Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the position to be adopted, on behalf of the European Union, in the EU-EFTA Joint Committee concerning the adoption of a Decision amending the Convention of 20 May 1987 on a common transit procedure (adaptations resulting from the accession of Croatia to the Union)
Date: 2013-06-27
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Croatia, EFTA countries, EU Member State, accession to the European Union, agreement (EU), customs transit, revision of an agreement, transitional period (EU)

EUROPEAN 
COMMISSION 

Brussels, 27.6.2013  
COM(2013) 467 final 

2013/0219 (NLE) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

on the position to be adopted, on behalf of the European Union, in the EU-EFTA Joint 
Committee concerning the adoption of a Decision amending the Convention of 20 May 
1987 on a common transit procedure (adaptations resulting from the accession of 
Croatia to the Union)  

EN 

   EN 

 
 
 
  
 
 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

1. 

CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL 

Grounds for and objectives of the proposal 

The Convention of 20 May 1987 on a common transit procedure ("Convention") establishes 
the  measures  facilitating  the  movement  of  goods  between  the  European  Union  and  the 
Republic  of  Iceland,  the  Kingdom  of  Norway,  the  Swiss  Confederation,  the  Republic  of 
Croatia and the Republic of Turkey. 

The  forthcoming  accession  of  Croatia  to  the  European  Union  on  1  July  2013  involves 
necessary technical adaptations to Appendix III of the Convention, reflecting its new position 
as a Member State of the European Union. 

General context 

This proposal aims at reorganising the linguistic references to Croatia in the relevant Annexes 
of Appendix III of the Convention and in particular by moving them from the EFTA countries 
part to the European Union part.  

In addition, in order to allow the use of the guarantee forms printed in accordance with the 
criteria in force prior to the date of accession of Croatia to the European Union, a transitional 
period  should  be  established  during  which  the  printed  forms,  with  the  corresponding 
geographical adaptations, could continue to be used. 

Existing provisions in the area of the proposal 

There are no existing provisions in the area of the proposal. 

Consistency with other policies and objectives of the Union 

Not applicable. 

2. 

RESULTS OF CONSULTATIONS WITH THE INTERESTED PARTIES AND 
IMPACT ASSESSMENTS 

Consultation of interested parties 

Consultation methods, main sectors targeted and general profile of respondents 

Consultation with approval by the EU-EFTA "Common transit" working group, representing 
the Contracting Parties to the Convention. 

Summary of responses and how they have been taken into account 

Favourable opinion. 

Collection and use of expertise 

There was no need for external expertise. 

Impact assessment 

There  was  no  need  for  an  impact  assessment  as  the  fundamental  rules  of  the  Convention 
continue to apply.  

3. 

LEGAL ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSAL 

Summary of the proposed action 

EN 

2 

   EN 

The  Croatian  language  versions  of  the  references  used  in  the  Convention  should  be 
reorganised  and  placed  in  the  appropriate  order.  The  guarantee  forms  should  be  adapted  by 
moving Croatia into the respective order among the European Union Member States. 

Consequently,  the  provisions  of  the  Convention  on  a  common  transit  procedure  have  to  be 
subject to the necessary adaptations. 

This draft decision was communicated to the EU-EFTA Working Group on common transit. 

The  Council  is  invited  to  establish  the  EU  position  regarding  the  annexed  decision  to  be 
adopted by the EU-EFTA Joint Committee on Common Transit.  

Legal basis 

Article 15 of the Convention of 20 May 1987 on a common transit procedure.  

Subsidiarity principle 

The proposal falls under the exclusive competence of the European Union. The subsidiarity 
principle therefore does not apply.  

Proportionality principle 

The proposal complies with the proportionality principle for the following reason. 

Not applicable. 

Choice of instruments 

Proposed instrument: Decision of the EU-EFTA Joint Committee. 

Other means would not be adequate for the following reason: 

There is no other adequate instrument. 

4. 

