Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Principality of Andorra providing for measures equivalent to those laid down in Council Directive 2003/48/EC on taxation of savings income in the form of interest payments

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

By its decision of 16 October 2001, the Council authorised the Commission to negotiate appropriate agreements with Switzerland, the United States of America, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco and San Marino to ensure that these countries adopt measures equivalent to those to be applied within the Community to ensure effective taxation of savings income in the form of interest payments. The Commission was instructed to conduct these negotiations in close conjunction with the Presidency of the Council, and in close and regular consultation with the High-level Working Party set up by Coreper Decision of 13 June 2001 [1] and appointed by the Council as a special committee to assist the Commission in that task.

[1] OJ C 183, 29.6.2001, p. 1.

Following the decision of 16 October 2001, the Commission wrote to the above non-EU countries to request the opening of negotiations even though it was only after the ECOFIN Council's approval of a text of the draft directive, on 13 December 2001, that the negotiations could really begin. A large number of meetings at both political and technical level have since been held. In accordance with the Council decision of 16 October 2001, the Commission conducted the negotiations in close conjunction with successive Presidencies of the Council. It made regular oral progress reports to the Council and Parliament, and presented a communication on the negotiations with third countries on taxation of savings income to the ECOFIN Council on 3 December 2002. [2]

[2] SEC (2002) 1287 final, 27.11.2002.

On 3 June 2003 the Council stated that the draft agreement with Switzerland submitted by the Commission on 28 May 2003 constituted the final offer for an agreement between the EU and Switzerland. The Council minutes also state:

"The four elements of this agreement relating to savings taxation also constitute the basis for agreements between the European Union and Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco and San Marino...".

On 21 January 2003 the Council identified these four elements as:

"- Retention and withholding: Switzerland will apply the same rates of retention and withholding as Belgium, Luxembourg and Austria ...

- Revenue sharing: Switzerland will share the revenue of the retention tax and will accept the 75/25 division applied within the Community ...

- Voluntary disclosure of information

Review clause stating that "The Contracting Parties shall consult with each other at least every three years or at the request of either Contracting Party with a view to examining and - if deemed necessary by the Contracting Parties - improving the technical functioning of the Agreement. In any event when Belgium, Luxembourg and Austria change from withholding tax to automatic exchange of information in accordance with the Directive, the Contracting Parties shall consult each other in order to examine whether the changes to the Agreement are necessary taking into account international developments.

Switzerland grants exchange of information on request for criminal or civil cases of fraud or similar misbehaviour on the part of taxpayers...".

The Agreement with Andorra, which includes these four elements, is now being presented to the Council for signature and conclusion. It is accompanied by a Memorandum of Understanding between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Principality of Andorra of the other part. In accordance with the conclusions of the ECOFIN Council of 21 January 2003, the Memorandum of Understanding confirms that within the transition period provided for by Council Directive 2003/48/EC of 3 June 2003, [3] the European Community will enter into discussions with other important financial centres with a view to promoting adoption by those jurisdictions of measures equivalent to those applied by the Community. The Memorandum of Understanding also provides that the same measures will be implemented in good faith and that the Parties will not act unilaterally to undermine this arrangement without due cause. Should any significant difference between the scope of Council Directive 2003/48/EC and that of the Agreement be discovered, the Contracting Parties will immediately enter into discussions with a view to ensuring that the equivalent nature of the measures provided for by the Agreement is maintained. The Memorandum of Understanding also contains a commitment from the Principality of Andorra concerning the introduction in its legislation of the concept of the crime of tax fraud and provides that the Principality of Andorra and each Member State of the European Community wishing to do so will enter into bilateral negotiations to define the administrative procedure for exchange of information. The Memorandum of Understanding states that the Parties solemnly declare that the signature of the Agreement on taxation of savings and the opening of negotiations for a monetary agreement are a significant advance in cooperation between the Principality of Andorra and the European Union. Consequently, and in parallel with the bilateral negotiations to be conducted on the exchange of information procedure, the Principality of Andorra and each Member State of the European Community will hold consultations to define a broader framework for economic and tax cooperation. These consultations will be undertaken in a spirit of cooperation which take account of the efforts made by the Principality of Andorra in approximating its legalisation in the tax field, formalised by the signing of this Agreement. In particular these consultations may lead to the implementation of:

[3] OJ L 157, 26.6.2003, p. 38.

