32006D0890
L 343/96 IL-ĠURNAL UFFIĊJALI TA ’L-UNJONI EWROPEA 8.12.2006
DEĊIŻJONI TAL-KUMMISSJONI
ta’l-4 ta’ Diċembru 2006
li tikkonċerna l-konklużjoni f'isem il-Komunità Ewropea dwar l-Enerġija Atomika ta’ Ftehim ta’ Qafas
dwar Programm Ambjentali Nukleari Multilaterali fil-Federazzjoni Russa u tal-Protokoll dwar Talbiet,Proċeduri Legali u Indennizz għal Ftehim ta’ Qafas dwar il-Programm Ambjentali Nukleari
Multilaterali fil-Federazzjoni Russa
(innotifikata taħt dokument numru C(2006) 5219)
(2006/890/Euratom)
IL-KUMMISSJONI TAL-KOMUNITAJIET EWROPEJ,
Wara li kkunsidrat it-Trattat li jistabbilixxi l-Komunità Ewropea
dwar l-Enerġija Atomika, u partikolarment l-Artikolu 101(2)tiegħu,
Billi:
(1) Skond id-direttivi adottati bid-Deċiżjoni tal-Kunsill ta’ l-10
ta' April 2000, il-Kummissjoni ħadet sehem fin-negozjati
mal-Federazzjoni Russa dwar Ftehim dwar ProgrammAmbjentali Nukleari Multilaterali fil-Federazzjoni Russau Protokoll dwar Talbiet, Proċeduri Legali u Indennizz.
(2) Ftehim ta’ Qafas dwar Programm Ambjentali Nukleari
Multilaterali fil-Federazzjoni Russa (MNEPR) u l-Protokoll
dwar it-Talbiet, il-Proċeduri Legali u l-Indennizz mal-Ftehimta’Qafas dwar l-MNEPR ġew iffirmati fi Stokkolma fil-21 ta'
Mejju 2003.
(3) Il-Ftehim ta’ Qafas kien iffirmat mill-Komunità Ewropea, il-
Komunità Ewropea dwar l-Enerġija Atomika, in-Norveġja, l-
Iżvezja, id-Danimarka, il-Finlandja, il-Belġju, Franza, il-Ġermanja, ir-Renju Unit, l-Olanda u r-Russja.(4) Il-Ftehim ta’ Qafas ta’ l-MNEPR jistabbilixxi qafas legali
multilaterali għal proġetti marbutin ma’ l-enerġija nukleari
mwettqa minn pajjiżi tal-punent fil-majjistral tar-Russja, u l-Protokoll dwar it-Talbiet, il-Proċeduri Legali u l-Indennizzgħandu l-għan li jsolvi kwistjonijiet ta’ responsabbiltà li
jinqalgħu minn attivitajiet imwettqa f ’dan il-kuntest.
(5) L-MNEPR issawret sabiex tiffaċilita proġetti li jindirizzaw
problemi marbuta ma' l-iskart radjuattiv u l-karburant
nukleari użat u ż-żarmar ta' sottomarini u icebreakers
nukleari fil-Federazzjoni Russa. Inizjalment qed tiffoka fuq
ir-reġjun tal-majjistral, iżda l-Ftehim ta’ Qafas jiddikjara li l-
MNEPR tista’ tapplika wkoll għal proġetti jew għal kull sura
ta’kooperazzjoni f ’oqsma oħrajn ta’ attivitajiet nukleari,
inkluż is-sigurtà nukleari, jekk il-Partijiet ikkonċernati
jiftiehmu hekk.
(6) Il-Memorandum ta’ Ftehim bilaterali preżenti ffirmat bejn
il-Kummissjoni Ewropea f’isem il-Komunitajiet u l-Federaz-
zjoni Russa fl-1995, li jkopri l-implimentazzjoni tal-Programmi ta' Għajnuna Teknika fil-Qasam tas-SigurtàNukleari u li jindirizza kwistjonijiet ta' responsabbiltajietnukleari mhux se jkun applikabbli fuq proġetti taħt l-Istrument għall-Kooperazzjoni għas-Sigurtà Nukleari l-ġdid.
(7) L-Istati Membri kollha ta’ l-UE li ffirmaw il-Ftehim ta’ Qafas
iddepożitaw l-istrumenti tar-ratifika mad-Depożitarji, bl-
aħħar Membru jkun ir-Renju Unit, li rratifika l-Ftehim ta’Qafas f’ April 2006.5.6.2007 MT Il-Ġurnal Uffiċjali ta’ l-Unjoni Ewropea 753
(8) Il-Kummissjoni Ewropea dwar l-Enerġija Atomika issa qiegħda f’ pożizzjoni li tikkonkludi l-Ftehim ta’
Qafas ta’ l-MNEPR.
