Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the conclusion of the Agreement on customs cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters between the European Community and the United States of America
Date: 1996-12-03
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: United States, cooperation agreement (EU), customs cooperation, customs regulations, exchange of information

COMMISSION  OF THE EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

Brussels,  03.12.1996 
COM(96) 624 final 

96/0296  (ACC) 

Proposal  for  a 

COUNCIL  DECISION 

on the conclusion  of the Agreement 
on customs cooperation  and mutual 
assistance  in customs  matters 
between the European  Community 
and the United  States of America 

(presented  by  the  Commission) 

Explanatory  memorandum 

By  its  decision  of  5 April  1993,  the  Council  authorized  the  Commission  to  negotiate 

customs  cooperation  agreements  with  some  of the  Community's  main trading  partners, in 

particular the United  States of America,  and adopted the necessary negotiating directives. 

There  have  been  a  number  of  meetings  with  the  American  authorities,  in  Brussels  and 

Washington.  Following  these  negotiations,  the  text  of  the  Agreement  was  initialled  on 

7 November  1996. 

The Agreement  is now being put to the Council to be signed and concluded. 

The  Commission  considers  that  the  initialled  text  is  in  accordance  with  the  negotiating 

directives adopted by the Council  on 5 April  1993. 

In  order  to  enable  the  Agreement  on  customs  cooperation  and  mutual  assistance  in 

customs  matters  to  be  signed  at  the  Summit  on  16 December  1996,  the  Commission 

proposes that the Council  approve the attached  proposal  for a decision  on the  signing and 

conclusion of the Agreement. 

<C, 

Proposal for a Council decision 

on the conclusion of the Agreement 
on customs cooperation and mutual 
assistance in customs matters 
between the European Community 
and the United  States of America 

(presented by the Commission to the Council) 

I 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European Community,  and  in  particular 
Article  113  thereof,  together  with  the  first  sentence  of  Article 228(2)  and  the  first 
subparagraph of Article 228(3), 

Having regard to the proposal  from the Commission, 

Whereas  on  5 April  1993  the  Council  authorized  the  Commission  to  negotiate,  on behalf 
of the  Community,  customs  cooperation  agreements  with  some  of the  Community's main 
trading partners; 

Whereas  the  Agreement  between  the  European Community  and  the  United  States  of 
America  on  customs  cooperation  and  mutual  assistance  in  customs  matters  should  be 
approved, 

HAS DECIDED  AS FOLLOWS: 

Article 1 

The  Agreement  between  the  European Community  and  the United  States  of  America  on 
customs  cooperation  and  mutual  assistance  in  customs  matters  is  hereby  approved  on 
behalf of the European  Community. 

The text of the Agreement  is attached to this Decision. 

Article 2 

The  Commission,  assisted  by  representatives  of  the  Member  States,  shall  represent  the 
European  Community  on  the  Joint  Customs  Cooperation  Committee  set  up  under 
Article 22  of the Agreement. 

C 

Article 3 

The President of the Council  is hereby authorized  to designate the persons empowered  to 
sign the Agreement. 

Article 4 

The President of the Council  shall effect  the notification  provided  for  in Article 23 of the 
Agreement on behalf of the European Community.1 

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

Article 5 

Done at Brussels, 

For the Council 
The President 

X 

1 

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

AGREEMENT 
BETWEEN 
THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY 
AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
ON CUSTOMS COOPERATION 
AND MUTUAL ASSISTANCE IN CUSTOMS MATTERS 

THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITY  and  the  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA, 
hereinafter referred to as the "Contracting Parties", 

TAKING  ACCOUNT  of  the  joint  EU-US  action  plan,  signed  in  Madrid  on 
3 December 1995; 

CONSIDERING  the  importance  of  the  commercial  links  between  the  European 
Community and the United States of America and desirous of contributing, to the benefit 
of both Parties, to the harmonious development of those links; 

BELIEVING  that,  in order to  attain  this  objective,  there  should  be  an undertaking  to 
develop customs cooperation of the widest possible scope; 

CONSIDERING  that  operations  in breach  of  customs  legislation  are prejudicial  to the 
economic,  fiscal  and commercial  interests  of both Contracting  Parties,  and recognizing 
the importance of ensuring the accurate assessment of customs duties and other taxes; 

CONVINCED  that  action  against  such  operations  can  be  made  more  effective  by 
cooperation between their customs authorities; 

TAKING ACCOUNT of the respective  competencies  of the European  Community and 
the Member States of the European Community,  and desiring to conclude an agreement 
on those matters falling under the competencies of the European Community; 

CONSIDERING the existing agreements on customs cooperation  and mutual assistance 
which  have  been  concluded  between  individual  Member  States  of  the  European 
Community  and the  United  States  of  America  and  other  international  agreements and 
conventions already accepted by the Contracting Parties; 

HAVE AGREED as follows. 

