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COM (85) 638 
 
 
 
Vol. 1985/0 230 
  
 
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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 openi ng to the public of the historical archives of the European Econom ic 
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 f ile 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 198 3 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
C0M(85) 638 fin a l
DECISION O F  T H E  A C P -E E C  C O U N C IL O F  MINISTERS
extending certain tra nsition a l measures to cover relations 
between the A C P  States and the enlarged Community
(Communication from the Commission to the Council)
C 0M C 85) 638 fin a l

<2. of/- é 3 &
Decision of the AC P-EE C  Council of Ministers
extending certain tra n sitio n a l measures to cover relations 
between the A C P  States and the enlarged Community
Explanatory memorandum
This decision is intended to prevent the emergence of a  legal vacuum 
should the th ird  Lom é Convention not com e into force on 1 January 1986, 
when Portugal and Spain w ill become Members of the European Community.
The transitional measures applying to the ten present Member States are  
embodied in Decision n° 2/85 of the ACP-EEC Council of Ministers, which  
took effect on 1 March; some of the measures are due to expire on  
28 February 1986, unless renewed by common accord.
The tra nsition a l arrangements consist of the continuation of various 
Lom é I I  provisions, the early implementation of certain elements of 
Lom é I I I ,  and a  number of specific measures. Their purpose is to 
avoid any break in AC P-EEC  cooperation and the preparations for Lom é III.
The situation on the Community side is that Portugal and Spain are due 
to take over the acquis communautaire (including, in prin cip le ,
Decision n° 2/85) on 1 January, subject, however, to the provisions 
of the Act of Accession. A rticles 181(2)/368(2) of the Act in fact 
stipulate that Lom é I I  shall not apply to relations between 
Spain/Portugal and the A C P  States, so that excludes from th is 
Decision those tra n sitio n a l measures which relate to the continued 
administration of Lom é I I  aid. Nor can tra n sitio n a l provisions con­
cerning trade cooperation be taken over u n til the adjustments necessary 
under the Act of Accession have been adopted, and A rticle  394(3) of the 
Act of Accession in any case provides that the arrangements applicable 
to trade between a  new Member State and th ird  countries shall be those 
that applied before accession, so trade provisions must be excluded 
from the present Decision as well.

-  2 -
Regarding ACP-EEC relations as such, Article 284(3) of Lomé III stipulates  
that the new Convention does not apply between the ACP States and a new  
Member State of the Community until the protocol of accession (to the  
Convention) has entered into force. This does not, however, preclude the  
application of transitional measures between the ACP States and the  
Community provided they do not prejudice the definitive arrangements.
The measures covered by this Decision certainly do not; quite the reverse;  
it is in the interests of ACP-EEC cooperation that they should be  
extended to apply to the whole of the enlarged Community.

Decision of the ACP-EEC Council of Ministers
extending certain transitional measures to cover relations  
between the ACP States and the enlarged Community
The ACP-EEC Committee of Ambassadors,
Having regard to the second ACP-EEC Convention signed at Lomé on  
31 October 1979, and in particular to Article 188(3) thereof,
Having regard to Decision N° 7/84 of the ACP-EEC Council of Ministers  
dated 19 December 1984 delegating powers to the ACP-EEC Committee of  
Ambassadors to adopt transitional measures after the expiry of the 
second ACP-EEC Convention,
Whereas the Kingdom of Spain and the Portuguese Republic become members  
of the European Communities from 1 January 1986;
Whereas the third ACP-EEC Convention signed at Lomé on 8 December 1984  
has not yet entered into force; whereas accordingly the accession  
protocols provided for in Article 288 of the said Convention cannot  
take effect;
Whereas Decision N° 2/85 of the ACP-EEC Council dated 22 February 1985  
laid down transitional measures to apply from 1 March 1985 pending the  
entry into force of the new Convention;
Whereas the transitional measures concerning the administration of  
Community financial assistance under the second ACP-EEC Convention  
do not apply to Spain and Portugal and those relating to trade  
cooperation cannot yet be applied to them,

-2-
has decided as follows :
Article 1
Decision N° 2/85 of the ACP-EEC Council of Ministers on transitional  
measures valid from 1 March 1985 shall apply to relations between the  
ACP States and the enlarged Community, with exception of :
- Article 1 (1) (a), (b), (c) and (g) and Article 1 (2)
- Article 2
- Article 4
- Article 8
- Article 9
Article 2
This decision shall enter into force on 1 January 1986 provided that  
the Treaty concerning the accession of the Kingdom of Spain and the  
Portuguese Republic to the European Communities enters into force  
on that date.