ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 162/1

COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2015/1010

of 18 November 2014

on the signing and provisional application of a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Lebanon, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 217, in conjunction with Article 218(5) thereof,

Having regard to the 2005 Act of Accession, and in particular Article 6(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) On 23 October 2006 the Council authorised the Commission, on behalf of the European Community and its Member States, to negotiate protocols amending the agreements concluded between the European Community and its Member States and third countries, such as the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Lebanon, of the other part (1), to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union.

(2) The negotiations with the Republic of Lebanon have since been completed.

(3) The Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Lebanon, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union (‘the Protocol’) provides in its Article 8(2) for the provisional application of the Protocol before its entry into force.

(4) The Protocol should therefore be signed and should be applied on a provisional basis pending the completion of the procedures for its conclusion,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The signing on behalf of the Union and its Member States of the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Lebanon, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union is hereby authorised, subject to the conclusion of the Protocol.

The text of the Protocol is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the Protocol on behalf of the Union and its Member States.

Article 3

Subject to reciprocity, the Protocol shall be applied on a provisional basis from the date provided therein, pending the completion of the procedures for its conclusion.

Article 4

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 18 November 2014. For the Council The President S. GOZI

(1) OJ L 143, 30.5.2006, p. 2.
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 220/13

DECISION OF THE COURT OF JUSTICE

of 4 June 2015

on official holidays and judicial vacations

(2015/C 220/04)

THE COURT,

having regard to Article 24(2), (4) and (6) of the Rules of Procedure,

whereas it is necessary to establish the list of official holidays and to set the dates of the judicial vacations,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The list of official holidays within the meaning of Article 24(4) and (6) of the Rules of Procedure is established as follows:

— New Year’s Day,

— Easter Monday,

— 1 May,

— Ascension,

— Whit Monday,

— 23 June,

— 15 August,

— 1 November,

— 25 December,

— 26 December.

Article 2

For the period from 1 November 2015 to 31 October 2016, the dates of the judicial vacations within the meaning of Article 24(2) and (6) of the Rules of Procedure are as follows:

— Christmas 2015: from Monday 21 December 2015 to Sunday 10 January 2016 inclusive,

— Easter 2016: from Monday 21 March 2016 to Sunday 3 April 2016 inclusive,

— Summer 2016: from Friday 22 July 2016 to Sunday 4 September 2016 inclusive.

Article 3

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 199/6

COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2015/1294

of 20 July 2015

on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, of the Additional Protocol to the Agreement on Trade, Development and Cooperation between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of South Africa, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 217, in conjunction with Article 218(6) thereof,

Having regard to the Act of Accession of Croatia, and in particular the second subparagraph of Article 6(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament,

Whereas:

(1) In accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2015/733 (1), the Additional Protocol to the Agreement on Trade, Development and Cooperation between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of South Africa, of the other part (2), to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union (‘the Protocol’) has been signed, subject to its conclusion.

(2) The Protocol should be approved,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Additional Protocol to the Agreement on Trade, Development and Cooperation between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of South Africa, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union (3) is hereby approved on behalf of the Union and its Member States.

Article 2

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to give, on behalf of the Union and its Member States, the notification provided for in Article 6(2) of the Protocol (4).

Article 3

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 20 July 2015. For the Council The President F. MOGHERINI

(1) Council Decision (EU) 2015/733 of 9 October 2014 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, and provisional application of the Additional Protocol to the Agreement on Trade, Development and Cooperation between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of South Africa, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union (OJ L 117, 8.5.2015, p. 1).

(2) The text of the Agreement is published in OJ L 311, 4.12.1999, p. 3.

(3) The text of the Protocol has been published in OJ L 117, 8.5.2015, p. 3, together with the decision on its signing.

(4) The date of entry into force of the Protocol will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union by the General Secretariat of the Council.
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 239/144

COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2015/1522

of 14 September 2015

establishing the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Committee on Government Procurement on the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the Revised Agreement on Government Procurement

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 207(4) in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) On 7 January 2002, the Republic of Moldova applied for accession to the Revised Agreement on Government Procurement (‘the Revised GPA’).

(2) The Republic of Moldova's commitments on coverage are laid down in its final offer, as submitted to the Parties to the Revised GPA on 27 May 2015.