ADOTTAT DIN ID-DEĊIŻJONI:
Artikolu 1
1. Il-Ftehim ta’ Qafas dwar Programm Ambjentali Nukleari Multilaterali fil-Federazzjoni Russa u l-Protokoll
dwar it-Talbiet, il-Proċeduri Legali u l-Indennizz fuq il-Ftehim ta’ Qafas dwar Programm Ambjentali Nukleari
fil-Federazzjoni Russa huma hawnhekk konklużi f'isem il-Komunità Ewropea dwar l-Enerġija Atomika.
2. It-testi tal-Ftehim ta’ Qafas u tal-Protokoll huma annessi ma’ din id-Deċiżjoni.
Din id-Deċiżjoni hija indirizzata lill-Istati Membri.
Magħmul fi Brussel, 4 ta' Diċembru 2006.
Għall-Kummissjoni
Benita FERRERO-WALDNER
Membru tal-Kummissjoni754 MT Il-Ġurnal Uffiċjali ta’ l-Unjoni Ewropea 5.6.2007
FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT ON A MULTILATERAL NUCLEAR ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME
IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
The Government of the Kingdom of Belgium, the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark, the Government of the
Republic of Finland, the Government of the French Republic, the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, theGovernment of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Government of the Kingdom of Norway, the Government of theRussian Federation, the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britainand Northern Ireland, the Government of the United States of America, the European Community, and the European
Atomic Energy Community (hereinafter referred to as the Parties),
Noting the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste
Management of 5 September 1997 (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Joint Convention’);
Noting that the Joint Convention stipulates that spent fuel and radioactive waste within military or defence
programmes should be managed in accordance with the objectives stated in that Convention even though theyare excluded from it except as provided in Article 3 thereof;
Noting also the Convention on Nuclear Safety of 17 June 1994;
Recalling the importance the Joint Convention attaches to international co-operation in enhancing the safety
of spent fuel and radioactive waste management through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms;
Reaffirming the importance the Parties attach to the principles embodied in relevant international
conventions on nuclear liability for the provision of international assistance in this field;
Recognising the work of the Contact Expert Group for International Radwaste Projects established under the
auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency to deal with issues regarding international co-operation inradioactive waste management and related issues in the Russian Federation, and its contribution to thedevelopment of a comprehensive International Action Plan;
Desiring to facilitate practical co-operation to enhance the safety of spent fuel and radioactive waste
management in the Russian Federation, in particular through the implementation of projects in the RussianFederation that may be identified by the Contact Expert Group for International Radwaste Projects;
Recalling the Declaration of Principles by members and observers of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council
representing Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, the RussianFederation Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States regarding the Multilateral NuclearEnvironmental Programme in the Russian Federation signed at Bodø (Norway) on 5 March 1999 in whichthe participants declared their readiness to negotiate a multilateral Framework Agreement covering the
necessary conditions for the provision of international assistance in this field;
HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1
Multilateral Nuclear Environmental Programme in the
Russian Federation (MNEPR)
1. The Parties hereby establish a framework to facilitate co-
operation in the area of safety of spent nuclear fuel andradioactive waste management in the Russian Federation. Thisframework shall be referred to as the ‘Multilateral Nuclear
Environmental Programme in the Russian Federation’ (MNEPR).The MNEPR shall apply to projects undertaken between
Contributors and Recipients or any other form of co-operationagreed by them. It may also apply to projects or any other formof co-operation in other areas of nuclear activities, includingnuclear safety, if so agreed by the Parties concerned.
2. The Parties shall seek to avoid duplication of Assistance
activities and to ensure that such activities are complementary toactivities under other multilateral or bilateral funds, agreements,mechanisms or arrangements.5.6.2007 MT Il-Ġurnal Uffiċjali ta’ l-Unjoni Ewropea 755
Article 2
Definitions
For the purposes of this Agreement the following terms shall
have the following meanings:
Technical aid (assistance): Any form of gratuitous aid and/or
contribution provided under thisAgreement or under any Imple-menting Agreement, or otherwiseagreed to by the Russian Party andthe Contributing Party or Parties(hereinafter referred to as ‘Assis-
tance’).
Contributor: Any Party other than the Russian
Party or any entity authorized bysuch Party to provide Assistanceunder the MNEPR.
Recipient: The Russian Party or any other
Russian entity authorized by theRussian Party to serve as benefi-ciary of Assistance and partner forthe realization of a project underthe MNEPR.
