EN Official Journal of the European Union L 129/77

COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2018/768

of 22 May 2018

establishing the position to be adopted, on behalf of the European Union, at the 55th session of the Committee of Experts for the Carriage of Dangerous Goods of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail as regards certain amendments to Appendix C to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 91, in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) The Union acceded to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail of 9 May 1980, as amended by the Vilnius Protocol of 3 June 1999 (the ‘COTIF Convention’), by means of Council Decision 2013/103/EU (1).

(2) All Member States, with the exception of Cyprus and Malta, are contracting parties to and apply the COTIF Convention.

(3) Pursuant to point (d) of Article 13(1) and Article 33(5) of the COTIF Convention, the Committee of Experts for the Carriage of Dangerous Goods (the ‘RID Expert Committee’) of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) can amend the Annex to Appendix C of the COTIF Convention, namely the Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID).

(4) Directive 2008/68/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) lays down provisions concerning the transport of dangerous goods by road, by rail or by inland waterway within or between Member States, by referring to the RID.

(5) In order to adapt the Annex to the RID to technical and scientific progress, it is essential for the RID Expert Committee to adopt amendments concerning technical standards or uniform technical prescriptions. The objective of those amendments is to ensure safe and efficient transport of dangerous goods while taking into account scientific and technical progress in the sector and the development of new substances and articles that could pose a danger while being transported.

(6) The committee on the transport of dangerous goods established by Directive 2008/68/EC has carried out preliminary discussions on proposed amendments.

(7) The RID Expert Committee, during its 55th session on 30 May 2018, is to adopt a decision on amendments to the RID.

(8) It is appropriate to establish the position to be adopted on the Union's behalf in the RID Expert Committee, as the decision adopted by that committee will be binding on the Union.

(9) The position of the Union within the 55th session of the RID Expert Committee should therefore be based on the Attachment to this Decision,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The position to be adopted on the Union's behalf within the 55th session of the RID Expert Committee in the framework of the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail of 9 May 1980, as amended by the Vilnius Protocol of 3 June 1999, is set out in the Attachment to this Decision.

Minor changes to the documents referred to in the Attachment to this Decision may be agreed to by the representatives of the Union in the RID Expert Committee without further decision of the Council.

Article 2

The decisions of the RID Expert Committee, once adopted, shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union, indicating the date of their entry into force.

Article 3

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

Done at Brussels, 22 May 2018. For the Council The President K. VALCHEV

(1) Council Decision 2013/103/EU of 16 June 2011 on the signing and conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail on the Accession of the European Union to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF) of 9 May 1980, as amended by the Vilnius Protocol of 3 June 1999 (OJ L 51, 23.2.2013, p. 1).

(2) Directive 2008/68/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 2008 on the inland transport of dangerous goods (OJ L 260, 30.9.2008, p. 13).