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COM (85) 166 
 
 
 
Vol. 1985/0 054 
  
 
Disclaimer  
Conformém ent au règlement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du 1er février 1983 
concernant l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique 
européenne et de la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983, 
p. 1), tel que modifié par le règlement (CE, Euratom) n° 1700/2003 du 22 septembre 2003 
(JO L 243 du 27.9.2003, p. 1), ce dossier est ouvert au public. Le cas échéant, les documents 
classifiés présents dans ce dossier ont été déclassifiés conformément à l'article 5 dudit 
règlem ent. 
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 
concerning the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Economic 
Community and the European Atomic Energy Communit y (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as 
amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243, 
27.9.2003, p. 1), this file is open to the public. Where necessary, classified documents in this 
file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation. 
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom  1. 
Februar 1983 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen 
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europäischen Atomgem einschaft (ABI. L 43 vom  15.2.1983, 
S. 1), geändert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. Septem ber 2003 
(ABI. L 243 vom 27.9.2003, S. 1), ist diese Datei der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Soweit 
erforderlich, wurden die Verschlusssachen in dieser Datei in Übereinstimmung mit Artikel 5 
der genannten Verordnung freigegeben. 
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
C0MC85) 166 final  
Brussels, 12 April 1985
Communication from the Commission to the Council
Participation of the Community in the Review Conference on the  
UNCTAD Set of Multilaterally Agreed Equitable Principles and  
Rules for the Control of Restrictive Business Practices
:
C0M(85) 166 final

Participation of the Community in the Review Conference on the UNCTAD  
Set of Multilaterally Agreed Eouitable Principles and Rules for the. . . . . . . .  -  — i  '  m  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . [ ■ , . ■ ! !  ,  .  iiiT rrS -r-ii— r m n n w i m n  r  i m im iw m iin  n n>«iw mniiiiini«wmii ι■ι■nιι> ι^-■ι^ιΓ Γ « -" ‘^-»°t~ nm n  --nrnr m .Tn.  n   
Control
 of Restrictive Business Practices
A Review Conference on the Set of Principles is scheduled for 4-15  
November 1985 under United Nations General Assembly resolution 35/63·
Proposals for amendments to the Set of Principles will be on the agenda  
of the 4th session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts (IGE) in  
Geneva on 22-30 April 1985« The Group will also discuss the rules of  
procedure for the Review Conference. Draft rules of procedure have been  
circulated by the UNCTAD Secretariat (see Annex i). Rule 1 provides  
that participation in the Conference shall be open to Regional Groupings  
of States which have competence in the area of restrictive business  
practices and which have accepted the Set of Principles. It is speci­
fied, however, that participation does not confer on such regional 
groupings the right to vote. Rule 33 provides that only States parti­
cipating in the Conference shall have the right to vote.
These arrangements would not allow the Community to participate on  
an equal footing to Member States. This would be a similar situation  
to that prevailing within the IGE, with which the Community and its  
Member States, supported by Group B, have repeatedly voiced their  
dissatisfaction. The Community proposes to respond to the latest  
communication from Group D to the Trade and Development Board on this  
subject (see Annex 2).
For the purposes of the draft rules of procedure for the Conference,  
the Community is deemed to have accepted resolution 35/63. This being so,  
it demands that an addition be made to Rule 33 of the draft rules of  
procedure reading as follows s
"Regional Groupings of States, in matters within their  
competence, shall exercise their right to vote with  
a number of votes equal to the number of their member

-  2 -
States which have accepted the Set of Principles and Rules.  
Such organizations shall not exercise their right to vote  
if their Member States exercise theirs, and vice versa."
This clarification is a legal and political consequence of the equivalent  
status conferred "by section B (ii) (8) of the Set of Principles.
The Commission considers that unless the rules of procedure allow the  
Community to play a full part in the work of the Conference, it should  
limit its participation in the meeting to the role of a passive observer.  
By continuing to acquiesce in a situation ®f contributing actively to  
the work on an ad hoc basis as an observer, the Community would be  
bowing to the interpretation expounded by Group D.
The Commission therefore requests the Council's authority to negotiate  
for the Community whsn the rules of procedure for the Review Conference  
are drawn up a status allowing it to play a full part in the Conference  
in keeping with the responsibilities it has in the area of restrictive  
business practices. The Member States and the Commission should adopt  
a common position on this matter in tbe discussions at the forthcoming  
meeting of the IGE.