- bilateral economic cooperation programmes to promote integration of the Andorran economy into the European economy;

- bilateral cooperation in the tax field to determine the conditions under which withholding tax on income derived from financial services and products levied in the Member States can be eliminated or reduced.

The Commission considers that the text of the Agreement is in accordance with the negotiating directives adopted by the Council on 16 October 2001. The Council gave its political agreement to the texts of both the Agreement and the accompanying Memorandum of Understanding on 11 May this year.

The Commission proposes that the Council approve the attached proposals:

- for a decision on the signature of the Agreement providing for measures equivalent to those laid down in Council Directive 2003/48/EC of 3 June 2003 on taxation of savings income in the form of interest payments, and on the approval and signature of the accompanying Memorandum of Understanding, and

- for a decision on the conclusion of the above Agreement under the procedures set by Article 300 of the Treaty establishing the European Community.

Article 300(2) of the Treaty establishing the European Community stipulates that the Council shall act unanimously when the Agreement covers a field for which unanimity is required for the adoption of internal rules. As the internal rules in the field covered by this Agreement have been adopted on the basis of Article 94 of the Treaty, the Commission considers that the Council should act unanimously to approve the proposals for a decision. According to the ECOFIN Council conclusions of 21 January 2003, the Council agrees too that the Agreement with the Principality of Andorra should be adopted on the basis of unanimity.

2004/0192 (CNS)

Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Principality of Andorra providing for measures equivalent to those laid down in Council Directive 2003/48/EC on taxation of savings income in the form of interest payments

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 94 in conjunction with the first subparagraph of paragraph 2, the first subparagraph of paragraph 3 and paragraph 4 of Article 300 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal of the Commission, [4]

[4] OJ C ..., ........2003, p...

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament, [5]

[5] OJ C ..., ........2003, p...

Whereas:

(1) On 16 October 2001 the Council authorised the Commission to negotiate with the Principality of Andorra an appropriate agreement for securing the adoption by the Principality of measures equivalent to those to be applied within the Community to ensure effective taxation of savings income in the form of interest payments.

(2) The text of the Agreement which is the result of the negotiations duly reflects the negotiating directives issued by the Council. It is accompanied by a Memorandum of Understanding between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Principality of Andorra of the other part, the text of which is attached to Council Decision ..../..../EC of ......2004.

(3) The application of the provisions of Council Directive 2003/48/EC of 3 June 2003 on taxation of savings income in the form of interest payments depends on the application by the Principality of Andorra of measures equivalent to those contained in this Directive, in accordance with an agreement concluded by the Principality of Andorra with the European Community.

(4) According to Council Decision ..../..../EC of ......2004, and subject to the adoption at a later date of a Decision on the conclusion of the Agreement, the Agreement was signed on behalf of the European Community on ....2004.

(5) The Agreement should be approved on behalf of the Community,

(6) It is necessary to provide for a simple and rapid procedure for possible adaptations of Annexes I and II to the Agreement,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Agreement between the European Community and the Principality of Andorra providing for measures equivalent to those laid down in Council Directive 2003/48/EC of 3 June 2003 on taxation of savings income in the form of interest payments is hereby approved on behalf of the European Community.

The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The Commission is hereby authorised to approve, on behalf of the Community, the amendments to the Annexes to the Agreement which are required to ensure that they correspond to the information relating to the competent authorities notified under Article 5(a) of Directive 2003/48/EC and to the information in the Annex thereto.

Article 3

The President of the Council shall give the notification provided for in the first paragraph of Article 15 of the Agreement on behalf of the Community. [6]

[6] The date of entry into force of the Agreement will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union by the General Secretariat of the Council.

Article 4

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

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President

Annex

Agreement between the European Community and the Principality of Andorra providing for measures equivalent to those laid down in Council Directive 2003/48/EC on taxation of savings income in the form of interest payments

Agreement

between

the European Community

and

the Principality of Andorra

providing for measures equivalent to those laid down in the Council Directive 2003/48/EC of 3 June 2003 on taxation of savings income in the form of interest payments

The European Community

and

the Principality of Andorra

hereafter referred to as a "Contracting Party" or "Contracting Parties" as the context may require,

With a view to introducing measures equivalent to those laid down in the Council Directive 2003/48/EC of 3 June 2003 on taxation of savings income in the form of interest payments, hereinafter referred to as "the Directive", within a framework of cooperation which takes account of the legitimate interests of both Contracting Parties and in a context where other third countries in a situation similar to that of the Principality of Andorra will also be applying measures equivalent to the Directive;