TITLE I 

GENERAL  PROVISIONS 

Article 1 

Definitions 

For the purposes of this agreement, 

a.  "customs  legislation"  shall  mean  provisions  adopted  by  the  European 

Community  and the United  States  of  America  governing  the  import,  export, 

transit  of  goods  and  their  placing  under  any  customs  procedure,  including 

measures of prohibition, restriction and control; 

b.  "customs  authorities"  shall  mean,  in  United  States  of  America,  the  U.S. 

Customs  Service,  Department  of  the  Treasury,  and  in  the  European 

Community,  the  competent  services  of  the  Commission  of  the  European 

Communities  and  the  customs  authorities  of  the  Member  States  of  the 

European Community; 

c.  "applicant  authority",  shall  mean the  competent  customs  authority  which  has 

been  appointed  by  a  Contracting  Party  for  this  purpose  and  which  makes  a 

request for assistance in customs matters; 

d.  "requested  authority",  shall  mean  a  competent  customs  authority  which  has 

been appointed  by a Contracting  Party for  this purpose  and which  receives  a 

request for assistance in customs matters; 

e.  "personal  data"  shall  mean  all  information  relating  to  an  identified  or 

identifiable  individual; 

f.  "breach  of  customs  legislation"  shall  mean  any  violation  of  the  customs 

legislation as well  as any attempted violation of such legislation. 

Article 2 

Territorial  application 

This  agreement  shall  apply,  on  the  one  hand,  to  the  territories  in  which  the  Treaty 

establishing  the  European  Community  is  applied  and  under  the  conditions  laid  down  in 

that Treaty and, on the other, to the territory of the United  States of America. 

Article 3 

Future  developments 

The  Contracting  Parties  may  by  mutual  consent  expand  this  agreement  with  a  view  to 

increasing the levels of customs cooperation and supplementing them, in accordance  with 

their  respective  customs  legislation,  by  means  of  agreements  on  specific  sectors  or 

matters. 

TITLE  II 

SCOPE  OF  AGREEMENT 

Article 4 

Performance  of cooperation and assistance 

All  cooperation  and  assistance  under  the  present  agreement  shall  be  performed  by  the 

Contracting  Parties  in  accordance  with  their  relevant  laws,  rules,  and  other  legal 

instruments.  In  addition,  all  cooperation  and  assistance  under  the  present  agreement  by 

any Contracting Party shall be performed  within  the  competence  and  available  resources 

of its customs authority. 

Article 5 

Obligations imposed under other  agreements 

1.  Taking  into  account  the  respective  competencies  of  the  European  Community  and 

the Member  States, the provisions of this agreement shall: 

-  not  affect 

the  obligations  of  the  Contracting  Parties  under  any  other 

international agreement  or convention; 

-  be  deemed  complementary  with  agreements  on  customs  cooperation  and 
mutual  assistance  which  have  been  or  may  be  concluded  between  individual 
Member States of the European Union and the United  States of America; and 

-  not  affect  the provisions governing  the communication  between  the  competent 

services  of the Commission  and  the  customs  authorities  of the Member  States 

of any information  obtained  under this agreement  which could  be of interest  to 

the Community. 

2.  Notwithstanding  the provisions of paragraph  1, the provisions of this agreement  shall 
take  precedence  over  the  provisions  of  the  bilateral  agreements  on  customs 
cooperation  and  mutual  assistance  which  have  been  or  may  be  concluded  between 
individual  Member  States  of the European  Union  and  the  United  States  of  America 
insofar  as the provisions of the latter are incompatible with those of this agreement. 

3.  In respect  of questions relating to the applicability  of this agreement,  the  Contracting 

Parties  shall  consult  each  other  to  resolve  the  matter  in  the  framework  of  the  Joint 

Committee set up under Article 22. 