(3) The Republic of Moldova's final offer provides for an extensive coverage of central, sub-central entities and other entities operating in the utilities, goods, construction services and other services sectors. It is therefore satisfactory and acceptable. The terms of the Republic of Moldova's accession, as reflected in the Annex to this Decision, will be reflected in the decision adopted by the Committee on Government Procurement (‘the GPA Committee’) on the Republic of Moldova's accession.

(4) The Republic of Moldova's accession to the Revised GPA is expected to make a positive contribution to the further opening of public procurement markets internationally.

(5) Article XXII(2) of the Revised GPA provides that any Member of the WTO may accede to the Revised GPA on terms to be agreed between that Member and the Parties, with such terms stated in a decision of the GPA Committee.

(6) It is therefore necessary to establish the position to be taken on behalf of the Union within the GPA Committee in relation to the accession of the Republic of Moldova,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The position to be taken on behalf of the Union within the Committee on Government Procurement shall be to approve the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the Revised Agreement on Government Procurement, subject to specific terms of accession set out in the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 14 September 2015. For the Council The President J. ASSELBORN
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 258/5

POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE DECISION (CFSP) 2015/1772

of 28 September 2015

concerning the transition by EUNAVFOR MED to the second phase of the operation, as laid down in point (b)(i) of Article 2(2) of Decision (CFSP) 2015/778 on a European Union military operation in the Southern Central Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR MED) (EUNAVFOR MED/2/2015)

THE POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular the third paragraph of Article 38 thereof,

Having regard to Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/778 of 18 May 2015 on a European Union military operation in the Southern Central Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR MED) (1), and in particular Article 6(1) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) The EUNAVFOR MED Operation Commander has indicated that the operation has fulfilled all military objectives of the first phase related to the collection of information and intelligence, and has proposed that the operation should move to the second phase, as laid down in point (b)(i) of Article 2(2) of Decision (CFSP) 2015/778.

(2) The Council concluded, at its meeting on 14 September 2015, that all the conditions have been met for EUNAVFOR MED to move to the second phase of the operation, as laid down in point (b)(i) of Article 2(2) of Decision (CFSP) 2015/778.

(3) The transition to the second phase of the operation should take place on 7 October 2015.

(4) Transition to subsequent phases of EUNAVFOR MED, including the phase laid down in point (b)(ii) of Article 2(2) of Decision (CFSP) 2015/778, will be subject to a further assessment by the Council as to whether the conditions for that transition have been met, taking into account any applicable UN Security Council Resolution and consent by the coastal States concerned, and the decision by the Political and Security Committee on when to make the transition, in accordance with Decision (CFSP) 2015/778 and Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/972 (2) launching the operation,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The European Union military operation in the Southern Central Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR MED) shall, with effect from 7 October 2015, move to the second phase of the operation, as laid down in point (b)(i) of Article 2(2) of Decision (CFSP) 2015/778.

Article 2

The adapted Rules of Engagement for the second phase of the operation as laid down in point (b)(i) of Article 2(2) of Decision (CFSP) 2015/778 are hereby approved.

Article 3

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 28 September 2015. For the Political and Security Committee The Chairperson W. STEVENS

(1) OJ L 122, 19.5.2015, p. 31.

(2) Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/972 of 22 June 2015 launching the European Union military operation in the southern Central Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR MED) (OJ L 157, 23.6.2015, p. 51).
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 279/3

COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2015/1892

of 18 February 2014

approving the conclusion, by the European Commission, on behalf of the European Atomic Energy Community, of the Protocol to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular the second paragraph of Article 101 thereof,

Having regard to the recommendation from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) On 24 September 2012, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in order to conclude a Protocol to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union (‘the Protocol’).

(2) Those negotiations were successfully completed and the Protocol was approved by the Government of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, through an exchange of letters on 25 October 2013.

(3) The conclusion, by the Commission, of the Protocol should be approved as regards matters falling within the competence of the European Atomic Energy Community.

(4) The signature and conclusion of the Protocol are subject to a separate procedure as regards matters falling within the competence of the Union and its Member States,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The conclusion by the European Commission, on behalf of the European Atomic Energy Community, of the Protocol to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union is hereby approved.

The text of the Protocol is attached to the Decision on its signature.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 288/14

COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2015/1969

of 22 October 2015

establishing the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Committee on Government Procurement on the accession of Ukraine to the Revised Agreement on Government Procurement

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 207(4) in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) On 13 December 2012, Ukraine applied for accession to the Revised Agreement on Government Procurement (‘the Revised GPA’).