Have concluded the following Agreement:

Article 1

Aim

1. Within a framework of cooperation between the European Community and the Principality of Andorra savings income in the form of interest payments made in the Principality of Andorra to beneficial owners who are individuals identified as residents of a Member State of the European Community in accordance with the procedures laid down in Article 3 of this Agreement shall be subject to a withholding tax to be levied by paying agents established on the territory of the Principality of Andorra under the conditions laid down in Article 7 of this Agreement. This withholding tax shall be levied unless the voluntary disclosure measures are applied in accordance with the rules set out in Article 9. The income corresponding to the amount of withholding tax levied in accordance with Articles 7 and 9 shall be shared between the Member States of the European Community and the Principality of Andorra according to the rules set out in Article 8. To ensure that this Agreement is equivalent to the Directive, these measures shall be supplemented by rules on the exchange of information on request set out in Article 12 and by the consultation and review procedures described in Article 13.

2. The Contracting Parties shall take the necessary measures to implement this Agreement. The Principality of Andorra shall in particular take the necessary measures to ensure the tasks required to implement this Agreement are carried out, irrespective of the place of establishment of the debtor of the debt claim which produces the interest, by the paying agents established on its territory, and shall expressly provide for provisions on procedures and penalties.

Article 2

Definition of beneficial owner

1. For the purposes of this Agreement, "beneficial owner" means any individual who receives an interest payment or any individual for whom an interest payment is secured, unless he provides proof that this payment has not been made or secured on his own account, where:

(a) he acts as a paying agent within the meaning of Article 4 or

(b) he acts on behalf of a legal person, an entity whose profits are taxed under the general arrangements for business taxation, an undertaking for collective investment in transferable securities established in a Member State of the European Community or in the Principality of Andorra, or

(c) he acts on behalf of another individual who is the beneficial owner and informs the paying agent of the identity of this beneficial owner in accordance with Article 3 paragraph 1.

2. Where a paying agent possesses information suggesting the individual receiving an interest payment or for whom an interest payment is secured may not be the beneficial owner, it must take reasonable measures to establish the identity of the beneficial owner in accordance with Article 3 paragraph 1. If the paying agent is not able to identify the beneficial owner, it shall treat the individual in question as the beneficial owner.

Article 3

Identity and residence of beneficial owners

1. The paying agent shall establish the identity of the beneficial owner in the form of his name, forename and address according to the anti-money-laundering provisions applying in the Principality of Andorra.

2. The paying agent shall establish the residence of the beneficial owner on the basis of rules which may vary according to the time at which the relations between the paying agent and the beneficial owner of the interest are entered into. Subject to the conditions set out below residence shall be considered to be in the country where the beneficial owner has his permanent address:

(a) For contractual relations entered into before 1 January 2004, the paying agent shall establish the residence of the beneficial owner according to the anti-money-laundering provisions applying in the Principality of Andorra;

(b) For contractual relations entered into, or transactions carried out in the absence of contractual relations, on or after 1 January 2004, the paying agent shall establish the residence of the beneficial owner on the basis of the address mentioned in the official identity document or, if necessary, on the basis of any documentary proof presented by the beneficial owner and according to the following procedure: for individuals presenting an official identity document issued by a Member State of the European Community who declare that they are resident in a State which is not a Member of the European Community, residence shall be established by means of a residence certificate or a document authorising residence issued by the competent authority of that third country in which the individual declares he is resident. If such a certificate of residence or document authorising residence cannot be provided, residence shall be considered to be in the Member State of the European Community which issued the official identity document.

Article 4

Definition of paying agent

For the purposes of this Agreement, "paying agent" means any economic operator established in the Principality of Andorra who pays interest to, or secures the payment of interest for the immediate benefit of, the beneficial owner, whether the operator is the debtor of the debt claim which produces the interest or the operator charged by the debtor or the beneficial owner with paying interest or securing payment of the interest.

Article 5

Definition of competent authority

1. For the purposes of this Agreement the "competent authorities" of the Contracting Parties are those listed in Annex I.

2. For third countries, the competent authority is that defined for the purposes of bilateral or multilateral tax conventions or, failing that, such other authority as is competent to issue certificates of residence for tax purposes.

