COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2022/2103

of 13 October 2022

on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Council of Members of the International Olive Council as regards the elimination of the category ordinary virgin olive oil from Annex B of the International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives, 2015

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

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

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) The International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives, 2015 (‘the Agreement’) was signed on behalf of the Union in accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2016/1892 (1) on 18 November 2016, subject to its conclusion at a later date. The Agreement entered into force provisionally on 1 January 2017 in accordance with Article 31(2) thereof.

(2) The Agreement was concluded on 17 May 2019 by Council Decision (EU) 2019/848 (2).

(3) Pursuant to Article 7(1) of the Agreement, the Council of Members of the International Olive Council (‘the Council of Members’) is to adopt decisions that modify the Agreement.

(4) During its 116th session to be held between 28 November and 2 December 2022, or within the framework of a procedure for adoption of decisions by the Council of Members by exchange of correspondence, the Council of Members is to adopt a decision eliminating the category ‘ordinary virgin olive oil’ from Annex B of the Agreement.

(5) The decision will become binding under international law in accordance with Article 20(1) of the Agreement. It is therefore appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the Council of Members, as the decision to be adopted will have legal effects on the Union.

(6) As the ‘ordinary virgin olive oil’ category does not exist in Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3), the decision of the Council of Members should be supported.

(7) The position set out in this Decision should be taken on behalf of the Union at the 116th session of the Council of Members, or within the framework of a procedure for adoption of decisions by the Council of Members by exchange of correspondence, pursuant to Article 10(6) of the Agreement. The procedure for adoption by exchange of correspondence should be initiated before the next regular session of the Council of Members in November 2022,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 The position to be taken on the Union’s behalf within the Council of Members of the International Olive Council during its 116th session to be held between 28 November and 2 December 2022, or within the framework of a procedure for adoption of decisions by the Council of Members by an exchange of correspondence to be initiated before its next regular session in November 2022, is to support the elimination of the category ‘ordinary virgin olive oil’ from Annex B of the International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives as from 1 January 2026.

Article 2 This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Luxembourg, 13 October 2022. For the Council The President P. BLAŽEK

(1) Council Decision (EU) 2016/1892 of 10 October 2016 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and provisional application of the International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives, 2015 (OJ L 293, 28.10.2016, p. 2).

(2) Council Decision (EU) 2019/848 of 17 May 2019 on the conclusion on behalf of the European Union of the International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives, 2015 (OJ L 139, 27.5.2019, p. 1).

(3) Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 922/72, (EEC) No 234/79, (EC) No 1037/2001 and (EC) No 1234/2007 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 671).