Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters

between the European Community and the Republic of Slovenia concerning the transitional points system applicable to heavy goods vehicles travelling through Austria from 1 January 2004 to 30 April 2004

A. Letter from the European Community

Sir,

I have the honour to inform you that, following negotiations between the delegation of the Republic of Slovenia and the delegation of the European Community, the following has been agreed:

1. The transitional points system is applicable to the heavy goods vehicles registered in Slovenia, with a maximum authorised weight of over 7,5 tonnes, using 6, 7 or 8 points, when these vehicles transit Austria, regardless of whether they are laden or not.

Heavy goods vehicles using more than 8 points are not allowed to transit Austria.

Heavy goods vehicles that require 5 points or less are exempt from this system.

2. The number of points allocated to the heavy goods vehicles registered in Slovenia and transiting Austria, from 1 January 2004 until 30 April 2004, is 118816 points.

3. The application modalities and procedures for the management and control of the points are identical to the ones laid down in the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Republic of Slovenia concerning the system of ecopoints to be applied to Slovenian transit traffic through Austria as from 1 January 1997(1).

The joint committee established by the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Slovenia in the field of transport shall adopt, if necessary, further measures concerning the procedures relating to the transitional points system, the distribution of points and the technical issues concerning the application of the present Exchange of Letters.

4. This Agreement shall enter into force on the day following the notification of both parties that the internal procedure leading to the conclusion of this Agreement is finished.

It shall be applied on a provisional basis from 1 January 2004.

It shall expire on 30 April 2004.

I should be obliged if you would confirm the agreement of your Government to the contents of this letter.

Please accept Sir, the assurance of my highest considerations.

B. Letter from the Republic of Slovenia

Sir,

I refer to your preceding letter, in which you inform me of the following:

"I have the honour to inform you that, following negotiations between the delegation of the Republic of Slovenia and the delegation of the European Community, the following has been agreed:

1. The transitional points system is applicable to the heavy goods vehicles registered in Slovenia, with a maximum authorised weight of over 7,5 tonnes, using 6, 7 or 8 points, when these vehicles transit Austria, regardless of whether they are laden or not.

Heavy goods vehicles using more than 8 points are not allowed to transit Austria.

Heavy goods vehicles that require 5 points or less are exempt from this system.

2. The number of points allocated to the heavy goods vehicles registered in Slovenia and transiting Austria, from 1 January 2004 until 30 April 2004, is 118816 points.

3. The application modalities and procedures for the management and control of the points are identical to the ones laid down in the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Republic of Slovenia concerning the system of ecopoints to be applied to Slovenian transit traffic through Austria as from 1 January 1997(2).

The joint committee established by the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Slovenia in the field of transport shall adopt, if necessary, further measures concerning the procedures relating to the transitional points system, the distribution of points and the technical issues concerning the application of the present Exchange of Letters.

4. This Agreement shall enter into force on the day following the notification of both parties that the internal procedure leading to the conclusion of this Agreement is finished.

It shall be applied on a provisional basis from 1 January 2004.

It shall expire on 30 April 2004.

I should be obliged if you would confirm the agreement of your Government 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 considerations.

(1) OJ L 182, 16.7.1999, p. 21.

(2) OJ L 182, 16.7.1999, p. 21.