TITLE III 

CUSTOMS  COOPERATION 

Article 6 

Scope of the cooperation 

1.  The  customs  authorities  undertake  to  develop  customs  cooperation  of  the  widest 

possible scope. In particular, the Contracting Parties shall seek to cooperate in: 

a.  establishing and maintaining channels of communication between their customs 

authorities to facilitate the secure and rapid exchange of information; 

b.  facilitating effective  coordination between their customs authorities; 

c.  any other  administrative  matters  related  to this agreement  that  may from  time 

to time require their joint action. 

2.  Under  this  agreement,  customs  cooperation  shall  cover  all  matters  relating  to  the 

application of customs legislation. 

Article 7 

Cooperation in customs procedures 

The  Contracting  Parties  affirm  their  commitment  to  the  facilitation  of  the  legitimate 
movement of goods and will exchange information  and expertise on measures to improve 
customs  techniques  and  procedures,  and  computerized  systems  with  a  view  toward 
achieving that objective in accordance with the provisions of this agreement. 

Article 8 

Exchange of staff 

The  customs  authorities  may  exchange  personnel  when  mutually  beneficial,  for  the 
purpose  of  advancing  their  understanding  of  each  others  customs  techniques  and 
procedures, and computerized systems. 

Article 9 

Coordination in international  organizations 

The customs authorities will  seek  to develop and  strengthen  their  cooperation  on  topics 
of  common  interest  in  order  to  seek  a  coordinated  position  when  those  topics  are 
discussed  in  the  framework  of  international  organizations,  such  as  the  Customs 
Cooperation Council. 

Article 10 

Technical assistance to third countries 

The  Contracting  Parties  where  appropriate  may  exchange  information  on  actions 
undertaken  or to be undertaken  with third  countries in relation  to technical  assistance in 
the customs field, with the aim of improving on the provision of such assistance. 

TITLE  IV 

MUTUAL  ASSISTANCE 

Article 11 

Scope of the mutual assistance 

1.  The Contracting Parties shall  assist  each  other,  in the  areas within  their  competence 
in  the  manner  and  under  the  conditions  laid  down  in  this  agreement,  in  ensuring 
compliance with customs legislation. 

2.  Consistent with the terms of this agreement,  each  Contracting Party  shall  on its own 
initiative  or  upon  request,  furnish 
the  other  Contracting  Party  appropriate 
information  regarding the activities that may result in operations in breach of customs 
legislation within the territory of one Contracting Party. 

3.  Assistance provided pursuant to this agreement  shall include in particular: 

a. 

information  which  might  be useful  to  combat  operations  in breach  of  customs 
legislation and, in particular,  special means of combating such operations; 

b.  information  concerning  new  methods used  in committing  operations  in breach 

of customs legislation or relevant to patterns of illegal activity; and 

c.  information  concerning  observations  and findings  resulting from  the  successful 

application of new enforcement  aids and techniques. 

4.  This  agreement  is  solely  between  the  Contracting  Parties;  the  provisions  of  this 
agreement  shall  not  give  rise to  a right  on  the  part  of  any  private  person  to  obtain 
information  or to impede in the execution of a request. 

5.  Nothing  in  this  agreement  shall  prejudice  the  relevant  laws,  rules,  and  other  legal 
instruments governing criminal matters or judicial proceedings, including mutual legal 
assistance. 

Article 12 

Assistance on request 

1.  Contracting  Parties  shall  assist  each  other,  upon  request,  by  providing  appropriate 
information  to the applicant authority, to enable it to ensure compliance with customs 
legislation, including information  regarding operations noted  or planned which are or 
might be in breach of such legislation. 

2.  At the request of the applicant authority, the requested authority shall inform it 

a)  whether  goods  exported  from  the  territory  of  one  of  the  Contracting 
Parties have been properly  imported  info  the territory  of the other Party, 
specifying,  where  appropriate,  the  customs  procedure  applied  to  the 
goods; 

b)  whether  goods  imported  into  the  territory  of  one  of  the  Contracting 
Parties have been properly exported from  the territory of the other Party, 
specifying,  where  appropriate,  the  customs  procedure  applied  to  the 
goods. 

