Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the position to be taken by the European Union concerning the adoption of a Decision by the EU-EFTA Joint Committee on common transit and a Decision by the EU-EFTA Joint Committee on simplification of formalities in trade in goods as regards invitations to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to accede to those Conventions
Date: 2015-04-15
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EFTA, North Macedonia, administrative formalities, agreement (EU), free movement of goods, simplification of formalities, trading operation













EUR-Lex - 52015PC0152 - EN











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52015PC0152

Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the position to be taken by the European Union concerning the adoption of a Decision by the EU-EFTA Joint Committee on common transit and a Decision by the EU-EFTA Joint Committee on simplification of formalities in trade in goods as regards invitations to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to accede to those Conventions /* COM/2015/0152 final - 2015/0077 (NLE) */









EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
1.           CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL
1.1. Grounds for and objectives of the
proposal
The Convention on a common transit
procedure and the Convention on the simplification of formalities in trade in
goods were concluded on 20 May 1987 between the European Community and the EFTA
countries. 
The Communication of 2001 from the European
Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on a Strategy to prepare
the candidate countries for accession to the 1987 EC-EFTA Conventions on a
common transit procedure and the simplification of formalities in trade in
goods, followed by the Communication of 2010 from the European Commission to
the European Parliament and the Council on a Strategy to prepare certain
neighbouring countries for the accession to both Conventions and by the Council
Conclusions of 14 April 2011 confirming the approach adopted in two
Communications foresee support for a number of countries in their efforts to
join the Conventions. 
The purpose is to adopt the common EU
position on the draft Decision No 1/2015 of the EU-EFTA Joint Committee on
common transit and on the draft Decision No 1/2015 of the EU-EFTA Joint
Committee on the simplification of formalities in trade in goods to invite the
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to accede to the Conventions. 
1.2. General context
The Conventions establish measures
facilitating the movement of goods between the European Union, the Republic of
Iceland, the Kingdom of Norway, the Swiss Confederation and the Republic of
Turkey.
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
wished formally to be able to accede to the Conventions after having satisfied
the legal, structural and information technology requirements, which are
preconditions for accession.
In accordance with the provisions of Article
15(3) of the Convention on a common transit procedure and with the provisions
of Article 11(3) of the Convention on the simplifications of formalities in
trade in goods, the EU-EFTA Joint Committees shall by decision invite a third
country within the meaning of, respectively, Article 3 (1)(c) and Article 1(2)
, to accede to the Conventions in accordance with  the procedure set out in,
respectively, Article 15a and Article 11a.
The EU-EFTA Joint Committees launch such
invitations where the country proves that it is in a position to conform to the
detailed rules for the application of provisions of the Conventions. 
Mandated by the EU-EFTA common transit and
the simplification of formalities in trade in goods working group, an
evaluation mission covering mainly the adaptation of the national customs
legislation of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the creation of the
structures necessary to manage the procedure and the implementation of the New
Computerised Transit system (NCTS) allowing for the application of the common
transit procedure established that the conditions of invitations were met.
1.3. Existing provisions in the area of the
proposal
There are no existing provisions in the
area of the proposal.
1.4. Consistency with other policies and objectives
of the Union
The proposal complies with the strategy to
promote EU competitiveness and economic growth.
2.           RESULTS OF CONSULTATIONS
WITH THE INTERESTED PARTIES AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS
2.1. Consultation of interested parties
Consultation methods, main sectors targeted
and general profile of respondents
Consultation with approval on the draft
Decision No 1/2015 of the EU-EFTA Joint Committee on common transit and the
draft Decision No 1/2015 of the EU-EFTA Joint Committee on the simplification
of formalities in trade in goods to invite the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia to accede to the Conventions were carried out with the Member States
within the Customs Code Committee – Customs Status and Transit Section and with
Contracting Parties to the Conventions within the EU-EFTA Working Groups on
"Common Transit" and "the Simplification of Formalities in Trade
in Goods". 
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.
2.2. Impact assessment
The accession to the Conventions can be
seen within the framework of the pre-accession strategy of the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, to the European Union. It will lead to an alignment to
the "aquis communautarie" in the transit area. The introduction of
common transit in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as an alternative
to the TIR procedure will bring further facilitation of transit, reduction of
costs and a possible increase in trade.
3.           LEGAL ELEMENTS OF THE
PROPOSAL
3.1. Summary of the proposed action
The EU-EFTA Joint Committees wish to take
decisions and to launch the invitations.
The draft Decision No 1/2015 of the EU-EFTA
Joint Committee on common transit has the objective of inviting the former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to accede to the Convention of 20 May 1987 on a
common transit procedure. 
The draft Decision No 1/2015 of the EU-EFTA
Joint Committee on the simplification of formalities in trade in goods has the
objective of inviting the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to accede to
the Convention of 20 May 1987 on the simplification of formalities in trade in
goods. 
These draft decisions were approved by the
Customs Code Committee – Customs Status and Transit Section and by the EU/EFTA
Working Groups on "Common Transit" and "the Simplification of
Formalities in Trade in Goods".
The Commission is invited to approve the
draft Decisions by the written procedure, in order to submit them to the
Council to establish a common position for their final adoption by the EU-EFTA
Joint Committees. 
3.2. Legal basis
Article 15(a) of the Convention of 20 May
1987 on a common transit and Article 11a of the Convention of 20 May 1987 on
the simplification of formalities in trade in goods.
3.3. Subsidiarity principle
The proposal falls under the exclusive
competence of the European Union (common commercial policy) and therefore does
not deserve an examination with regard to the principle of subsidiarity
(Article 5(3) of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union). .
3.4. Proportionality principle
The proposal complies with the
proportionality principle for the following reasons:
            The form of proposed action is
the only one possible.
            The form of proposed action
does not involve any financing cost.
3.5. Choice of instruments
Proposed instruments: Decision.
There is no other adequate instrument.
4.           BUDGETARY IMPLICATION 
The proposal has no implication for the EU
budget.
5.         OPTIONAL
ELEMENTSSimplification
The proposal provides
for simplification of administrative procedures for public authorities and
simplification of administrative procedures for the private sector. 
The proposal introduces
one common transit procedure for all the Contracting Parties to the Convention.

