EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1. CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL

The Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products[1] (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’) entered into force on 1 June 2002.

Article 6 of the Agreement sets up a Joint Committee on Agriculture (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Committee’), which is responsible for the administration of the Agreement and ensures its good functioning.

The Additional Agreement between the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein extending to the Principality of Liechtenstein the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products[2] (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Additional Agreement’) entered into force on 13 October 2007.

Pursuant to Article 2(2) of the Additional Agreement, the Joint Committee on Agriculture may amend the Annex to the Additional Agreement, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 6 and 11 of the Agreement.

The Annex to the Additional Agreement should be amended in order to update the details of the competent Liechtenstein government agency and to take into account the amendments to Annex 7 and Annex 12 to the Agreement. The Annex to the Additional Agreement should therefore be amended accordingly.

2. RESULTS OF THE CONSULTATIONS WITH INTERESTED PARTIES AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS

The purpose of the proposal is simply to amend the Additional Agreement in order to update the details of the competent Liechtenstein government agency and to take into account the amendments to Annex 7 and Annex 12 to the Agreement. The text of the Joint Committee Decision has been drawn up in cooperation with the Swiss authorities. No impact assessment has been carried out.

3. LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE PROPOSAL

The Decision is based on the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 207(4) in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof.

2014/0016 (NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the position to be taken by the European Union within the Joint Committee on Agriculture set up by the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products, as regards amendment of the Annex to the Additional Agreement between the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein

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(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) The Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products[3] (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’) entered into force on 1 June 2002.

(2) Article 6 of the Agreement sets up a Joint Committee on Agriculture (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Committee’), which is responsible for the administration of the Agreement and ensures its good functioning.

(3) The Additional Agreement between the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein extending to the Principality of Liechtenstein the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products[4] (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Additional Agreement’) entered into force on 13 October 2007.

(4) Pursuant to Article 2(2) of the Additional Agreement, the Joint Committee on Agriculture may amend the Annex to the Additional Agreement, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 6 and 11 of the Agreement.

(5) The Annex to the Additional Agreement should be amended in order to update the details of the competent Liechtenstein government agency and to take into account the amendments to Annex 7 and Annex 12 to the Agreement. The Annex to the Additional Agreement should therefore be amended accordingly.

(6) The position to be taken by the Union within the Committee should be based on the draft Decision annexed to this Decision,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The European Union position within the Joint Committee on Agriculture set up by Article 6 of the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products shall be based on the draft Decision of the Joint Committee on Agriculture annexed to this Decision.

Minor amendments to the draft Decision may be agreed to by the representatives of the Union within the Joint Committee on Agriculture without the need for a new Council Decision.

Article 2

The Decision of the Joint Committee on Agriculture shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Article 3

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President

[1] OJ L 114, 30.4.2002, p. 132.

[2] OJ L 270, 13.10.2007, p. 6.

[3] OJ L 114, 30.4.2002, p. 132.

[4] OJ L 270, 13.10.2007, p. 6.

ANNEX

DRAFT DECISION No 3/2014 OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE of … concerning amendment of the Additional Agreement between the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein extending to the Principality of Liechtenstein the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products

THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE,

Having regard to the Additional Agreement between the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein extending to the Principality of Liechtenstein the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products, and in particular Article 2(2) thereof,

Having regard to the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products, and in particular Article 11 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) The Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’) entered into force on 1 June 2002.

(2) The Additional Agreement between the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein extending to the Principality of Liechtenstein the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Additional Agreement’) entered into force on 13 October 2007.

(3) The Annex to the Additional Agreement should be amended in order to update the address of the competent Liechtenstein government agency for matters handled by the canton agricultural authorities, so as to take into account Decision No 1/2012 of the Joint Committee on Agriculture on the amendment of Annex 7 (trade in wine-sector products), which entered into force on 4 May 2012, and so as to supplement the list of designations of origin and geographical indications for agricultural products and foodstuffs originating in Liechtenstein,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Annex to the Additional Agreement shall be amended as follows:

1) The second paragraph under the heading ‘Principle’ is replaced by the following:

‘Where Swiss canton authorities are assigned duties, responsibilities and powers, these shall be incumbent on the competent Liechtenstein government agencies. For matters handled by the canton agricultural authorities this means the Office for the Environment, Agriculture Department (‘Amt für Umwelt, Abteilung Landwirtschaft’), Dr Grass-Strasse 12, FL-9490 Vaduz, and for matters handled by the canton veterinary and food authorities it means the Office of Food Inspection and Veterinary Affairs (OFV) (‘Amt für Lebensmittelkontrolle und Veterinärwesen’), Postplatz 2, FL-9494 Schaan.

2) Under the entry ‘Annex 7, Trade in wine products’, the subheading ‘Protected names of wine products originating in Liechtenstein (within the meaning of Article 6 of Annex 7)’ is replaced by the following subheading:

‘Protected names of wine products originating in Liechtenstein (within the meaning of Article 5 of Annex 7)’.

3) The following geographical indication is added to the list of Swiss geographical indications protected under Appendix 1 to Annex 12 to the Agreement, the geographical area for which also includes the territory of Liechtenstein:

‘Werdenberger Sauerkäse/Liechtensteiner Sauerkäse/Bloderkäse (PDO)’.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on ….. 2013.

Done at …, ….

For the Joint Committee on Agriculture

The Head of the European Union Delegation || The Chair and Head of the Swiss Delegation || The Committee Secretary

Susana Marazuela-Azpiroz || Jacques Chavaz || Ioannis Virvilis