3.  The  Customs  authorities  of  one  Contracting  Party,  upon  request  of  the  Customs 
authority  of  the  other  Contracting  Party,  shall,  to  the  extent  of  their  ability,  and 
within the limits of their available resources, exercise special surveillance  of: 

a.  persons  known  to  the  applicant  authority  to  have  committed  a  breach  of 

customs legislation  or suspected  of doing so; 

b.  goods  either  in  transport  or  in  storage  notified  by  the  applicant  authority  as 

giving rise to  suspected  illicit traffic; and, 

c.  means of transport suspected  of being used in breaches of customs legislation. 

4.  The  customs  authorities  of  the  Contracting  Parties  shall,  upon  request,  provide 

relevant documentation  relating to transportation and shipment of goods 

Article  13 

Spontaneous  assistance 

1.  On  their  own  initiative,  the  Contracting  Parties  shall  assist  each  other  by  providing 

appropriate  information  if  they  consider  that  information  to  be  necessary  to  ensure 

compliance  with  customs  legislation,  particularly  when  they  obtain  information 

pertaining to: 

a.  operations  which  are  or  appear  to  be  in  breach  of  such  legislation  and  which 

may be of interest to the other Contracting Party; 

b.  new means or methods employed  in carrying out  such operations; 

c.  goods known to be the subject of breaches of customs legislation. 

2.  In serious cases that could  involve  substantial  damage to  the  economy,  public health, 

public  security,  or  any  other  essential  interest  of  the  other  Contracting  Party,  the 

Customs  authorities  shall  wherever  possible  supply  such  information  on  their  own 

initiative. 

Article  14 

Form and substance of requests for  assistance 

1.  Requests  pursuant  to  this  agreement  shall  be  made  in writing.  Documents  necessary 

for  the  execution  of  such  requests  shall  accompany  the  request.  When  required 

because  of the urgency  of  the  situation,  oral  requests  may be  accepted,  but  must  be 

confirmed  in writing  immediately. 

9 

2.  Requests made pursuant to paragraph  1 shall include the following  information: 

a.  the authority making the request; 

b.  the nature of the requested  proceedings; 

c. 

the subject of and the reason for the request; 

d.  the names and addresses of the parties concerned  in the proceedings,  if known; 

e  a  brief  description  of  the  matter  under  consideration  and  the  legal  elements 

involved; and 

f.  a summary of the investigation to date and any  relevant facts. 

3.  Requests  shall be  submitted  in an official  language  of the  requested  authority  or in a 

language acceptable to that authority. 

4.  In the  event  that  a request  fails  to  meet  requirements  as  set  forth  in this  article,  the 

applicant  authority  may  be  asked  to  revise  or  supplement  it.  Where  appropriate, 

precautionary measures may be taken. 

Article  15 

Execution of requests 

1.  In order to  comply  with  a request  for assistance,  the  requested  authority  shall,  within 

the  limits  of  its competence  and  available  resources,  take  all  reasonable  measures  to 

execute the request. 

2.  Where  the  requested  authority  is  not  the  appropriate  agency  to  comply  with  the 

request for assistance,  it shall promptly transmit the request to the appropriate  agency 

and so advise the applicant  authority. 

3.  Duly authorized  officials  of a Contracting Party may, with the agreement  of the other 

Contracting  Party  and within  the  conditions  laid  down  by  the  latter,  obtain  from  the 

offices  of the requested  authority,  the relevant books,  registers,  and other  documents 

or data  media  held  in those  offices,  make  copies  thereof,  or  extract  any  information 

or  particulars  relating  to  operations  in  breach  of  customs  legislation  which  the 

applicant authority needs for the purposes of this Agreement 

4.  Officials  of  a  Contracting  party  may,  with  the  agreement  of  the  other  Contracting 

Party  and  subject  to  the  conditions  laid  down  by  the  latter,  be  present  at  inquiries 

carried out in the latter's territory and assist in the formulation  of the official  report. 

10 

5.  A  request  by  a  Contracting  party  that  a  certain  procedure  be  followed  shall  be 

complied with,  subject to the legislation of the requested Party. 

6.  The applicant  authority  shall,  if it so requests, be advised  of the time and place  of the 

action to be taken in response to the request so that such action may be coordinated. 

Article  16 

Form in which information  is to be communicated 

1.  The  requested  authority  shall  communicate  appropriate  information  to  the  applicant 

authority  in  the  form  of  documents,  certified  copies  of  documents,  reports  and  the 

like. 

