EN Official Journal of the European Union L 161/6

COUNCIL DECISION

of 24 October 2008

on the conclusion of a Protocol between the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein to the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation concerning the criteria and mechanisms for establishing the State responsible for examining a request for asylum lodged in a Member State or in Switzerland

(2009/487/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 63(1)(a) thereof, in conjunction with the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2) and the first subparagraph of Article 300(3) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament (1),

Whereas:

(1) On 27 February 2006 the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations, on behalf of the Community, with the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein to conclude a Protocol on the participation of Denmark in the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation concerning the criteria and mechanisms for establishing the State responsible for examining a request for asylum lodged in a Member State or in Switzerland (hereinafter referred to as the Protocol). These negotiations have been finalised.

(2) In accordance with the Decision of the Council of 28 February 2008, and subject to its final conclusion at a later date, this Protocol was signed, on behalf of the European Community, on 28 February 2008.

(3) The Protocol should be approved.

(4) The entry into force of the Protocol with respect to Switzerland is linked to the putting into effect of the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation’s association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis (2) and of the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation concerning the criteria and mechanisms for establishing the State responsible for examining a request for asylum lodged in a Member State or in Switzerland (3).

(5) The entry into force of the Protocol with respect to Liechtenstein is linked to the putting into effect of the Protocol between the European Union, the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein on the accession of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation’s association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis (hereinafter referred to as Protocol on the association of Liechtenstein with the Schengen acquis) and of the Protocol between the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein on the accession of Liechtenstein to the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation concerning the criteria and mechanisms for establishing the State responsible for examining a request for asylum lodged in a Member State or in Switzerland (hereinafter referred to as Protocol on the association of Liechtenstein with the Dublin acquis). Consequently, the deposit of the instrument of approval as regards Liechtenstein should not take place before the approval by the Council of the Protocol on the association of Liechtenstein with the Schengen acquis and of the Protocol on the association of Liechtenstein with the Dublin acquis.

(6) The United Kingdom and Ireland, in accordance with Article 3 of the Protocol on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland annexed to the Treaty on the European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community, are taking part in the adoption and application of this Decision.

(7) In accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of the Protocol on the position of Denmark annexed to the Treaty on the European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community, Denmark is not participating to the adoption of this decision and is not bound by or subject to its application,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Protocol between the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein to the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation concerning the criteria and mechanisms for establishing the State responsible for examining a request for asylum lodged in a Member State or in Switzerland is hereby approved on behalf of the Community.

The text of the Protocol is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

1. The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to deposit on behalf of the Community the instrument of approval provided for in Article 5 of the Protocol, in order to express the consent of the Community to be bound in its relations to Switzerland.

2. The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to deposit on behalf of the Community the instrument of approval provided for in Article 5 of the Protocol, in order to express the consent of the Community to be bound in its relations with Liechtenstein. The deposit of this instrument shall not take place before the Council has approved, on behalf of the European Community and on behalf of the European Union, the Protocol on the association of Liechtenstein with the Schengen acquis and, on behalf of the European Community, the Protocol on the association of Liechtenstein with the Dublin acquis.

Article 3

This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Luxembourg, 24 October 2008. For the Council The President M. ALLIOT-MARIE

(1) Opinion of 8 July 2008 (not yet published in the Official Journal).

(2) OJ L 53, 27.2.2008, p. 52.

(3) OJ L 53, 27.2.2008, p. 5.

EN Official Journal of the European Union L 161/8

PROTOCOL

between the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein to the Agreement between the European Community, and the Swiss Confederation concerning the criteria and mechanisms for establishing the State responsible for examining a request for asylum lodged in a Member State or in Switzerland

THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY (hereinafter referred to as the Community),

of the one part,

and

THE SWISS CONFEDERATION (hereinafter referred to as Switzerland),

and

THE PRINCIPALITY OF LIECHTENSTEIN (hereinafter referred to as Liechtenstein),

of the other part,

hereinafter referred to as the Contracting Parties,

BEARING IN MIND that the Protocol on the position of Denmark, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty establishing the European Community, provides that none of the measures of Title IV of the Treaty establishing the European Community shall be binding upon, or applicable in, Denmark;

REFERRING to the provision of the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation concerning the criteria and mechanisms for establishing the State responsible for examining a request for asylum lodged in a Member State or in Switzerland (1) (hereinafter referred to as the Agreement between the European Community and Switzerland), on the possibility for the Kingdom of Denmark (hereinafter referred to as Denmark) to request to participate in that Agreement;

CONSIDERING the Protocol between the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein to the same Agreement between the European Community and Switzerland on the accession of the Principality of Liechtenstein to that Agreement, in accordance with its Article 15;

