Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the signature of the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation amending the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Swiss Confederation of 22 July 1972 as regards the provisions applicable to processed agricultural products
Date: 2004-09-21
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Switzerland, agricultural product, agricultural trade, negotiation of an agreement (EU), protocol to an agreement

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 21.9.2004 
COM(2004) 601 final 

2004/0208 (ACC) 

. 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

concerning the signature of the Agreement between the European Community and 
the Swiss Confederation amending the Agreement between the European Economic 
Community and the Swiss Confederation of 22 July 1972 as regards the provisions 
applicable to processed agricultural products 

(presented by the Commission) 

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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

The  Joint  Declaration  on  further  negotiations  attached  to  the  final  acts  of  the  Agreements 
between  the  European  Community  and  its  Member  States  and  the  Swiss  Confederation, 
signed in Luxembourg on 21 June 1999 calls on the Community and Switzerland to undertake 
negotiations  for  the  updating  of  Protocol  No  2  to  the  Agreement  between  the  European 
Economic Community and the Swiss Confederation of 22 July 1972. 

The  Council  authorised  the  Commission  to  start  negotiations.  The  negotiation  directives 
attached to the Decision of the Council set out the following objectives: 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

Update  the  Protocol  No  2  to  the  Agreement  between  the  European  Economic 
Community  and  the  Swiss  Confederation  of  22  July  1972,  in  accordance  with  the 
results of the Uruguay Round and to adapt its product coverage; 

Resolve  outstanding  problems  affecting  trade,  all  of  them  taking  account  of  the 
existing trade arrangements for basic agricultural products 

Make  permanent  the  transitional  measures  agreed  with  the  Swiss  authorities  in 
connection with the implementation of the agreement reach in view to maintain the 
trade  flow  between  the  Swiss  Confederation  and  the  new  member  States  after 
enlargement of the European Union as of 1st May 2004; 

(d) 

Improve reciprocal market access for processed agricultural products 

The Commission started the negotiations with Switzerland at the end of 2001 and concluded 
them on 25 June 2004 by the initialling of a draft for an Agreement amending the Agreement 
between  the  European  Economic  Community  and  the  Swiss  Confederation  of  22  July  1972 
(the Agreement) as regards the provisions applicable to processed agricultural products.  

The Agreement will replace both the Annex I of the Agreement of  1972 by a new Annex I 
which is attached to this Agreement as Annex 1 and the Protocol No 2 of the Agreement of 
1972 by a new Protocol No 2, which is attached to this Agreement as Annex 2. 

According  to  the  general  orientation  to  follow  a  more  market-oriented  approach,  reference 
prices are to be adapted periodically according to Article 5, paragraph 4 of the Protocol No 2. 

The Council is being asked by the enclosed proposal for Council Decision that the President 
of  the  Council  shall  designate  the  person  empowered  to  sign  on  behalf  of  the  European 
Community  the  Agreement  COM (…)  amending  the  Agreement  between  the  European 
Economic Community and the Swiss Confederation of 22 July 1972 as regards the provisions 
applicable to processed agricultural products. 

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2004/0208 (ACC) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

concerning the signature of the Agreement between the European Community and 
the Swiss Confederation amending the Agreement between the European Economic 
Community and the Swiss Confederation of 22 July 1972 as regards the provisions 
applicable to processed agricultural products 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION 

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

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission1, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

The Council authorised the Commission to negotiate with the Swiss Confederation the 
improvement of reciprocal market access for processed agricultural products. 

The  result  of  the  negotiations  reflects  duly  the  negotiating  directives  issued  by  the 
Council taking into account, in particular, the adaptation of the Protocol No 2 to the 
Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Swiss Confederation 
of 22 July 1972. 

(3) 

Subject to its conclusion at a later date, it is desirable to sign the Agreement that was 
initialled on 25 June 2004. 

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 

1 

OJ C […], […], p. […]. 

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Sole Article 

Subject to its conclusion at a later date, the President of the Council is hereby authorized to 
designate  the  person  empowered  to  sign  on  behalf  of  the  European  Community  the 
Agreement  between  the  European  Community  and  the  Swiss  Confederation  amending  the 
Agreement  between  the  European  Economic  Community  and  the  Swiss  Confederation  of 
22 July 1972 as regards the provisions applicable to processed agricultural products. 

Done at Brussels, […] 

For the Council 
The President 

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