Article 6

Definition of interest payment

1. For the purposes of this Agreement, "interest payment" means:

(a) interest paid or credited to an account relating to debt claims of any kind, whether or not secured by mortgage and whether or not carrying a right to participate in the debtor's profits, and in particular, income from government securities and income from bonds or debentures, including premiums and prizes attaching to such securities, bonds or debentures; penalty charges for late payment shall not be regarded as interest payments;

(b) interest accrued or capitalised on the sale, refund or redemption of the debt claims referred to in (a);

(c) income deriving from interest payments, either directly or through an entity referred to in Article 4 paragraph 2 of the Directive distributed by:

i. undertakings for collective investment established in a Member State of the European Community or in the Principality of Andorra;

ii. entities which qualify for the option under Article 4 paragraph 3 of the Directive;

iii. undertakings for collective investment established outside the territory referred to in Article 17;

(d) income realised on the sale, refund or redemption of shares or units in the following undertakings and entities, if they invest directly or indirectly via other undertakings for collective investment or entities referred to below, more than 40% of their assets in debt claims as referred to in (a):

i. undertakings for collective investment established in a Member State of the European Community or in the Principality of Andorra,

ii. entities which qualify for the option under Article 4 paragraph 3 of the Directive;

iii. undertakings for collective investment established outside the territory referred to in Article 17.

However, the Principality of Andorra shall have the option of including income mentioned under (d) in the definition of interest payment only to the extent that such income corresponds to gains directly or indirectly deriving from interest payments within the meaning of (a) and (b).

2. As regards paragraph 1(c) and (d), when a paying agent possesses no information concerning the proportion of the income which derives from interest payments, the total amount of the income shall be considered to be an interest payment.

3. As regards paragraph 1(d), when a paying agent possesses no information concerning the percentage of the assets invested in debt claims or in shares or units defined in that paragraph, that percentage shall be considered to be more than 40%. Where it cannot determine the amount of income realised by the beneficial owner, the income shall be deemed to correspond to the proceeds of the sale, refund or redemption of the shares or units.

4. As regards paragraph 1(b) and (d), the Principality of Andorra shall have the option of requiring paying agents in its territory to annualise the interest over a period of time which may not exceed one year, and treating such annualised interest as an interest payment even if no sale, redemption or refund occurs during this period.

5. Income derived from undertakings or entities that have invested up to 15% of their assets in debt-claims within the meaning of paragraph 1(a) are not considered as a payment of interest within the meaning of paragraph 1 (c) and (d).

6 From 1 January 2011, the percentage referred to in paragraph 1(d) and paragraph 3 shall be 25%.

7 The percentages referred to in paragraph 1(d) and paragraph 5 shall be determined by reference to the investment policy laid down in the fund rules or instruments of incorporation of the undertakings or entities concerned and, failing that, by reference to the actual composition of the assets of the undertakings or entities concerned.

Article 7

Withholding tax

1. Where the beneficial owner of the interest is resident in a Member State of the European Community, the Principality of Andorra shall levy a withholding tax at a rate of 15% in the first three years of application of this Agreement, 20% in the subsequent three years and 35% thereafter.

2. The paying agent shall levy withholding tax as follows:

(a) in the case of an interest payment within the meaning of Article 6 paragraph 1(a): on the amount of interest paid or credited;

(b) in the case of an interest payment within the meaning of Article 6 paragraph 1(b) or (d): on the amount of interest or income referred to in those paragraphs or by means of a levy of equivalent effect to be borne by the recipient on the full amount of the proceeds of the sale, redemption or refund;

(c) in the case of an interest payment within the meaning of Article 6 paragraph 1(c): on the amount of income referred to in that paragraph;

(d) where the Principality of Andorra exercises the option under Article 6 paragraph 4: on the amount of annualised interest.

3. For the purposes of points (a) and (b) of paragraph 2, withholding tax shall be levied pro rata to the period of holding of the debt claim by the beneficial owner. When the paying agent is unable to determine the period of holding on the basis of information in its possession, it shall treat the beneficial owner as having held the debt claim throughout its period of existence unless he provides evidence of the date of acquisition.

4. Tax imposed on and tax withheld on an interest payment other than the withholding tax provided for under this Agreement shall be deducted from the withholding tax calculated in accordance with paragraphs 1 to 3 on the same interest payment.

5. Subject to the provisions of Article 10, the levying of withholding tax by a paying agent established in the Principality of Andorra shall not preclude the Member State of the European Community of residence for tax purposes of the beneficial owner from taxing the income in accordance with its national law.