2.  Original  of  files,  documents  and  other  materials  shall  be  requested  only  in  cases 

where  copies  would  be  insufficient.  Upon  specific  request,  copies  of  such  files, 

documents and other materials shall be appropriately  authenticated. 

3.  Original  of  files,  documents  and  other  materials  that  have  been  transmitted  shall  be 

returned  at  the  earliest  opportunity;  rights  of  the  Contracting  Parties  or  of  third 

parties relating thereto  shall remain  unaffected. 

4.  In  lieu  of  documents  stipulated  in this  Agreement,  computer-based  information  may 

be  transmitted  in  any  form  for  the  same  purpose.  All  relevant  information  for 

interpreting or utilizing that information  shall be supplied at the same time. 

Article  17 

Exchange of information  and  confidentiality 

1.  Any  information  communicated  in whatsoever  form  pursuant  to  this  agreement  shall 

be of a confidential  or restricted  nature,  depending  on the laws,  rules,  and other legal 

instruments  applicable in each of the Contracting Parties.  It shall  enjoy the  protection 

extended  to  like  information  under  the  relevant  laws,  rules,  and  legal  instruments  of 

the Contracting Party which received it. 

11 

2.  Personal  data  may  be  provided  only  where  the  Contracting  Party  which  will  receive 

the  data undertakes to  protect  such  data in a way  which  is  at  least  equivalent  to  the 

one  applicable  to  that  particular  case  in the  Contracting  Party which  may  supply  the 

data. 

3.  Information  obtained  shall  be used  solely  for the  purposes  of  this  agreement.  Where 

one  of  the  Contracting  Parties  requests  the  use  of  such  information  for  other 

purposes,  it  shall  obtain  the  prior  written  consent  of  the  administrative  authority 

which  furnished  the  information.  Such  use  shall  then  be  subject  to  any  conditions 

established by that authority. 

4.  Paragraph  3  shall  not  impede  the use  of  information  in any judicial  or  administrative 

proceedings  subsequently  instituted  for  failure  to  comply  with  customs  legislation. 

The  Contracting  Parties  may,  in  their  records  of  evidence,  reports  and  testimonies 

and  in  proceedings  and  charges  brought  before  the  courts,  use  as  evidence 

information  obtained  and  documents  consulted  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of 

this  Agreement.  The  competent  authority  which  supplied  that  information  shall  be 

notified  of such use. 

5.  This  article  shall  not  preclude  the use  or disclosure  of  information  to  the  extent  that 

there is an obligation to do so under the laws,  rules and other legal  instruments of the 

Contracting  Party  which  receives  the  information.  This  Party  shall  give  advance 

notice  of  any  such  proposed  disclosure  to  the  Contracting  Party  which  provided  the 

information. 

Article  18 

Experts and witnesses 

An official  of a requested  authority may be authorized to  appear,  within the limitations  of 

the  authorization  granted,  as  expert  or  witness  in judicial  or  administrative  proceedings 

regarding the matters  covered  by this agreement  in the territory  of the  other  Contracting 

Party,  and to  produce  such  objects,  documents  or  authenticated  copies  thereof,  as  may 

be  needed  for  the  proceedings.  The  request  for  an  appearance  must  indicate  specifically 

on what matters and by virtue of what title or qualification  the official  will be questioned. 

12 

Article  19 

Exceptions to the obligation to provide assistance 

1.  Assistance may be refused  or withheld  or may be subject to the satisfaction  of certain 

conditions  or  requirements,  in  cases  where  a Party  is  of  the  opinion  that  assistance 

under  this  agreement  would  be  likely  to  prejudice  the  sovereignty  of  the  United 

States  of  America  or  of  a Member  State  of  the  Community,  or  would  be  likely  to 

prejudice public policy,  security,  or other essential  interest  (such as that referred  to in 

Article  17.2),  or would  be  contrary  to  the  legal  system  of the  requested  Contracting 

Party,  including,  where  appropriate,  the  legal  system  of  the  Member  States  of  the 

Community liable to provide assistance. 

2.  If the  applicant  authority  would  be  unable  to  comply  if a  similar  request  were  made 

by  the  requested  authority,  it  shall  draw  attention  to  that  fact  in  its  request. 

Compliance with such a request  shall be at the discretion of the requested  authority. 

