Proposal for a Council Decision XX authorising Member States to accede to the Convention relating to international exhibitions signed at Paris on 22 November 1928 and supplemented by the Protocols of 10 May 1948, 16 November 1966, 30 November 1972 and the Amendment of 24 June 1982 and the Amendment of 31 May 1988 EN .
Date: 2010-02-05
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Latvia, accession to an agreement, common commercial policy, cultural event, cultural object, customs regulations, import, international convention

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EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Brussels, 5.2.2010 
COM(2010)18 final 

2010/0015 (NLE) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

XX 

authorising Member States to accede to the Convention relating to international 
exhibitions signed at Paris on 22 November 1928 and supplemented by the Protocols of 
10 May 1948, 16 November 1966, 30 November 1972 and the Amendment of 24 June 
1982 and the Amendment of 31 May 1988 

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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

1. CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL 

•  Grounds for and objectives of the proposal 

The  Republic  of  Latvia  has  expressed  its  wish  to  accede  to  the  Convention  relating  to 
international  exhibitions  signed  at  Paris  on  22  November,  1928  and  supplemented  by  the 
Protocols of 10 May, 1948, 16 November, 1966, 30 November, 1972 and the Amendment of 
24 June, 1982 and the Amendment of 31 May, 1988 (hereinafter "Paris Convention"). 

As  the  Paris  Convention  regulates  aspects  falling  within  the  European  Union  customs 
legislation, a Member State wishing to accede to that Convention therefore requires a Union 
authorisation. 

•  General context 

The function of the Paris Convention is to regulate the frequency, quality and procedures of 
international exhibitions falling within its remit. 

Article  16  and  the  Annex  on  "Customs  Regulations  for  the  importation  of  articles  by  the 
participants in international exhibitions" of the Paris Convention require countries organising 
exhibitions  to  allow  for  temporary  admission  of  objects  by  the  participants  in  international 
exhibitions.  Granting  temporary  admission  is  regulated  in  Articles  137  to  144  of  the 
Community Customs Code, Council Regulation (EEC) 2913/92, implemented with regard to 
exhibitions  by  Article  576  of  the  Implementing  rules  to  the  Community  Customs  Code, 
Commission Regulation (EEC) 2454/93.  

The regime of temporary admission as set out in the European Union customs legislation is 
fully compatible with the Paris Convention. 

The European Union customs legislation is part of the Commercial Policy set out in Article 
207  of  the  Treaty  on  the  Functioning  of  the  European  Union.  Article  207  renders  national 
measures, including the conclusion of international  agreements, permissible only if they  are 
specifically authorized by the Union. 

The  European  Union  itself  cannot  accede  to  the  Paris  Convention,  as  only  sovereign  States 
can be parties thereto. 

Insofar as the Paris Convention regulates aspects falling within the European Union customs 
legislation, a Member State wishing to accede to that Convention therefore requires a Union 
authorisation. 

So far 24 Member States have acceded to the Paris Convention. 

2. CONSULTATION OF INTERESTED PARTIES AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT 

It is not relevant to consult interested parties or to make an impact assessment. 

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3. LEGAL ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSAL 

The legal basis is Articles 2(1), 207(4) first subparagraph in conjunction with Article 218(6) 
(a) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. 

4. BUDGETARY IMPLICATION 

There is no budgetary implication. 

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2010/0015 (NLE) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

of […] 

authorising Member States to accede to the Convention relating to international 
exhibitions signed at Paris on 22 November 1928 and supplemented by the 
Protocols of 10 May 1948, 16 November 1966, 30 November 1972 and the 
Amendment of 24 June 1982 and the Amendment of 31 May 1988 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular 
Articles 2(1), 207(4) first subparagraph in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a) thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission1, 

Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament2, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

The  Convention  relating  to  international  exhibitions  signed  at  Paris  on  22 
November  1928  and  supplemented  by  the  Protocols  of  10  May  1948,  16 
November 1966, 30 November 1972 and the Amendment of 24 June 1982 and 
the  Amendment  of  31  May  1988  (hereinafter  "Paris  Convention")  established 
the  International  Exhibitions  Bureau.  Its  function  is  to  regulate  the  frequency, 
quality and procedures of international exhibitions falling within its remit. 

Article  16  and  the  Annex  on  "Customs  Regulations  for  the  importation  of 
articles by the participants in international exhibitions" of the Paris Convention 
require  countries  organising  exhibitions  to  allow  for  temporary  admission  of 
objects by the participants in international exhibitions. 

The  provisions  of  the  Paris  Convention  for  temporary  admission  of  objects  by 
the  participants  in  international  exhibitions  fall  within  the  Union’s  exclusive 
competence  as  regards  the  common  commercial  policy.  In  fact,  granting 
temporary admission is regulated in Articles 137 to 144 of Council Regulation 
(EEC)  No  2913/92of  12  October  1992  establishing  the  Community  Customs 
Code3,  implemented  with  regard  to  exhibitions  by  Article  576  of  Commission 

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OJ C , , p. . 
OJ C , , p. . 
OJ L 302, 19.10.1992, p. 1.  

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Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 laying down provisions for the implementation of 
Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No  2913/92  establishing  the  Community  Customs 
Code4.  

Temporary admission as set out in the Community Customs Code is compatible 
with Article 16 and the Annex on "Customs Regulations for the importation of 
articles by the participants in international exhibitions" of the Paris Convention. 

The  Paris  Convention  entered  into  force  on  17  January  1931.  Not  all  Member 
States  are  parties  to  the  Paris  Convention.  The  European  Union  itself  cannot 
accede to the Paris Convention, as only sovereign states can be parties thereto.  

The  Member  States,  which  have  not  yet  acceded  to  the  Paris  Convention,  but 
wish to do so, should be authorised to do so under the conditions laid down in 
this Decision. 

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 

Article 1 

Member  States  are  hereby  authorised  to  accede,  for  the  parts  falling  under  European 
Union competence, to the Paris Convention. 

Article2 

This Decision is addressed to the Member States. 

Done at Brussels,  

For the Council 
The President 

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OJ L 253, 11.10.1993, p.1.  

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