Where a taxpayer declares income from interest paid by a paying agent established in the Principality of Andorra to the tax authorities of the Member State of the European Community where he resides, this income shall be taxed at the same rate as that applying to interest earned in this Member State.

Article 8

Revenue sharing

1. The Principality of Andorra shall retain 25% of its revenue from the withholding tax referred to in Article 7 and transfer 75% to the Member State of the European Community of residence of the beneficial owner of the interest.

2. Such transfers shall take place in one single operation for each Member State for each calendar year at the latest within a period of six months following the end of the calendar year in which the tax was levied.

The Principality of Andorra shall take the necessary measures to ensure the proper functioning of the revenue-sharing system.

Article 9

Voluntary disclosure

1. The Principality of Andorra shall provide for a procedure allowing beneficial owners not to bear the withholding tax referred to Article 7 where the beneficial owner provides his paying agent with a certificate drawn up in his name by the competent authority of his Member State of residence in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2.

2. At the request of the beneficial owner, the competent authority of his Member State of residence shall issue a certificate containing the following information:

(a) the name, forename, address and tax identification number or, failing such, the date and place of birth of the beneficial owner;

(b) the name and address of the paying agent;

(c) the account number of the beneficial owner or, where there is none, the identification of the security.

This certificate shall be valid for a period not exceeding three years. It shall be issued to any beneficial owner who requests it within two months of the date of submission of the request.

Article 10

Elimination of double taxation

1. The Member State of the European Community of residence for tax purposes of the beneficial owner shall ensure the elimination of any double taxation which might result from the imposition of the withholding tax referred to in Article 7, in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs 2 and 3.

2. If interest received by a beneficial owner has been subject to the withholding tax referred to in Article 7 in the Principality of Andorra, the Member State of the European Community of residence for tax purposes of the beneficial owner shall grant him, in accordance with its national law, a tax credit equal to the amount of tax withheld. Where this amount exceeds the amount of tax due in accordance with its national law on the total amount of interest subject to withholding tax, the Member State of residence for tax purposes shall repay the excess amount of tax withheld to the beneficial owner.

3. If, in addition to the withholding tax referred to in Article 7, interest received by a beneficial owner has been subject to any other type of withholding tax and the Member State of the European Community of residence for tax purposes grants a tax credit for such withholding tax in accordance with its national law or double taxation conventions, such other withholding tax shall be credited before the procedure in paragraph 2 is applied.

4. The Member State of the European Community of residence for tax purposes of the beneficial owner may replace the tax credit mechanism referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 by a refund of the withholding tax referred to in Article 7.

Article 11

Negotiable debt securities

1. From the date of application of this Agreement and as long as the Principality of Andorra imposes the withholding tax referred to in Article 7, and at least one Member State of the European Community applies a similar withholding tax, but until 31 December 2010 at the latest, domestic and international bonds and other negotiable debt securities which were first issued before 1 March 2001 or for which the original issuing prospectuses were approved before that date by the competent authorities within the meaning of Council Directive 80/390/EEC, or by the responsible authorities in the Principality of Andorra, or by the responsible authorities in third countries shall not be considered to be debt claims within the meaning of Article 6 paragraph 1(a), provided that no further issues of such negotiable debt securities are made after 1 March 2002.

2. However, as long as at least one of the Member States of the European Community also applies similar measures, the provisions of this Article shall continue to apply beyond 31 December 2010 in respect of negotiable debt securities:

- which contain gross-up and early redemption clauses, and

- where the paying agent defined in Article 4 is established in the Principality of Andorra, and

- where the paying agent pays interest to, or secures the payment of interest for the immediate benefit of, a beneficial owner resident in a Member State of the European Community.

If and where all Member States of the European Community cease to apply similar provisions, the provisions of this Article shall continue to apply solely in respect of negotiable debt securities:

- which contain gross-up and early redemption clauses, and

- where the paying agent of the issuer is established in the Principality of Andorra, and

- where that paying agent pays interest to, or secures the payment of interest for the immediate benefit of, a beneficial owner resident in a Member State of the European Community.

If a further issue is made on or after 1 March 2002 of an abovementioned negotiable debt security issued by a government or a related entity acting as a public authority or whose role is recognised by an international treaty, the entire issue of such security, consisting of the original issue and any further issue, shall be considered a debt claim within the meaning of Article 6 paragraph 1(a).