Implementing Agreement: An agreement between one or
more Recipients and one or moreContributors for the provision ofAssistance for the realization ofa project under the MNEPR.
Article 3
Modes of co-operation under the MNEPR
1. Assistance under the MNEPR may be provided through:
(a) Implementing Agreements between one or more Recipients
and any one of the Contributors (Bilateral mode);
(b) Implementing Agreements between one or more Recipients
and several Contributors whereby a common financingarrangement will not be established (Multilateral simplemode);
(ċ) Implementing Agreements between one or more Recipients
and several Contributors whereby a common financingarrangement will be established (Multilateral fundingmode); or
(d) any other mechanism agreed by the Recipient(s) and
Contributor(s) concerned.
2. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the terms
and conditions of this Agreement shall apply to all Assistanceprovided under paragraph 1 of this Article. The provisions of thisAgreement may also apply to activities undertaken before itsentry into force if so agreed by the Parties involved in thoseactivities.3. The provision of Assistance by the Contributors under this
Agreement shall be subject to the availability of appropriatedfunds.
Article 4
MNEPR Committee
1. To facilitate co-operation and to exchange information
under the MNEPR, the Parties hereby establish the MNEPRCommittee. The MNEPR Committee shall be composed of one
authorized official/governmental representative of each of the
Parties, who shall also serve as a contact point for all questions ofrelevance to the MNEPR.
2. The MNEPR Committee may:— discuss the development and implementation of projects
and any other form of co-operation under this Agreement;
— discuss relevant activities under other bilateral or multila-
teral agreements or arrangements;
— co-ordinate funding for projects under Article 3.1 (c);
— identify obstacles and problems encountered in the
implementation of projects, and make recommendationsregarding their resolution;
— establish working groups as required for the functioning of
the MNEPR Committee;
— discuss and make recommendations on other matters
relevant to the operation of MNEPR activities;
and
— invite States, intergovernmental organisations or regional
economic integration organisations being subject to publicinternational law to accede in accordance with Article 16.
3. The MNEPR Committee shall adopt its Rules of Procedure.4. The MNEPR Committee shall elect two co-chairpersons for
twelve-month periods from among representatives of the Parties,one from among the Contributing Parties and one representingthe Russian Party.756 MT Il-Ġurnal Uffiċjali ta’ l-Unjoni Ewropea 5.6.2007
5. The MNEPR Committee may decide to admit as Observers
any interested State, inter-governmental organisation or regionaleconomic integration organisation being subject to publicinternational law not party to this Agreement. Where a Co-ordinator has been designated according to Article 5, that Co-ordinator shall be admitted as an Observer to meetings of theMNEPR Committee, where relevant.
6. Decisions and recommendations of the MNEPR Committee
shall be made by consensus.
Article 5
Co-ordinator of multilateral funding under the MNEPR
1. The Contributing Parties to a common financing arrange-
ment, as referred to in Article 3.1(c), may designate a Co-ordinator for such an arrangement.
2. The rights and obligations of the Contributing Parties under
this Agreement apply equally to the Coordinator where the Co-ordinator performs activities on behalf of the Contributors.
Article 6
Specific undertakings
1. The Parties shall promote activities necessary for the
implementation of projects under the MNEPR.
2. The Russian Party shall ensure the prompt issuance of, inter
alia, licences, permits, approvals and the prompt customsclearances necessary for the efficient implementation of projects.The Russian Party shall ensure the provision of data andinformation necessary for the implementation of specificprojects within the framework of this Agreement. The RussianParty shall grant access to sites and facilities necessary for theimplementation of specific projects within the framework of thisAgreement. Should such access be restricted according to theprovisions of the legislation of the Russian Federation, mutuallyacceptable procedures shall be developed in the ImplementingAgreements. The Implementing Agreements shall also define theprocedures for, and the scope of, the information to betransferred.
3. The provision of Assistance shall be complemented by
Russian resources. Such resources may be contributed in-kind orotherwise for the implementation of projects under the MNEPR.
Article 7
Claims, legal proceedings and indemnification
1. This Agreement is supplemented by a Protocol containing
provisions on claims, legal proceedings and indemnification inrespect of claims against Contributors and their personnel orcontractors, subcontractors, consultants, suppliers or subsup-pliers of equipment, goods and services at any tier and theirpersonnel, for any loss or damage of whatsoever nature arisingfrom activities undertaken pursuant to this Agreement.
2. The Protocol and its Annex shall not apply to any Party that
does not become a party to the Protocol.3. Any Party that does not become a party to the Protocol may
conclude with the Russian Party a separate agreement coveringclaims, legal proceedings and indemnification in respect ofclaims for any loss or damage of whatsoever nature arising fromactivities undertaken pursuant to this Agreement.