NOTING that the Kingdom of Denmark, by letter dated 8 November 2004, requested to participate in the same Agreement between the European Community and Switzerland;

RECALLING that according to the Agreement between the European Community and Switzerland to which the Principality of Liechtenstein has acceded, the conditions for such participation by the Kingdom of Denmark shall be determined by the Contracting Parties, acting with the consent of Denmark, in a Protocol to that Agreement;

CONSIDERING that it was appropriate, in the first place, for Denmark and the Community to conclude an Agreement in order to settle, in particular, matters relating to the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice and to the coordination between the Community and Denmark regarding international agreements;

CONSIDERING the Agreement between the European Community and the Kingdom of Denmark on the criteria and mechanisms for establishing the State responsible for examining a request for asylum lodged in Denmark or any other Member State of the European Union and ‘Eurodac’ for the comparison of fingerprints for the effective application of the Dublin Convention (2);

CONSIDERING that it is therefore necessary to fix the conditions whereby Denmark participates in the Agreement between the European Community and Switzerland, to which Liechtenstein has acceded, and that in particular it is necessary to establish rights and obligations between Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Denmark;

NOTING that the entry into force of this Protocol is based on the consent of Denmark, in accordance with its constitutional requirements,

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Kingdom of Denmark shall participate in the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation concerning the criteria and mechanisms for establishing the State responsible for examining a request for asylum lodged in a Member State or in Switzerland (hereinafter referred to as the Agreement between the European Community and Switzerland) to which the Principality of Liechtenstein has acceded by a Protocol to that Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the Liechtenstein Protocol) in accordance with Article 15 of the Agreement, under the conditions set out in the Agreement between the European Community and the Kingdom of Denmark on the criteria and mechanisms for establishing the State responsible for examining a request for asylum lodged in Denmark or any other Member State of the European Union and ‘Eurodac’ for the comparison of fingerprints for the effective application of the Dublin Convention (hereinafter referred to as the Agreement between the European Community and Denmark) and the present Protocol.

Article 2

1. The provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No 343/2003 of 18 February 2003 establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an asylum application lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national (3) (Dublin Regulation), which is annexed to this Protocol and forms part thereof, together with its implementing measures adopted pursuant to Article 27(2) of the ‘Dublin Regulation’ shall, under international law, apply to the relations between Denmark on the one hand, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein on the other hand.

2. The provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No 2725/2000 of 11 December 2000 concerning the establishment of ‘Eurodac’ for the comparison of fingerprints for the effective application of the Dublin Convention (4) (Eurodac Regulation), which is annexed to this Protocol and forms part thereof, together with its implementing measures adopted pursuant to Articles 22 or 23(2) of the ‘Eurodac Regulation’ shall, under international law, apply to the relations between Denmark on the one hand, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein on the other hand.

3. Amendments to the Acts referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 which are notified by Denmark to the Commission in accordance with Article 3 of the Agreement between the European Community and Denmark and which are notified by Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the Commission in accordance respectively with Article 4 of the Agreement between the European Community and Switzerland, and Article 5 of the Liechtenstein Protocol shall, under international law, apply to the relations between Denmark on the one hand, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein on the other hand.

4. Implementing measures adopted pursuant to Article 27(2) of the ‘Dublin Regulation’ and implementing measures adopted pursuant to Article 22 or 23(2) of the ‘Eurodac Regulation’ which are notified by Denmark to the Commission in accordance with Article 4 of the Agreement between the European Community and Denmark and which are notified by Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the Commission in accordance respectively with Article 4 of the Agreement between the European Community and Switzerland and Article 5 of the Liechtenstein Protocol shall, under international law, apply to the relations between Denmark on the one hand, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein on the other hand.

Article 3

Switzerland and Liechtenstein shall be entitled to submit statements of case or written observations to the Court of Justice in cases where a question has been referred to it by a Danish court or tribunal for a preliminary ruling, in accordance with Article 6(1) of the Agreement between the European Community and Denmark.

Article 4

1. In the case of a complaint by Switzerland or Liechtenstein concerning the application or the interpretation by Denmark of this Protocol, Switzerland or Liechtenstein may ask that the matter be officially entered as a matter of dispute on the agenda of the Mixed Committee.

2. In the case of a complaint by Denmark concerning the application or the interpretation by Switzerland or Liechtenstein of this Protocol, Denmark shall be entitled to ask the Commission to enter officially the matter as a matter of dispute on the agenda of the Mixed Committee. The matter shall be placed on the agenda by the Commission.

3. The Mixed Committee shall have 90 days, from the date of the adoption of the agenda on which the dispute has been entered, to settle the dispute. For this purpose, Denmark shall be entitled to make observations to the Mixed Committee.