If a further issue is made on or after 1 March 2002 of an abovementioned negotiable debt security issued by any other issuer not covered by the above subparagraph, such further issue shall be considered a debt claim within the meaning of Article 6 paragraph 1(a).

3. This Article shall not prevent Member States of the European Community and the Principality of Andorra from taxing the income from the negotiable debt securities referred to in paragraph 1 in accordance with their national laws.

Article 12

Exchange of information on request

1. The competent authorities of the Principality of Andorra and the Member States of the European Community shall exchange information concerning the income covered by this Agreement on conduct constituting a crime of tax fraud under the laws of the requested State or the like. The like includes only an offence with the same level of wrongfulness as conduct constituting a crime of tax fraud under the laws of the requested State.

Until it introduces the concept of the crime of tax fraud in its internal law, the Principality of Andorra shall undertake, where it is the requested State, to treat as tax fraud for the purposes of the foregoing, conduct which, as a result of deception, damages the financial interests of the tax authorities of the requesting State and constitutes under the laws of the Principality of Andorra the crime of fraud.

In response to a duly justified request, the requested State shall provide information concerning matters mentioned above in this article which are subject to, or likely to be subject to, an investigation by the requesting State on a non criminal or -criminal basis.

2. In order to determine whether information may be provided in response to a request, the requested State shall apply the statute of limitations under the law of the requesting State instead of the statute of limitations applicable under the law of the requested State.

3. The requested State shall provide information where the requesting State has reasonable grounds for suspecting that such conduct might constitute the crime of tax fraud or the like. Where the Principality of Andorra is the requested State, the acceptability of the request must be determined within a time limit of two months, by the judicial authorities of the Principality of Andorra in relation to the conditions laid down in this Article.

4. The requesting State's grounds for suspecting that an offence may have been committed may be based on:

(a) documents, whether authenticated or not, including books of accounts or accounting documents or documents relating to bank accounts;

(b) statements by the taxpayer;

(c) information obtained from an informant or other third person that has been independently corroborated or otherwise appears credible; or

(d) circumstantial indirect evidence.

5. Any information exchanged in this way shall be treated as confidential and may be disclosed only to persons or the competent authorities of the Contracting Party with competence for taxation of the interest payments referred to in Article 1, either as regards withholding tax, and the revenue deriving therefrom referred to in Articles 7 and 8, or as regards the voluntary disclosure arrangements referred to in Article 9. Those persons or authorities may disclose the information received in public court proceedings or in judicial decisions concerning such taxation.

Information may be communicated to another person or authority only with the written and prior agreement of the competent authority of the party providing the information.

6. The Principality of Andorra shall agree to enter into bilateral negotiations with any Member State wishing to do so, in order to define the individual categories of cases falling under "the like" in accordance with the procedure applied by that State.

Article 13

Consultation and review

1. The Contracting Parties shall consult each other at least every three years or at the request of either Contracting Party with a view to examining, and - if they consider it necessary - improving the technical functioning of the Agreement and assessing international developments. Consultations shall be held within one month of the request or as soon as possible in urgent cases. On the basis of such an assessment, the Contracting Parties may consult each other in order to examine whether changes to the Agreement are necessary in the light of international developments.

2. Once they have acquired sufficient experience of the full implementation of article 7 paragraph 1 of the Agreement, the Contracting Parties shall consult each other in order to examine whether changes to the Agreement are necessary in the light of international developments.

3. For the purposes of the consultations referred to above, the Contracting Parties shall inform each other of any developments which could affect the proper functioning of this Agreement. This shall also include any relevant agreement between one of the Contracting Parties and a third country.

4. In the event of disagreement between the competent authorities of the Principality of Andorra and one or more of the other competent authorities of the Member States of the European Community in accordance with Article 5 of this Agreement on the interpretation or application of the Agreement, they shall endeavour to resolve their differences amicably. They shall immediately notify the European Commission and the competent authorities of the other Member States of the European Community of the results of their consultations. The European Commission may take part in the consultations at the request of any of the competent authority on issues of interpretation.

Article 14

Application

1. Application of this Agreement is conditional on the adoption and implementation by the dependent or associated territories of Member States mentioned in the report from the Council (Economic and Financial Affairs) to the European Council of Santa Maria de Feira of June 19/20, 2000, and by the United States of America, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and San Marino of measures which are respectively identical or equivalent to those laid down in the Directive or in this Agreement and providing for the same dates of implementation.