Article 8
Use and retransfer of Assistance
1. Unless the written consent of the Contributor has first been
obtained, the Recipient shall not transfer title to, or possessionof, any Assistance provided pursuant to this Agreement to anyentity, other than an officer, employee or agent of thatContributor or that Recipient and shall not permit the use ofsuch Assistance for purposes other than those for which it hasbeen furnished.
2. The Russian Party shall take all reasonable measures within
its power to ensure the security of, ensure the appropriate use of,and prevent the unauthorized transfer of Assistance providedpursuant to this Agreement.
Article 9
Exemption from taxes or similar charges
1. The Russian Party shall exempt Assistance provided under
this Agreement from customs duties, profits taxes, other taxesand similar charges. The Russian Party shall take all necessarysteps to ensure that no local or regional taxes are levied onAssistance provided under this Agreement. These steps willinclude the provision of letters from competent local and/orregional authorities confirming that no taxes will be levied onAssistance provided under this Agreement. Such letters ofconfirmation covering localities and regions where projectsunder this Agreement will be carried out shall be deposited withat least one of the Depositaries before the start of implementa-tion of the projects.
2. The Russian Party shall exempt remuneration to foreign
natural persons and to Russian citizens not ordinarily resident inthe Russian Federation for work undertaken and servicesperformed by such persons for the implementation of Assistance
under this Agreement from income tax, social security tax
contributions, and similar charges within the territory of theRussian Federation. With regard to remuneration exempted bythis paragraph, the Russian Party shall not have any obligationsin terms of any charges and payments to the persons indicated inthis paragraph, at the expense of the social security system or anyother government funds.
3. The Contributing Parties and their personnel, their contrac-
tors, subcontractors, suppliers and subsuppliers may import into,and export out of, the Russian Federation equipment, supplies,materials or services required to implement this Agreement. Inaddition to the provisions regarding Assistance, temporaryimportation and exportation shall not be subject to customsduties, license fees, undue restrictions, taxes or similar charges.5.6.2007 MT Il-Ġurnal Uffiċjali ta’ l-Unjoni Ewropea 757
4. In addition to the preceding paragraphs, persons and entities
participating in the implementation of the programmes in theframework of this Agreement within the territory of the RussianFederation are entitled to exemption from value added tax andother charges with regard to equipment and goods purchasedwithin the territory of the Russian Federation for theimplementation of the projects or the programmes in theframework of this Agreement, as well as works done and servicesrendered within the territory of the Russian Federation.
5. Imposition of taxation shall be regarded as a valid reason for
suspension or termination of an Assistance project, or not toinitiate an Assistance project.
6. The Russian Party shall be responsible for procedures
ensuring the implementation of this Article.
Necessary certificates shall be issued by the relevant competent
authority.
Article 10
Accounts, audits and examinations
1. Each Recipient shall maintain proper accounts of all
Assistance funding received from Contributors, and furnish suchaccounts, together with full supporting documentation, to theContributor or Contributors concerned at regular intervals, asspecified in the relevant Implementing Agreement or asotherwise agreed.
2. Upon request, representatives of a Contributor shall have the
right, within sixty days of making the request, to examine the useof any Assistance provided by that Contributor in accordancewith this Agreement, at sites of their location or use if possible,and shall have the right to audit and examine any and all related
records or documentation for a period of seven years after the
completion or early termination of the project in question,unless another period is specified in the ImplementingAgreement. The practical details of such audits and examinationsshall be set out in the Implementing Agreements.
Article 11
Intellectual property
The Parties shall provide in Implementing Agreements, as
appropriate, effective protection and allocation of rights tointellectual property transmitted or created under this Agree-ment.
Article 12
Status of personnel and entry and exit of personnel
1. The Russian Party shall facilitate the entry and exit of
employees of the Contributing Parties to this Agreement andtheir personnel and contractors, subcontractors, consultants,suppliers and subsuppliers and their personnel into and out ofthe territory of the Russian Federation for the purpose ofcarrying out activities in accordance with this Agreement.
2. The Russian Party shall accredit military and civilian
personnel of the Contributing Parties, including employees ofthe Commission of the European Communities present in theterritory of the Russian Federation in order to carry out activitiesrelated to the provision of Assistance under this Agreement, asadministrative and technical personnel of the respectivediplomatic missions, the mission of the Commission of theEuropean Communities and the missions of intergovernmentalorganisations, in the Russian Federation. After entry into force of
this Agreement, the Parties will consult on the number of suchpersonnel covered by this paragraph. The accreditation of suchpersonnel shall have no effect on the number of accreditedpersonnel permitted at Russian diplomatic missions in theContributing Parties.