3.  Assistance  may  be  postponed  by  the  requested  authority  on  the  ground  that  it  will 

interfere  with  an  ongoing  investigation,  prosecution,  or  proceeding.  In  such  a  case, 

the  requested  authority  shall  consult  with  the  applicant  authority  to  determine  if 

assistance can be given  subject to  such terms or conditions  as the requested  authority 

may require. 

4.  In the  event  that  a request  cannot  be  complied  with,  the  applicant  authority  shall  be 

promptly  notified  of  that  fact,  and  provided  a  statement  of  the  reasons  for 

postponement  or  denial  of  the  request.  Circumstances  that  might  be  of  importance 

for the further pursuit of the matter shall also be provided to the applicant authority. 

Article 20 

Assistance  expenses 

1.  The  Contracting Parties  shall waive  all  claims for  reimbursement  of  costs  incurred in 

the execution  of this Agreement,  except  for  expenses  and allowances  paid to  experts 

and  to  witnesses  as  well  as  costs  of  interpreters  other  than  Government  and  public 

service employees. 

13 

2.  If  expenses  of  a  substantial  and  extraordinary  nature  are  or  will  be  required  to 

execute the request,  the Contracting  Parties  shall  consult  to  determine  the  terms and 

conditions  under  which  the  request  will  be  executed  as well  as  the  manner  in which 

the costs shall be borne. 

TITLE  V 

FINAL  PROVISIONS 

Article 21 

Management 

1.  The  management  of  this  agreement  shall  be  entrusted  to  the  Customs  Service 

(Department  of Treasury)  of the United  States  of  America  on the  one  hand  and the 

competent  departments of the Commission  of the European  Communities  and, where 

appropriate,  the  customs  authorities  of  the  Member  States  on  the  other.  They  shall 

decide on all practical measures and arrangements necessary for its application. 

2.  The  Contracting  Parties  shall  consult  each  other  and  subsequently  keep  each  other 

informed  of: 

- 

- 

any detailed rules which arise out of the implementation of this Agreement; 

the  evolution  of  their  respective  competencies  which  affect  the  scope  of  the 

agreement. 

Article 22 

Joint Customs Cooperation  Committee 

1.  A  Joint  Customs  Cooperation  Committee  is  hereby  established,  consisting  of 

representatives  of  the  customs  authorities  of  the  Contracting  Parties.  The  Joint 

Customs  Cooperation  Committee  shall  meet  at a place  and on  a date with  an agenda 

fixed by mutual consent. 

14 

2.  The Joint Customs Cooperation  Committee  shall,  inter alia, 

a.  see to the proper functioning  of the agreement; 

b.  examine all issues arising from its application; 

c. 

take  measures  necessary  for  customs  cooperation  in  accordance  with  the 

objectives of this agreement; 

d.  exchange  views  on  any  points  of  common 

interest  regarding  customs 

cooperation,  including future measures and the resources for them; 

e.  recommend  solutions aimed at attaining the objectives of this agreement. 

3.  The Joint Customs Cooperation Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure. 

Article 23 

Entry into force  and termination 

1.  This Agreement  shall enter into force  on the first day of the month following  the date 

on  which  the  Contracting  Parties  have  notified  each  other  of  the  completion  of  the 

procedures necessary for this purpose. 

2.  Either  Contracting  Party  may  terminate  this  Agreement  at  any  time  by  notification 

through diplomatic  channels.  The termination  shall take effect  three months from the 

date  of  notification  to  the  other  Contracting  Party.  Ongoing  proceedings  at the  time 

of  termination  shall  nonetheless  be  completed  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of 

this agreement. 

In  witness  whereof  the  undersigned  have  signed  this  Agreement  on  Customs 

Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in customs matters. 

15 

Done  at  ...  on the  ...day  of  ...199..,  in two  copies  in the Danish,  Dutch,  English,  Finnish, 

French,  German,  Greek,  Italian,  Portuguese,  Spanish  and  Swedish  languages,  each  text 

being equally authentic. 

For the European  Community: 

M... 

Minister for... 

President-in-Office  of the Council  of the European Union; 

M... 

Member of the Commission of the European Communities; 

For the Government of the United  States of America: 

M... 

Minister  for...; 

16 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(96) 624 final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

11  02  09 

Catalogue number  :  CB-CO-96-622-EN-C 

ISBN 92-78-12525-3 

Office  for Official  Publications of the European Communities 

L-2985 Luxembourg 

/ ft