Annexe .1
Distr.
GENERAL
TD/B/RBP/28
v  27 February 1985
Original: ENGLISH \
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD  
Intergovernmental Group of Experts  
on Restrictive Business Practices  
Fourth session  
Geneva, 22 April 1 9 8 5  
Item 3 (c)  of the provisional agenda
PREPARATIONS FOR THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE TO REVIEW ALL  
ASPECTS OF THE SET OF MULTILATERALLY AGREED EQUITABLE  
PRINCIPLES AND RULES FOR THE CONTROL OF RESTRICTIVE BUSINESS  
PRACTICES: PROVISIONAL RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE CONFERENCE
Draft provisional rules of procedure of the Conference
The following sets out a suggested text prepared by the UNCTAD secretariat  
of the rules of procedure for the United Nations Conference to Review all  
Aspects of the Set of Multilaterally Agreed Equitable Principles and Rules  
for the Control of Restrictive Business Practices.Prepared by the UNCTAD secretariat
GE. 8 5 - 5 0 6 3 5

TD/B/RBP/28
pag« 1
DRAFT PROVISIONAL RULES OP PROCEDURE OP THE CONFERENCE
Chapter I
REPRESENTATION AND CREDENTIALS 
Participation
\
Rule 1
Participation in the Conference shall he open to:
(a) All States,
(h) Namibia, represented by the United Nations Council for Namibia,
(c) Regional Groupings of States which have competence in the area of ,  
restrictive business practices and have accepted the Set of Multilaterally Agreed 
Equitable Principles and Rules for the Control of Restrictive Business 
Practices,  and
(d) Other participants referred to in operative paragraph 4 of
General Assembly resolution 35/153 20 December 1978.
Composition of delegations
Rule 2
Each delegation participating in the Conference shall consist of a head of 
delegation, and not more than two other accredited representatives, and such 
alternate representatives and advisers as may be required«
Alternates and advisers
Rule 5
The head of the delegation may designate an alternate representative or an
adviser to act as a representative«
Submission of credentials
Rule 4
The credentials of representatives of States and the names of alternate 
representatives and advisers shall be submitted to the Secretary-General of 
UNCTAD, if possible not later than one week before the date fixed for the opening
tJ Reference to Regional Groupings of States in this rule is based on the 
definition contained in section B, paragraph 8, of the Set of Multilaterally 
Agreed Equitable Principles and Rules for the Control of Restrictive Business 
Practices. The draft rule does not confer on such regional groupings the right
to vote.

TD/B/KHP/28 
page 7
day preceding the meeting. The President may, however, permit the discussion 
and consideration of amendments, even though these amendments have not been 
circulated, or have only been circulated the same day.
Decisions on competence
Rule 28
Subject to rule 19, any motion calling for a decision on the competence of 
the Conference to consider any matter, or to adopt a proposal, or an amendment 
submitted to it, shall be put to the vote before the matter is considered or a 
vote is taken on the proposal or amendment in question.
Withdrawal of proposals and motions
Rule 29
A proposal or a motion may be withdrawn by its sponsor, at any time before 
voting on it has commenced, provided that it has not been amended by decision of 
the Conference. A proposal or a motion thus withdrawn may be reintroduced" by" 
any representative with its original priority, provided he does so promptly and 
it has not been substantially changed.
Consideration of programme budget implications
Rule 30
Before the Conference takes a decision or makes a recommendation, the 
implementation of which might have programme budget implications for the 
United Nations, it shall receive and consider a report from the secretariat on 
such implications.
Reconsideration of •proposals
Rule 51
When a proposal has been adopted or rejected, it may not be reconsidered 
unless the Conference, by a two-thirds majority of the representatives present 
and voting, so decides. Permission to speak on the motion to reconsider shall be 
accorded only to two speakers opposing the motion, after which it shall be put 
to the vote immediately.
\
Consensus
Rule 32
1. The Conference shall endeavour to ensure that all its substantive decisions 
are taken by consensus.
2. Notwithstanding any measures that may be taken in compliance with paragraph 1 
a proposal before the Conference shall be voted on if a representative so requests
Voting rights
Rule 33
Each State participating in the Conference shall have one vote.