3. The Russian Party guarantees that the contractors, subcon-
tractors, consultants, suppliers, subsuppliers and their personnelas referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article may import and re-export out of the territory of the Russian Federation all of theirpersonal household effects as well as foodstuffs for their personaluse without being liable to any customs duties, taxes, or similar
charges. Duty-free import into and re-export out of the Russian
Federation of one motor vehicle per family is allowed, providedthat the vehicle is used only within the period of the relevantcontract and is re-exported at the end of this period.
Article 13
Settlement of disputes
Any disagreement between two or more Parties concerning the
interpretation of this Agreement, or its implementation, shall beresolved through consultations. Consultations shall take placenot later than three months after one of the Parties submits sucha request in writing to the other Party or Parties.
Article 14
Awarding of contracts
In the event that a Party awards a contract for the acquisition of
goods and services, including construction, to implement this
Agreement, such contracts shall be awarded in accordance with
the laws and regulations of that Party, or such other laws andregulations as that Party may choose. Russian companies can alsobe used as contractors or subcontractors.
Article 15
Modifications and amendments
1. Any modification or amendment to this Agreement, and any
additional protocol to it, may be made by agreement among theParties to this Agreement.
2. Any modification or amendment made pursuant to this
Article shall be subject to ratification, acceptance or approval byall of the Parties. Modifications or amendments shall enter intoforce for all Parties thirty days following the date of receipt by atleast one of the Depositaries of the last notification of
ratification, acceptance or approval.
Article 16
Accession
1. This Agreement shall be open for accession by any State,
inter-governmental organisation or regional economic integra-tion organisation being subject to public international law uponinvitation by the MNEPR Committee.758 MT Il-Ġurnal Uffiċjali ta’ l-Unjoni Ewropea 5.6.2007
2. This Agreement shall enter into force for the acceding Party
thirty days following the date of receipt by at least one of theDepositaries of the acceding Party’s instrument of accession andthe last of the notifications by the Parties expressing concur-rence.
Article 17
Depositaries
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the
Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development are hereby designated as Deposita-ries. The Depositaries shall fulfil their duties in accordance withArticle 77 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties of 23May 1969 and shall consult each other in the fulfilment of theirduties.
Article 18
Entry into force, duration, withdrawal and termination
1. This Agreement shall be subject to ratification, acceptance or
approval. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approvalshall be deposited with at least one of the Depositaries. It shallenter into force on the thirtieth day following the date of receiptof such instruments from the Russian Party and from one otherSignatory, and shall remain in force for a period of five years
from that date. For each Signatory depositing such an instrument
thereafter, this Agreement shall enter into force for it thirty daysfollowing the receipt by at least one of the Depositaries of suchinstrument and shall remain in force until the expiration of itsoriginal five year period.
2. This Agreement shall be extended automatically for further
periods of five years. Any Party may request at least one of theDepositaries at least ninety days before the expiration of the fiveyear period to convene a meeting of the Parties to consider thetermination, modification or amendment of this Agreement3. Any Party may withdraw from this Agreement upon giving
ninety days written notification to at least one of theDepositaries. The MNEPR Committee shall immediately beseized of the matter and shall make recommendations to theParties on the further continuation of the Agreement.
4. The obligations under Articles 8 to 11, Article 12 first and
third paragraphs, and Article 13 of this Agreement shall remainin effect regardless of any subsequent transfer of ownership ofthe object of co-operation, and regardless of any termination of,or withdrawal from, this Agreement, or the expiration of itsvalidity.
5. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, it shall
continue to apply to any Implementing Agreement which theparties to such Implementing Agreement agree to continue, forthe duration of such Implementing Agreement.
6. Where a Party withdraws from this Agreement but
continues to be a Party to an Implementing Agreement, thisAgreement shall continue to apply to such Party with respect toits participation in such Implementing Agreement.
7. This Agreement shall be applied on a provisional basis from
the date of its signature.
Done at Stockholm on 21 May 2003 in the English, French and
Russian languages, all texts being equally authentic, in twooriginals of which one shall be deposited in the archives of theMinistry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and one inthe archives of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation andDevelopment. Duly certified copies of this Agreement shall betransmitted to the Signatories and acceding Parties. In the eventof any dispute or divergence in relation to this Agreement theEnglish text shall prevail for the purposes of interpretation.5.6.2007 MT Il-Ġurnal Uffiċjali ta’ l-Unjoni Ewropea 759