2. The Contracting Parties shall decide by mutual consent, at least six months before the date referred to in paragraph 6, whether the condition set out in paragraph 1 is satisfied as regards the dates of entry into force of the relevant measures in third countries and the dependent or associated territories concerned. If the Contracting Parties do not decide that this condition is met, they shall fix by mutual consent a new date for the purposes of paragraph 6.

3. Notwithstanding its institutional arrangements, the Principality of Andorra shall implement this Agreement on the date referred to in paragraph 6 and notify this measure to the European Community.

4. Implementation of this Agreement or parts thereof may be suspended by either Contracting Party with immediate effect by means of notification to the other party where the Directive or a corresponding part thereof ceases to be applicable either temporarily or permanently in accordance with European Community law, or where one of the Member States of the European Community suspends the application of its implementing legislation.

5. Either Contracting Party may also suspend implementation of this Agreement by notifying the other if one of the five third countries referred to above (United States of America, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Switzerland or San Marino) or one of the dependent or associated territories of the Member States of the European Union referred to in paragraph 1 subsequently cease applying measures identical or equivalent to those of the directive. Suspension of implementation shall not come into effect until two months after notification. The Agreement shall begin applying again once measures have been reincorporated.

6. The Contracting Parties shall adopt the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Agreement by 1 July 2005 at the latest.

Article 15

Signing, entry into force and termination

1. This Agreement must be ratified or approved by the Contracting Parties in accordance with their internal procedures. The Contracting Parties shall notify each other when these procedures have been completed. The Agreement shall enter into force on the first day of the second month following the last notification.

2. Either Contracting Party may terminate this Agreement by giving notice to the other. In such a case, the Agreement shall cease to have effect twelve months after the serving of notice.

Article 16

Claims and final provisions

1. Termination or the total or partial suspension of this Agreement shall not affect claims by individuals.

2. In such a case, the Principality of Andorra shall draw up a final account before this Agreement ceases to apply and make a final payment to the Member States of the European Community.

Article 17

Territorial scope

This Agreement shall apply, on the one hand, to the territories where the treaty establishing the European Community applies, and under the conditions provided in the said treaty, and on the other hand, to the territory of the Principality of Andorra.

Article 18

Annexes

1. The two Annexes shall form an integral part of this Agreement.

2. The list of competent authorities featured in Annex I may be modified by a simple notification to the other Contracting Party: by the Principality of Andorra in so far as it concerns the authority identified in point (a) of the said annex; and by the European Community in so far as it concerns the other authorities.

The list of related entities featured in Annex II can be amended by common accord.

Article 19

Languages

1. The present agreement is drafted in duplicate in the following languages: Catalan , Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish; the texts in each language are equally authentic.

2. The Czech, Estonian, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Slovak and Slovenian language versions shall be authenticated by the Contracting Parties on the basis of an exchange of letters. They shall also be authentic, in the same way as for the languages referred to in the preceding paragraph.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned plenipotentiairies, have signed the present Agreement.

Signed at......................., .........................

Annex I

List of competent authorities of the Contracting Parties

The competent authorities for the purposes of this Agreement are:

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Annex II

List of related entities

For the purposes of Article 11 of this Agreement, the following entities shall be considered to be "a related entity acting as a public authority or whose role is recognised by an international treaty":

Entities within the European Union:

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International entities:

- European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

- European Investment Bank

- Asian Development Bank

- African Development Bank

- World Bank/IBRD/IMF

- International Finance Corporation

- Interamerican Development Bank

- Council of Europe Social Development Fund

- EURATOM

- European Community

- Andean Development Corporation

- Eurofima

- European Coal and Steel Community

- Nordic Investment Bank

- Caribbean Development Bank

The provisions of Article 11 are without prejudice to any international obligations that the Contracting Parties may have entered into in respect of the abovementioned international entities.

Third country entities:

Entities satisfying the following criteria:

1. The entity is considered to be a public entity according to national criteria;

2. This public entity is a non-market producer which administers and finances a group of activities, principally non-market goods or services intended for the benefit of the Community, and which is effectively controlled by public administration;

3. This public entity is a large and regular issuer of debt securities;

4. The State concerned is able to guarantee that this public entity will not exercise early redemption in the event of gross-up clauses.