulfil the other requirements of this Protocol may consist inter alia of the following:

(a) direct evidence of the processes carried out by the exporter or supplier to obtain the goods concerned, contained for example in his accounts or internal bookkeeping;

(b) documents proving the originating status of materials used, issued or made out in the Community or Slovenia where these documents are used in accordance with domestic law;

(c) documents proving the working or processing of materials in the Community or Slovenia, issued or made out in the Community or Slovenia, where these documents are used in accordance with domestic law;

(d) movement certificates EUR.1 or invoice declarations proving the originating status of materials used, issued or made out in the Community or Slovenia in accordance with this Protocol, or in one of the other countries referred to in Article 4, in accordance with rules of origin which are identical to the rules in this Protocol.

Article 28 Preservation of proof of origin and supporting documents

1. The exporter applying for the issue of a movement certificate EUR.1 shall keep for at least three years the documents referred to in Article 17 (3).

2. The exporter making out an invoice declaration shall keep for at least three years a copy of the invoice declaration as well as the documents referred to in Article 21 (3).

3. The customs authorities of the exporting country issuing a movement certificate EUR.1 shall keep for at least three years the application form referred to in Article 17 (2).

4. The customs authorities of the importing country shall keep for at least three years the movement certificates EUR.1 and the invoice declarations submitted to them.

Article 29 Discrepancies and formal errors

1. The discovery of slight discrepancies between the statements made in the proof of origin and those made in the documents submitted to the customs office for the purpose of carrying out the formalities for importing the products shall not ipso facto render the proof of origin null and void if it is duly established that this document does correspond to the products submitted.

2. Obvious formal errors such as typing errors on a proof of origin should not cause this document to be rejected if these errors are not such as to create doubts concerning the correctness of the statements made in this document.

Article 30 Amounts expressed in ecus

1. Amounts in the national currency of the exporting country equivalent to the amounts expressed in ecus shall be fixed by the exporting country and communicated to the importing countries through the European Commission.

2. When the amounts exceed the corresponding amounts fixed by the importing country, the latter shall accept them if the products are invoiced in the currency of the exporting country. When the products are invoiced in the currency of another EC Member State or another country referred to in Article 4, the importing country shall recognize the amount notified by the country concerned.

3. The amounts to be used in any given national currency shall be the equivalent in that national currency of the amounts expressed in ecus as at the first working day in October 1996.

4. The amounts expressed in ecus and their equivalents in the national currencies of the EC Member States and Slovenia shall be reviewed by the Association Committee at the request of the Community or Slovenia. When carrying out this review, the Association Committee shall ensure that there will be no decrease in the amounts to be used in any national currency and shall furthermore consider the desirability of preserving the effects of the limits concerned in real terms. For this purpose, it may decide to modify the amounts expressed in ecus.

TITLE VI ARRANGEMENTS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COOPERATION

Article 31 Mutual assistance

1. The customs authorities of the EC Member States and of Slovenia shall provide each other, through the European Commission, with specimen impressions of stamps used in their customs offices for the issue of movement certificates EUR.1 and with the addresses of the customs authorities responsible for verifying those certificates and invoice declarations.

2. In order to ensure the proper application of this Protocol, the Community and Slovenia shall assist each other, through the competent customs administrations, in checking the authenticity of the movement certificates EUR.1 or the invoice declarations and the correctness of the information given in these documents.

Article 32 Verification of proofs of origin

1. Subsequent verifications of proofs of origin shall be carried out at random or whenever the customs authorities of the importing country have reasonable doubts as to the authenticity of such documents, the originating status of the products concerned or the fulfilment of the other requirements of this Protocol.

2. For the purposes of implementing the provisions of paragraph 1, the customs authorities of the importing country shall return the movement certificate EUR.1 and the invoice, if it has been submitted, the invoice declaration, or a copy of these documents, to the customs authorities of the exporting country giving, where appropriate, the reasons for the enquiry. Any documents and information obtained suggesting that the information given on the proof or origin is incorrect shall be forwarded in support of the request for verification.

3. The verification shall be carried out by the customs authorities of the exporting country. For this purpose, they shall have the right to call for any evidence and to carry out any inspection of the exporter's accounts or any other check considered appropriate.

4. If the customs authorities of the importing country decide to suspend the granting of preferential treatment to the products concerned while awaiting the results of the verification, release of the products shall be offered to the importer subject to any precautionary measures judged necessary.

5. The customs authorities requesting the verification shall be informed of the results of this verification as soon as possible. These results must indicate clearly whether the documents are authentic and whether the products concerned can be considered as products originating in the Community, Slovenia or one of the other countries referred to in Article 4 and fulfil the other requirements of this Protocol.

6. If in cases of reasonable doubt there is no reply within ten months of the date of the verification request or if the reply does not contain sufficient information to determine the authenticity of the document in question or the real origin of the products, the requesting customs authorities shall, except in exceptional circumstances, refuse entitlement to the preferences.

Article 33 Dispute settlement

Where disputes arise in relation to the verification procedures of Article 32 which cannot be settled between the customs authorities requesting a verification and the customs authorities responsible for carrying out this verification or where they raise a question as to the interpretation of this Protocol, they shall be submitted to the Association Committee.

In all cases the settlement of disputes between the importer and the customs authorities of the importing country shall be under the legislation of the said country.

Article 34 Penalties

Penalties shall be imposed on any person who draws up, or causes to be drawn up, a document which contains incorrect information for the purpose of obtaining a preferential treatment for products.

Article 35 Free zones

1. The Community and Slovenia shall take all necessary steps to ensure that products traded under cover of a proof of origin which in the course of transport use a free zone situated in their territory, are not substituted by other goods and do not undergo handling other than normal operations designed to prevent their deterioration.

2. By means of an exemption to the provisions contained in paragraph 1, when products originating in the Community or Slovenia are imported into a free zone under cover of a proof of origin and undergo treatment or processing, the authorities concerned shall issue a new EUR.1 certificate at the exporter's request, if the treatment or processing undergone is in conformity with the provisions of this Protocol.

TITLE VII CEUTA AND MELILLA

Article 36 Application of the Protocol

1. The term 'Community` used in Article 2 does not cover Ceuta and Melilla.

2. Products originating in Slovenia, when imported into Ceuta or Melilla, shall enjoy in all respects the same customs regime as that which is applied to products originating in the customs territory of the Community under Protocol 2 of the Act of Accession of the Kingdom of Spain and the Portuguese Republic to the European Communities. Slovenia shall grant to imports of products covered by the Agreement and originating in Ceuta and Melilla the same customs regime as that which is granted to products imported from and originating in the Community.

3. For the purpose of the application of paragraph 2 concerning products originating in Ceuta and Melilla, this Protocol shall apply mutatis mutandis subject to the special conditions set out in Article 37.

Article 37 Special conditions

1. Providing they have been transported directly in accordance with the provisions of Article 13, the following shall be considered as:

(1) products originating in Ceuta and Melilla:

(a) products who