BUDGETARY IMPLICATION 

The proposal has no implication for the EU budget. 

5. 

OPTIONAL ELEMENTS 

Simplification 

The  common  transit  procedure  provides  for  simplification  of  administrative  procedures  for 
public authorities (EU or national) and for private parties. 

EN 

3 

   EN 

2013/0219 (NLE) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

on the position to be adopted, on behalf of the European Union, in the EU-EFTA Joint 
Committee concerning the adoption of a Decision amending the Convention of 20 May 
1987 on a common transit procedure (adaptations resulting from the accession of 
Croatia to the Union)  

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  on  the  Functioning  of  the  European  Union,  and  in  particular 
Article 207(4), in conjunction with Article 218(9), thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

Article  1  of  the  Convention  on  a  common  transit  procedure1  (hereinafter  "the 
Convention")  stipulates  that  the  Convention  lays  down  measures  for  the  carriage  of 
goods in transit between the Community and the EFTA countries, as well as between 
the EFTA countries themselves, by introducing a common transit procedure regardless 
of the kind and origin of the goods. 

Article 15 of the Convention empowers the Joint Committee set up by the Convention 
to  recommend  and  adopt,  by  decisions,  amendments  to  the  Convention  and  its 
Appendices. 

Croatia accedes to the Union on 1 July 2013.  

Accordingly, the Croatian language versions of the references used in the Convention 
should be moved from the EFTA countries part and inserted in their respective order 
in the Union Member States part.  

Technical  amendments  to  the  Convention  need  also  to  be  introduced  as  regards  the 
guarantee  forms  listed  in  Appendix  III,  resulting  from  Croatia's  accession  to  the 
Union. 

The  application  of  this  Decision  is  linked  to  the  date  of  accession  of  Croatia  to  the 
Union. 

In order to allow the use of guarantee forms printed in accordance with the criteria in 
force prior to the date of accession of Croatia to the Union, a transitional period should 
be established during which the printed forms, with some adaptations, could continue 
to be used. 

(8) 

The Convention should be amended accordingly. 

1 

OJ L 226, 13.8.1987, p. 2. 

EN 

4 

   EN 

 
                                                 
(9) 

Therefore,  the  position  of  the  Union  concerning  the  proposed  amendment  should  be 
determined, 

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:  

Article 1 

The position to be taken by the Union in the EU-EFTA Joint Committee on common transit 
concerning the adoption of Decision No XXX by the EU-EFTA Joint Committee amending 
the Convention of 20 May 1987 on a common transit procedure shall be based on the draft 
Decision attached to this Decision. 

Minor changes to the draft Decision may be agreed to by the representatives of the Union in 
the EU-EFTA Joint Committee. The Council is to be duly informed about any such changes. 

The  Commission  shall  publish  the  Decision  of  the  EU-EFTA  Joint  Committee  on  common 
transit, once adopted, in the Official Journal of the European Union. 

Article 2 

This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its adoption.  

Done at Brussels,  

Article 3 

For the Council 
The President 

EN 

5 

   EN 

 
 
ANNEX 

Proposal for a 

DECISION  No  XXX  OF  THE  EU-EFTA  JOINT  COMMITTEE  ON  COMMON 
TRANSIT  

amending the Convention of 20 May 1987 on a common transit procedure 

THE JOINT COMMITEE, 
Having  regard  to  the  Convention  of  20  May  1987  on  a  common  transit  procedure2  and  in 
particular Article 15(3)(a) thereof, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

Croatia accedes to the Union on 1 July 2013. 

(2) 
Accordingly, the Croatian language versions of the references used in the Convention 
should be moved from the EFTA countries part and inserted in their respective order in the 
Union Member States part.  

Technical  amendments  to  the  Convention  need  also  to  be  introduced  as  regards  the 

(3) 
guarantee forms listed in Appendix III, resulting from Croatia's accession to the Union.  

The application of this Decision should be linked to the date of accession of Croatia to 

(4) 
the Union. 

