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Brussels, 15.11.2010

COM(2010) 663 final

2010/0322 (NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the signing, on behalf the European Union, of a Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Uzbekistan, of the other part, extending the provisions of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement to bilateral trade in textiles

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Uzbekistan, of the other part, entered into force on 1 July 1999.

This agreement contains a provision according to which its trade provisions – namely, most favoured nation (MFN) trade conditions and abolition of quantitative restrictions – do not apply to trade in textile products, which was regulated by a separate bilateral agreement.

This bilateral agreement, in force since 1 January 2000, lapsed on 31 December 2004. While in practice trade in textiles between the EU and Uzbekistan continued to proceed smoothly since 1 January 2005, legal certainty needs to be ensured.

On 9 June 2010, the Council authorised the Commission to enter into negotiations with the Republic of Uzbekistan to amend the PCA, so as to ensure that the principles which apply to trade in other goods are also extended formally to trade in textile products. These negotiations have been successfully concluded and the Protocol amending the PCA by abrogating Article 16 and all references thereto, was initialled on 1 July 2010.

In addition, some updates of a technical nature have been introduced. This has taken the form of the deletion of Article 8(3) and Annex I, stemming from the time of the dissolution of the USSR, and which had expired in 1998.

The Council is invited to adopt the attached proposed Decision on the signature of a Protocol to the PCA, which shall form an integral part of the PCA. A separate proposal on the conclusion of the Protocol is also being submitted.

2010/0322 (NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the signing, on behalf the European Union, of a Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Uzbekistan, of the other part, extending the provisions of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement to bilateral trade in textiles

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(5) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) On 9 June 2010 the Council authorised the Commission to enter into negotiations with the Republic of Uzbekistan to amend the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between the European Communities and their Member States, on the one part, and the Republic of Uzbekistan, of the other part, so as to ensure that the principles which apply to trade in other goods are also extended formally to trade in textile products. These negotiations have been successfully concluded and the Protocol amending the PCA by abrogating Article 16, and all references thereto, has been initialled on 1 July 2010.

(2) In the framework of the negotiations it was agreed between both parties to carry out a clean up exercise and to delete an obsolete provision and the corresponding Annex referring to a technical provision that expired in 1998.

(3) The Protocol amending the PCA should be signed by the European Union, subject to its conclusion at a later stage,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The signing of the Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Uzbekistan, of the other part, extending the provisions of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement to bilateral trade in textiles, taking account of the expiry of the bilateral textiles Agreement, is hereby approved on behalf of the European Union, subject to the conclusion of the said Protocol[1].

Article 2

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the Protocol on behalf of the European Union subject to its conclusion.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President

[1] The text of the Protocol will be published together with the Decision on its conclusion.