2003/618/EC: Council Decision of 18 February 2003 on the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Russian Federation establishing a double-checking system without quantitative limits in respect of the export of certain steel products from the Russian Federation to the European Community
Date: 2003-02-18
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: Russia, customs inspection, export, iron and steel product, originating product, trade agreement (EU)

L 216/26

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

28.8.2003

II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COUNCIL

COUNCIL DECISION

of 18 February 2003

on the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European
Community and the Russian Federation establishing a double-checking system without quantita-
tive limits in respect of the export of certain steel products from the Russian Federation to the
European Community

(2003/618/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community, and in particular Article 133 in conjunction with
the first sentence of Article 300(2),

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

The Agreement on partnership and cooperation estab-
lishing a partnership between the European Commu-
nities and their Member States, of the one part, and the
Russian Federation, of the other part (1), entered into
force on 1 December 1997.

The European Community and the Russian Federation
agreed to establish a double-checking system in respect
of certain steel products for the period ranging from 13
October 1997 to 31 December 1999. This Agreement
in the form of an Exchange of Letters was approved on
behalf of the European Community by means of Deci-
sion 97/741/EC (2). The system was extended for the
period from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2001 by
means of Decision 2000/294/EC (3). Regulation (EC) No
2135/97 (4), extended by Regulation (EC) No 793/
2000 (5), established the corresponding implementing
legislation for the Community.

(3)

The Commission has finalised negotiations for an Agree-
ment in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the
European Community and the Russian Federation estab-
lishing a double-checking system without quantitative

limits in respect of the export of certain steel products
from the Russian Federation to the European Commu-
nity,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

1.
The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters
between the European Community and the Russian Federation
establishing a double-checking system without quantitative
limits in respect of the export of certain steel products from
the Russian Federation to the European Community is hereby
approved on behalf of the European Community.

2.

The text of the Agreement is annexed to this Decision.

Article 2

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate
the persons empowered to sign the Agreement in the form of
an Exchange of Letters referred to in Article 1 in order to bind
the Community.

Done at Brussels, 18 February 2003.

For the Council

The President

N. CHRISTODOULAKIS

(1) OJ L 327, 28.11.1997, p. 3.
(2) OJ L 300, 4.11.1997, p. 36.
(3) OJ L 96, 18.4.2000, p. 44.
(4) OJ L 300, 4.11.1997, p. 1.
(5) OJ L 96, 18.4.2000, p. 1.