(5) 
In order to allow the use of guarantee forms printed in accordance with the criteria in 
force  prior  to  the  date  of  accession  of  Croatia  to  the  Union,  a  transitional  period  should  be 
established during which the printed forms, with some adaptations, could continue to be used. 

(6) 

The Convention should therefore be amended accordingly, 

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION, 

Appendix III to the Convention on a common transit procedure is amended as set out in the 
Annex to this Decision. 

Article 1 

The forms based on the specimen forms in Annexes C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6 to Appendix III 
may continue to be used, subject to the necessary geographical adaptations, until the end of 
the twelfth month following the date of application of this Decision, at the latest. 

Article 2 

Article 3 

This  Decision  shall  enter  into  force  on  1  July  2013,  subject  to  the  entry  into  force  of  the 
Treaty of Accession of Croatia. 

Done at Brussels,  

For the Joint Committee 

The President 

2 

OJ L 226, 13.8.1987, p. 2. 

EN 

6 

   EN 

                                                 
(1) 

In Annex B1 to Appendix III, the text for box 51 is replaced as follows: 

ANNEX  

"Box 51: Intended transit offices 

Country Codes 

This country code is the ISO alpha-2 code (ISO 3166) with the exception of Greece and the 
United Kingdom. 

The applicable codes are: 

Estonia 
Greece 
Spain 
Finland 
France 
Croatia 

AT  Austria 
Belgium 
BE 
Bulgaria 
BG 
Switzerland 
CH 
Cyprus 
CY 
CZ 
Czech Republic 
DE  Germany 
DK  Denmark 
EE 
EL 
ES 
FI 
FR 
HR 
HU  Hungary 
Ireland 
IE 
Iceland 
IS 
Italy 
IT 
Lithuania 
LT 
Luxembourg 
LU 
Latvia 
LV 
MT  Malta 
NL  Netherlands 
NO  Norway 
Poland 
PL 
Portugal 
PT 
Romania 
RO 
Sweden 
SE 
Slovenia 
SI 
Slovakia  
SK 
TR 
Turkey 
UK  United Kingdom". 

(2) 

In Annex B6 to Appendix III, Title III is amended as follows: 

(a) 
In the table of linguistic references to "Limited validity - 99200", the following 
indent is inserted between the linguistic references of FR and IT and deleted from its 
current position: 

"- 

HR  Valjanost ograničena"; 

EN 

7 

   EN 

(b) 
In the table of linguistic references to "Waiver - 99201", the following indent 
is inserted between the linguistic references of FR and IT and deleted from its current 
position: 

"- 

HR  Oslobođeno"; 

In  the  table  of  linguistic  references  to  "Alternative  proof  -  99202",  the 
(c) 
following  indent  is  inserted  between  the  linguistic  references  of  FR  and  IT  and 
deleted from its current position: 

"- 

HR  Alternativni dokaz"; 

(d) 
In  the  table  of  linguistic  references  to  "Differences:  office  where  goods  were 
presented… (name and country) – 99203", the following indent is inserted between 
the linguistic references of FR and IT and deleted from its current position: 

"- 

HR 

Razlike:Carinarnica kojoj je roba podnesena ……(naziv i zemlja)"; 

(e) 
In  the  table  of  linguistic  references  to  "Exit  from…  subject  to  restrictions  or 
charges under Regulation/Directive/Decision No… – 99204", the following indent is 
inserted between the linguistic references of FR and IT and deleted from its current 
position: 

HR 

Izlaz 
"- 
Uredbe/Direktive/Odluke br…"; 

iz……..  podliježe  ograničenjima 

ili  pristojbama 

temeljem 

(f) 
In the table of linguistic references to "Prescribed itinerary waived – 99205", 
the following indent is inserted between the  linguistic references of FR and IT  and 
deleted from its current position: 

"- 

HR  Oslobođeno od propisanog plana puta"; 