Annexe 2 \
PROJET DE
Communication des Communautés européennes concernant la participation  
de la Communauté économique européenne aux travaux du Groupe inter­
gouvememental d'experts des pratiques commerciales restrictives
o
A la demande du coordinateur du Groupe D a été diffusé aux membres du
Conseil une communication concernant la participation de la Communauté  
économique européenne aux travaux du Groupe intergouvememental  
d'experts sur les pratiques commerciales restrictives (Doc. TD/b.1031 
du 4 décembre 1984).
Les arguments développés dans cette communication indiquent que le  
Groupe D estime qu'il est conforme au texte de l'Ensemble de principes  
et de régies équitables d'étendre l’application de ces régies aux  
organisations régionales sans leur donner pour autant le droit de  
participer pleinement aux travaux du Groupe intergouvememental  
d'experts. Le Groupe D estime par conséquent qu'il n'y a pas lieu de  
modifier la pratique actuelle.
A l'égard de cette question la Communauté européenne a pris position à  
plusieurs reprisas at notamment dans une communication diffusée au  
Conseil en date du 21 septembre 1984 (Doc. TD/B.1Q25). Une  
participation en tant que participant/observateur ,  qui résulte de  
l'application des régies de procédures des grandes commissions du  
Conseil sans qu'elles aient-été adaptées au cas particulier de  
l’Ensemble de principes et de réglas équitables et de son mécanisme  
Institutionnel, équivaut 1 nier son droit & exercer pleinement ses  
compétences en matière de pratiques commerciales restrictives.
La Communauté maintient qu'il n’est pas admissible de nier sa  
compétence au niveau du mécanisme institutionnel alors que l'on  
voudrait qu'elle assume ses responsabilités en ce qui concerne la mise  
en oeuvre de l’Ensemble de principes et de règles équitables.

-2-
«\
Le texte de 1'Ensemble de principes et de règles équitables étend,  
sans exception, leur application aux groupements régionaux d'Etats  
(paragraphe 8), dans la mesure oïl ils ont compétence dans le domaine  
des pratiques commerciales restrictives, La Conaunautfi a des  
compétences dans ces domaines et elle les exerce.  ^D^ailleurs il ne  
semble pas exister '  4 l'heure actuelle d'autres organisations  
d'intégration régionales dont les compétences an matière de  
surveillance et de règlementation de pratiques commerciales  
restrictives soient comparables à celles de la Communauté européenne *:  
Aussi le* travaux du Groupe intergouvememental d'experts contiennent  
d'amples références i la politique de la Communauté européenne en  
matière de pratiques commerciales restrictives»
Dans ces conditions la communauté européenne déclare que si elle est  
prête 4 être assimilée aux Etats pour l'application de l'Ensemble de  
pratiques et de règles équitables, elle ne peut l'être que dans 1*  
mesure oü la même assimilation est aussi admise dans le fonctionnement  
du Groupe intergouvememental d'experts*
11 ne lui parait pas, en effet, concevable que soit maintenue  
l'incohérence actuelle qui donne la primauté & une règle de procédure  
sur les dispositions d'un engagement international.