4. In case a dispute is settled by the Mixed Committee in a manner that requires implementation in Denmark, Denmark shall, within the period referred to in paragraph 3, notify the Parties of its implementation or non-implementation of the settlement.

If Denmark notifies its decision not to implement the content of the settlement, paragraph 5 shall apply.

5. If the dispute cannot be settled by the Mixed Committee within the period referred to in paragraph 3, a further period of 90 days shall be allowed, with the purpose of reaching a final settlement. If the Mixed Committee has not taken a decision at the end of the period, this Protocol shall be considered terminated at the end of the last day of that period.

Article 5

This Protocol is subject to ratification or approval by the Contracting Parties.

Instruments of ratification or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the Council, who shall act as depositary.

As far as Liechtenstein is concerned, this Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the second month following the notification by the Community and Liechtenstein of the completion of their respective procedures.

As far as Switzerland is concerned, this Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the second month following the notification by the Community and Switzerland of the completion of their respective procedures.

The entry into force of this Protocol for the Community and Liechtenstein on the one hand, and for the Community and the Swiss Confederation, on the other hand, is also subject to the prior receipt by the depositary of a Note from Denmark to the effect that Denmark assents to the provisions contained in the present Protocol and declares that it shall apply the provisions referred to in Article 2 in its mutual relations with Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

Article 6

Each Contracting Party may terminate this Protocol by written declaration addressed to the depositary. Such declaration shall take effect six months after its deposition.

This Protocol shall cease if the Agreement between the Community and Denmark is terminated.

This Protocol shall cease if either the Community or both Switzerland and Liechtenstein have denounced it.

За Европейската общност Por la Comunidad Europea Za Evropské společenství For Det Europæiske Fællesskab Für die Europäische Gemeinschaft Euroopa Ühenduse nimel Για την Ευρωπαϊκή Κοινότητα For the European Community Pour la Communauté européenne Per la Comunità europea Eiropas Kopienas vārdā Europos bendrijos vardu az Európai Közösség részéről Għall-Komunitá Ewropea Voor de Europese Gemeenschap W imieniu Wspólnoty Europejskiej Pela Comunidade Europeia Pentru Comunitatea Europeană Za Európske spoločenstvo Za Evropsko skupnost Euroopan yhteisön puolesta På Europeiska gemenskapens vägnar За Конфедерация Швейцария Por la Confederación Suiza Za Švýcarskou konfederaci For Det Schweiziske Forbund Für die Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft Šveitsi Konföderatsiooni nimel Για την Ελβετική Συνομοσπονδία For the Swiss Confederation Pour la Confédération suisse Per la Confederazione svizzera Šveices Konfederācijas vārdā Šveicarijos Konfederacijos vardu A Svájci Államszövetség részéről Għall-Konfederazzjoni Żvizzera Voor de Zwitserse Bondsstaat W imieniu Konfederacji Szwajcarskiej Pela Confederação Suíça Pentru Confederația Elvețiană Za Švajčiarsku konfederáciu Za Švicarsko konfederacijo Sveitsin valaliiton puolesta På Schweiziska edsförbundets vägnar За Княжество Лихтенщайн Por el Principado de Liechtenstein Za Lichtenštejnské knížectví For Fyrstendømmet Liechtenstein Für das Fürstentum Liechtenstein Liechtensteini Vürstiriigi nimel Για το Πριγκιπάτο του Λιχτενστάιν For the Principality of Liechtenstein Pour la Principauté de Liechtenstein Per il Principato del Liechtenstein Lihtenšteinas Firstistes vārdā Lichtenšteino Kunigaikštystės vardu A Liechtensteini Hercegség részéről Għall-Prinċipat ta' Liechtenstein Voor het Vorstendom Liechtenstein W imieniu Księstwa Liechtensteinu Pelo Principado do Liechtenstein Pentru Principatul Liechtenstein Za Lichtenštajnské kniežatstvo Za Kneževino Lihtenštajn Liechtensleinin ruhtinaskunnan puolesta För Furstendömet Liechtenstein

(1) OJ L 53, 27.2.2008, p. 5.

(2) OJ L 66, 8.3.2006, p. 38.

(3) OJ L 50, 25.2.2003, p. 1.

(4) OJ L 316, 15.12.2000, p. 1.

ANNEX

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 343/2003 of 18 February 2003 establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an asylum application lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national (OJ L 50, 25.2.2003, p. 1).

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 2725/2000 of 11 December 2000 concerning the establishment of ‘Eurodac’ for the comparison of fingerprints for the effective application of the Dublin Convention (OJ L 316, 15.12.2000, p. 1).