98/537/EC: Council Decision of 13 July 1998 approving the text of the amendment to the trade-related provisions of the Energy Charter Treaty and its provisional application agreed by the Energy Charter Conference and the International Conference of the Signatories of the Energy Charter Treaty
Date: 1998-07-13
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: European charter, amendment, energy policy, international conference, trade policy

12. 9. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 252/21

II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COUNCIL

COUNCIL DECISION

of 13 July 1998

approving the text of the amendment to the trade-related provisions of the
Energy Charter Treaty and its provisional application agreed by the Energy
Charter Conference and the International Conference of the Signatories of the
Energy Charter Treaty

(98/537/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

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

Having regard to Article 3(2) of Council and Commission
Decision 98/181/EC, ECSC, Euratom of 23 September
1997 (1),

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas the Energy Charter Treaty was signed on 17
December 1994 by the European Communities and their
Member States;

Whereas the European Communities and a large majority
of their Member States deposited their instruments of
approval or ratification on 16 December 1997 with the
Depositary, the Government of the Portuguese Republic;

Whereas the remaining Member States will ratify the
Energy Charter Treaty soon;

Whereas the Energy Charter Treaty entered into force on
16 April 1998;

Whereas since the day of its signature the Energy Charter
Treaty has been applied, to the extent possible, on a
provisional basis and will continue to be so applied to the
extent possible, by those signatories who have not yet
ratified the Treaty;

(1) OJ L 69, 9. 3. 1998, p. 1.

Whereas the Energy Charter Treaty provides for the
examination of its trade provisions in the light of the
results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Nego-
tiations and of the inclusion of energy related equipment
in the trade provisions, with a view to the adoption of
such amendments by the Energy Charter Conference;

Whereas the introduction in the Treaty of the relevant
WTO provisions by reference instead of the GATT 1947
provisions contained therein, as well as the inclusion of
energy-related equipment in the trade provisions, are in
the interest of the Community;

Whereas the Community has exclusive competence for
common commercial policy;

Whereas an International Conference was held at the
same time as the Energy Charter Treaty Conference in
order to enable the participation of all the signatories to
the Energy Charter Treaty in the decision-making proce-
dure;

Whereas the Energy Charter Conference and the said
International Conference held on 24 April 1998 agreed
on the text of the Amendment to the trade-related provi-
sions of the Energy Charter Treaty, including the list of
energy related equipment, and on related decisions,
understandings and declarations (Trade Amendment);

Whereas the Community should give formal definitive
approval to the text of the Trade Amendment;

L 252/22

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

12. 9. 98

Whereas the Trade Amendment should be applied on a
provisional basis pending its entry into force, in accord-
ance with its provisions,

The formal approval of the text of the Trade Amend-
3.
ment by the Community shall be notified to the Energy
Charter Secretariat by the Commission.

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The text of

the Amendment

1.
to the trade-related
provisions of the Energy Charter Treaty, which was agreed
within the Energy Charter Conference/International
Conference on 24 April 1998,
including the list of
energy-related equipment and the related decisions,
is hereby definitively
understandings and declarations,
approved on behalf of the European Community.

The text of the Trade Amendment is attached to this

2.
Decision.

Article 2

The Trade Amendment shall be applied on a provisional
basis in accordance with its provisions 90 days after its
adoption by the Energy Charter Conference and shall be
definitively applied upon its entry into force.

Done at Brussels, 13 July 1998.

For the Council

The President

W. SCH(cid:154)SSEL