AGREEMENT in the form of an exchange of letters amending the exchanges of letters between the Community and Czech and Slovak Federal Republic concerning transit signed in Brussels on 16 December 1991

A. Letter from the Community

Sir,

Upon the occasion of the signatures on 16 December 1991 of the Europe Agreement between the Communities and their Member States and the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic and of the Interim Agreement on trade and trade related matters between the European Economic Community ('the Community`) and the European Coal and Steel Community of the one part, and the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic, of the other part, Agreements in the form of Exchanges of Letters between the Community and Czechoslovakia concerning transit were signed. The Europe Agreement has not yet come into force. The Interim Agreement came into force on 1 March 1992.

Since the signature of the Exchanges of Letters, the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic increased the fee for taxable transit permits. This decision had consequences on the arrangements made in December concerning transit and the parties consider it necessary to come to an agreement through the present Exchange of Letters, to amend the relevant provisions of the Exchanges of Letters signed on 16 December 1991 to take account thereof.

Accordingly, I propose that the Exchanges of Letters signed on 16 December 1991 be amended as follows:

In paragraph 2 the following sentence shall be inserted after the first sentence of the first subparagraph: 'The fee per taxable permit is 18 500 Czechoslovak crowns.`

The following subparagraph shall be added after the second subparagraph of paragraph 2: 'Both sides agreed that if the transit situation on the territory of former Yugoslavia is not normalized they will jointly examine before the end of the year the possible changes concerning the abovementioned arrangements. Changes in the above provisions can be made by common agreement between the parties.`

If the foregoing is acceptable to the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic, I have the honour to propose that this letter, together with Your Excellency's reply to that effect, shall constitute an amendment to the Exchange of Letters signed on 16 December 1991.

This agreement is hereby approved by the parties in accordance with their respective procedures.

This Agreement shall enter into force on the first day following that on which the parties notify each other that the procedures mentioned in the preceding subparagraph have been completed. It shall apply from 15 March 1992.

I should be obliged if you would confirm the agreement of the Government of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic to the contents of this letter.

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

On behalf of the Council of the European Communities

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B. Letter from the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic

Sir,

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of today's date which reads as follows:

'Upon the occasion of the signatures on 16 December 1991 of the Europe Agreement between the Communities and their Member States and the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic and of the Interim Agreement on trade and trade related matters between the European Economic Community ("the Community") and the European Coal and Steel Community, of the one part, and the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic, of the other part, Agreements in the form of Exchanges of Letters between the Community and Czechoslovakia concerning transit were signed. The Europe Agreement has not yet come into force. The Interim Agreement came into force on 1 March 1992.

Since the signature of the Exchanges of Letters, the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic increased the fee for taxable transit permits. This decision had consequences on the arrangements made in December concerning transit and the parties consider it necessary to come to an agreement through the present Exchange of Letters, to amend the relevant provisions of the Exchanges of Letters signed on 16 December 1991 to take account thereof.

Accordingly, I propose that the Exchanges of Letters signed on 16 December 1991 be amended as follows:

In paragraph 2 the following sentence shall be inserted after the first sentence of the first subparagraph: "The fee per taxable permit is 18 500 Czechoslovak crowns."

The following subparagraph shall be added after the second subparagraph of paragraph 2: "Both sides agreed that if the transit situation on the territory of former Yugoslavia is not normalized they will jointly examine before the end of the year the possible changes concerning the abovementioned arrangements. Changes in the above provisions can be made by common agreement between the parties.

If the foregoing is acceptable to the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic, I have the honour to propose that this letter, together with Your Excellency`s reply to that effect, shall constitute an amendment to the Exchanges of Letters signed on 16 December 1991.

This Agreement is hereby approved by the parties in accordance with their respective procedures.

This Agreement shall enter into force on the first day following that on which the parties notify each other that the procedures mentioned in the preceding subparagraph have been completed. It shall apply from 15 March 1992.

I should be obliged if you would confirm the agreement of the Government of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic to the contents of this letter.'

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

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

For the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic

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