(2) Ukraine's commitments on coverage are laid down in its final offer, as submitted to the Parties to the Revised GPA on 29 June 2015.

(3) Ukraine's final offer provides for an extensive coverage of central and sub-central entities and other entities operating in the utilities, goods, construction services and other services sectors. It is therefore satisfactory and acceptable. The terms of Ukraine's accession, as reflected in the Annex to this Decision, will be reflected in the decision adopted by the Committee on Government Procurement (‘the GPA Committee’) on Ukraine's accession.

(4) Ukraine's accession to the Revised GPA is expected to make a positive contribution to the further opening of public procurement markets internationally.

(5) Article XXII(2) of the Revised GPA provides that any Member of the WTO may accede to the Revised GPA on terms to be agreed between that Member and the Parties, with such terms stated in a decision of the GPA Committee.

(6) It is therefore appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union's behalf within the GPA Committee, with regard to the accession of Ukraine,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Committee on Government Procurement shall be to approve the accession of Ukraine to the Revised Agreement on Government Procurement, subject to specific terms of accession set out in the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Luxembourg, 22 October 2015. For the Council The President F. ETGEN
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 283/9

COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2015/1942

of 26 October 2015

establishing the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the General Council of the World Trade Organisation on the United States' request for a WTO waiver to extend the AGOA programme

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 207(4), in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) Paragraphs 3 and 4 of Article IX of the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade Organisation (‘WTO Agreement’) set out the procedures for the granting of waivers concerning the Multilateral Trade Agreements in Annex 1A or 1B or 1C to the WTO Agreement and their annexes.

(2) The United States was granted a waiver of obligations under paragraph 1 of Article I and paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article XIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (‘GATT 1994’) on 27 May 2009 covering the period to 30 September 2015.

(3) Pursuant to paragraph 3 of Article IX of the WTO Agreement, the United States submitted a request to waive its obligations under paragraph 1 of Article I and paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article XIII of the GATT 1994 until 30 September 2025, to the extent necessary to permit the United States to continue to provide duty-free treatment to eligible products originating in beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries designated pursuant to the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

(4) The granting of the United States request for a WTO waiver would not negatively affect either the economy of the European Union or trade relations with the beneficiaries of the waiver. Moreover, the Union generally supports actions to alleviate poverty and promote stability and sustainable economic development in the beneficiaries' countries.

(5) It is appropriate, therefore, to establish the position to be taken on behalf of the Union within the WTO General Council to support the waiver request by the United States,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the General Council of the World Trade Organisation shall be to support the United States' request to waive its obligations under paragraph 1 of Article I and paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article XIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 until 30 September 2025 in accordance with the terms of the United States' waiver request.

This position shall be expressed by the Commission.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 317/33

COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2015/2236

of 27 November 2015

establishing the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation as regards an extension of the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions and the moratorium on non-violation and situation complaints

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 207(4), in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) At the 1998 Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation (‘WTO’), a moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions (‘e-commerce moratorium’) to the effect that WTO members are to continue their current practice of not imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions was adopted in the form of a declaration. Currently the moratorium takes the form of a WTO Ministerial Conference decision, which has been renewed every 2 years since 1998.

(2) A moratorium on non-violation and situation complaints has continuously been extended at the WTO Ministerial Conference after the expiration of the 5-year period for taking the decision on the scope and modalities of such complaints pursuant to Article 64(3) of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (‘TRIPS Agreement’).

(3) At the WTO Ministerial Conference in December 2013, those moratoria were last extended until 2015. Both moratoria should be further extended at any forthcoming WTO Ministerial Conference or should be made permanent where a consensus to that effect arises in ongoing or future discussions.

(4) It is in the interest of the Union to give its support to the extension of the e-commerce moratorium on an indefinite basis. It is also in the Union's interest to extend the moratorium on non-violation and situation complaints until the Ministerial Conference approves the recommendations of the Council for TRIPS with regard to the scope and modalities of non-violation and situation complaints pursuant to Article 64(3) of the TRIPS Agreement,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation is to support an extension of the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions on an indefinite basis and to support an extension of the moratorium on complaints of the types provided for under subparagraphs 1(b) and 1(c) of Article XXIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (‘non-violation and situation complaints’), until the Ministerial Conference takes a decision on the scope and modalities of the non-violation and situation complaints.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.