AGREEMENT in the form of an exchange of letters between the European Community and the Republic of Estonia amending Protocol 1 on trade in textile and clothing products to the Agreement on free trade and trade-related matters between the Republic of Estonia and the European Community, signed on 18 July 1994, to take into account the expected accession of the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden to the European Union

Letter from the Council of the European Union

Sir,

1. I have the honour to refer to Protocol 1 on trade in textile and clothing products to the Agreement on free trade and trade-related matters between the Republic of Estonia and the European Community, signed on 18 July 1994.

2. In order to take into account the expected accession of the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden to the European Union on 1 January 1995, the European Community considers that the following amendment should be made to Protocol 1 on trade in textile and clothing products to the Agreement on free trade and trade-related matters between the Republic of Estonia and the European Community.

2.1. Article 14, paragraph 2, subparagraph 2, second indent of Appendix A, Title IV, should be amended as follows:

'- two letters identifying the intended Member State of customs clearance as follows:

AT = Austria

BL = Benelux

DE = Federal Republic of Germany

DK = Denmark

EL = Greece

ES = Spain

FI = Finland

FR = France

GB = United Kingdom

IE = Ireland

IT = Italy

PT = Portugal

SE = Sweden`

2.2. Should one or more acceding countries not join the European Union the respective amendment mentioned under point 2.1 shall not enter into force.

3. I should be obliged if you could kindly confirm the acceptance of your Government of the foregoing. Should this be the case, this Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the day on which the Parties have notified each other that the legal procedures necessary to this end have been completed. In the meantime, it shall be applied provisionally from 1 January 1995 on the conditions to be specified in an exchange of notes (see Appendix I).

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.

For the Council of the European Union

Appendix I

Exchange of notes

The Directorate-General for External Economic Relations of the Commission of the European Communities presents its compliments to the Mission of the Republic of Estonia to the European Communities and has the honour to refer to Protocol 1 on trade in textile and clothing products to the Agreement on free trade and trade-related matters between the Republic of Estonia and the European Community, signed on 18 July 1994, as amended by the exchange of letters initialled on 15 December 1994.

The Directorate-General wishes to inform the Mission that whilst awaiting the completion of the necessary procedures for the conclusion and coming into force of the amended Protocol 1, the European Community is prepared to allow the provisions of the Agreement to apply de facto from 1 January 1995. This is on the understanding that either Party may at any time terminate this de facto application of the amended Protocol 1, provided that at least six months notice is given.

The Directorate-General for External Economic Relations would be grateful if the Mission would confirm its agreement to the foregoing.

The Directorate-General for External Economic Relations of the Commission of the European Communities avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Mission of the Republic of Estonia to the European Communities the assurance of its highest consideration.

The Mission of the Republic of Estonia to the European Communities presents its compliments to the Directorate-General for External Economic Relations of the Commission of the European Communities and has the honour to refer to the note of the Directorate-General of (date of note verbale) regarding Protocol 1 on trade in textile and clothing products to the Agreement on free trade and trade-related matters between the Republic of Estonia and the European Community, signed on 18 July 1994 as amended by the exchange of letters initialled on 15 December 1994.

The Mission of the Republic of Estonia to the European Communities wishes to confirm to the Directorate-General that whilst awaiting the completion of the necessary procedures for the conclusion and coming into force of the amended Protocol 1, the Government of the Republic of Estonia is prepared to allow the provisions of the Agreement to apply de facto from 1 January 1995. This is on the understanding that either Party may at any time terminate this de facto application of the amended Protocol 1, provided that at least six months notice is given.

The Mission of the Republic of Estonia to the European Communities avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Directorate-General for External Economic Relations of the Commission of the European Communities the assurance of its highest consideration.

Letter from the Government of the Republic of Estonia

Sir,

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of . . . which reads as follows:

'Sir,

1. I have the honour to refer to Protocol 1 on trade in textile and clothing products to the Agreement on free trade and trade-related matters between the Republic of Estonia and the European Community, signed on 18 July 1994.

2. In order to take into account the expected accession of the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden to the European Union on 1 January 1995, the European Community considers that the following amendment should be made to Protocol 1 on trade in textile and clothing products to the Agreement on free trade and trade-related matters between the Republic of Estonia and the European Community.

2.1. Article 14, paragraph 2, subparagraph 2, second indent of Appendix A, Title IV, should be amended as follows:

"- two letters identifying the intended Member State of customs clearance as follows:

AT = Austria

BL = Benelux

DE = Federal Republic of Germany

DK = Denmark

EL = Greece

ES = Spain

FI = Finland

FR = France

GB = United Kingdom

IE = Ireland

IT = Italy

PT = Portugal

SE = Sweden"

2.2. Should one or more acceding countries not join the European Union the respective amendment mentioned under point 2.1 shall not enter into force.

3. I should be obliged if you could kindly confirm the acceptance of your Government of the foregoing. Should this be the case, this Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the day on which the Parties have notified each other that the legal procedures necessary to this end have been completed. In the meantime, it shall be applied provisionally from 1 January 1995 on the conditions to be specified in an exchange of notes (see Appendix I).

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.`

I have the honour to confirm that my Government is in agreement with the contents of your letter

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.

For the Government of the Republic of Estonia

Appendix I

Exchange of notes

The Directorate-General for External Economic Relations of the Commission of the European Communities presents its compliments to the Mission of the Republic of Estonia to the European Communities and has the honour to refer to Protocol 1 on trade in textile and clothing products to the Agreement on free trade and trade-related matters between the Republic of Estonia and the European Community, signed on 18 July 1994, as amended by the exchange of letters initialled on 15 December 1994.

The Directorate-General wishes to inform the Mission that whilst awaiting the completion of the necessary procedures for the conclusion and coming into force of the amended Protocol 1, the European Community is prepared to allow the provisions of the Agreement to apply de facto from 1 January 1995. This is on the understanding that either Party may at any time terminate this de facto application of the amended Protocol 1, provided that at least six months notice is given.

The Directorate-General for External Economic Relations would be grateful if the Mission would confirm its agreement to the foregoing.

The Directorate-General for External Economic Relations of the Commission of the European Communities avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Mission of the Republic of Estonia to the European Communities the assurance of its highest consideration.

The Mission of the Republic of Estonia to the European Communities presents its compliments to the Directorate-General for External Economic Relations of the Commission of the European Communities and has the honour to refer to the note of the Directorate-General of (date of note verbale) regarding Protocol 1 on trade in textile and clothing products to the Agreement on free trade and trade-related matters between the Republic of Estonia and the European Community, signed on 18 July 1994 as amended by the exchange of letters initialled on 15 December 1994.

The Mission of the Republic of Estonia to the European Communities wishes to confirm to the Directorate-General that whilst awaiting the completion of the necessary procedures for the conclusion and coming into force of the amended Protocol 1, the Government of the Republic of Estonia is prepared to allow the provisions of the Agreement to apply de facto from 1 January 1995. This is on the understanding that either Party may at any time terminate this de facto application of the amended Protocol 1, provided that at least six months notice is given.

The Mission of the Republic of Estonia to the European Communities avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Directorate-General for External Economic Relations of the Commission of the European Communities the assurance of its highest consideration.