In  the  table  of  linguistic  references  to  "Authorised  consignor  –  99206",  the 
(g) 
following  indent  is  inserted  between  the  linguistic  references  of  FR  and  IT  and 
deleted from its current position: 

"- 

HR  Ovlašteni pošiljatelj"; 

(h) 
In  the  table  of  linguistic  references  to  "Signature  waived  –  99207",  the 
following  indent  is  inserted  between  the  linguistic  references  of  FR  and  IT  and 
deleted from its current position: 

"- 

HR  Oslobođeno potpisa"; 

(i) 
In the table of linguistic references to "Comprehensive guarantee prohibited – 
99208", the following indent is inserted between the linguistic references of FR and 
IT and deleted from its current position: 

"- 

HR 

Zabranjeno zajedničko jamstvo"; 

In the table of linguistic references to "Unrestricted use- 99209", the following 
(j) 
indent is inserted between the linguistic references of FR and IT and deleted from its 
current position: 

"- 

HR  Neograničena uporaba"; 

(k) 
In  the  table  of  linguistic  references  to  "Issued  retroactively  -  99210,  the 
following  indent  is  inserted  between  the  linguistic  references  of  FR  and  IT  and 
deleted from its current position: 

"- 

HR 

Izdano naknadno"; 

EN 

8 

   EN 

(l) 
In the table of linguistic references to "Various – 99211", the following indent 
is inserted between the linguistic references of FR and IT and deleted from its current 
position: 

"- 

HR 

Razni"; 

In the table of linguistic references to "Bulk – 99212", the following indent is 
(m) 
inserted between the linguistic references of FR and IT and deleted from its current 
position: 

"- 

HR 

Rasuto"; 

(n) 
In  the  table  of  linguistic  references  to  "Consignor  –  99213",  the  following 
indent is inserted between the linguistic references of FR and IT and deleted from its 
current position: 

"- 

HR 

Pošiljatelj". 

(3) 
In paragraph 1 of point I of Annex C1 to Appendix III, the term "Ireland" between the 
terms "the French Republic" and "the Italian Republic" is deleted. The term "the Republic of 
Croatia," is inserted between the terms "the French Republic," and "the Italian Republic". The 
term  "Ireland"  is  inserted  between  the  terms  "the  Republic  of  Estonia"  and  "the  Hellenic 
Republic".  The  term  "the  Republic  of  Croatia,"  between  the  word  "and"  and  the  term  "the 
Republic of Iceland" is deleted. 

(4) 
In paragraph 1 of point I of Annex C2 to Appendix III, the term "Ireland" between the 
terms "the French Republic" and "the Italian Republic" is deleted. The term "the Republic of 
Croatia," is inserted between the terms "the French Republic," and "the Italian Republic". The 
term  "Ireland"  is  inserted  between  the  terms  "the  Republic  of  Estonia"  and  "the  Hellenic 
Republic".  The  term  "the  Republic  of  Croatia,"  between  the  word  "and"  and  the  term  "the 
Republic of Iceland" is deleted. 

(5) 
In paragraph 1 of point I of Annex C4 to Appendix III, the term "Ireland" between the 
terms "the French Republic" and "the Italian Republic" is deleted. The term "the Republic of 
Croatia," is inserted between the terms "the French Republic," and "the Italian Republic". The 
term  "Ireland"  is  inserted  between  the  terms  "  the  Republic  of  Estonia"  and  "the  Hellenic 
Republic".  The  term  "the  Republic  of  Croatia,"  between  the  word  "and"  and  the  term  "the 
Republic of Iceland" is deleted. 

In  box  7  of  Annex  C5  to  Appendix  III,  the  term  "Croatia,"  between  the  words 

(6) 
"European Community," and "Iceland" is deleted.  

In  box  6  of  Annex  C6  to  Appendix  III,  the  term  "Croatia,"  between  the  words 

(7) 
"European Community," and "Iceland" is deleted.  

EN 

9 

   EN