The common transit
procedure allows the authorisation of simplifications concerning private
parties. 
2015/0077 (NLE)
Proposal for a
COUNCIL DECISION
on the position to be taken by the
European Union concerning the adoption of a Decision by the EU-EFTA Joint
Committee on common transit and a Decision by the EU-EFTA Joint Committee on 
simplification of formalities in trade in goods as regards invitations to the
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to accede to those Conventions
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the
Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 207 in conjunction
with Article 218(9) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the
European Commission,
Whereas:
(1)       Article 15(3) of the
Convention between the European Economic Community, the Republic of Austria,
the Republic of Finland, the Republic of Iceland, the Kingdom of Norway, the
Kingdom of Sweden and the Swiss Confederation on a common transit procedure[1] (the “Convention on a
common transit procedure”) empowers the Joint Committee set up by that
Convention to adopt by decision invitations to third countries within the
meaning of Article 3(1)(c) to accede to that Convention in accordance with
Article 15a.
(2)       Article 11(3) of the
Convention between the European Economic Community, the Republic of Austria,
the Republic of Finland, the Republic of Iceland, the Kingdom of Norway, the
Kingdom of Sweden and the Swiss Confederation on the simplification of
formalities in trade in goods[2]
(the “Convention on the simplification of formalities in trade in goods”)
empowers the Joint Committee set up by that Convention to adopt by decision
invitations to third countries within the meaning of Article 1(2) to accede to
that Convention in accordance with Article 11a. 
(3)       It is appropriate to
establish the position to be taken by the Union within the said Joint
Committees as regards decisions to invite the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia to accede to those Conventions.
(4)       The position of the Union
within the Joint Committee should therefore be based on the attached draft
Decisions.
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The position of the European Union within
the EU-EFTA Joint Committee on common transit as regards an invitation to the
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to accede to the Convention on a common
transit procedure shall be based on the draft Decision of that Joint Committee
attached to this Decision.
Article 2
The position of the European Union within
the EU-EFTA Joint Committee on simplification of formalities in trade in goods
as regards an invitation to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to accede
to the Convention on the simplification of formalities in trade in goods shall
be based on the draft Decision of that Joint Committee attached to this Decision.
Article 3
Once the technical conditions for accession
have been fulfilled by the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Union
representative in the Joint Committees referred to in Articles 1 and 2
respectively shall propose the decisions to invite the former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia to accede to the Conventions and vote on those decisions in line
with Articles 1 and 2 of this Decision.
Article 4
This Decision shall enter into force on 1
June 2015.
Done at Brussels,
                                                                       For
the Council
                                                                       The
President
[1]               OJ L 226, 13.8.1987, p. 2.
[2]               OJ L 134, 22.5.1987, p. 2.
ANNEX 1
attachment
to the proposal for a 
Council Decision on the position to be taken by the European Union concerning
the adoption of a Decision by the EU-EFTA Joint Committee on common transit and
a Decision by the EU-EFTA Joint Committee on simplification of formalities in
trade in goods as regards invitations to the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia to accede to those Conventions
proposal
for a Decision No …/2015 of the EU-EFTA Joint Committee on  common transit
concerning an invitation to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to accede
to the Convention on a common transit procedure
THE JOINT COMMITTEE,
Having regard to the Convention of 20 May
1987 on a common transit procedure[1] 
("the Convention"), and in particular Article 15(3)(e) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)        The promotion of trade with the
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia would be facilitated by a common transit
procedure for goods transported between the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia and the European Union, the Republic of Iceland, the Kingdom of
Norway, the Swiss Confederation and the Republic of Turkey.
(2)        With a view to achieving such a
procedure, it is appropriate to invite the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia to accede to the Convention,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article
1
In accordance with Article 15a of the
convention, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia shall be invited to
accede to the Convention as from 1 June 2015. 
Article
2
This Decision shall enter into force on the
date of its adoption.
Done at            2015, 
                                                                                    
For the Joint Committee
                                                                                    The
President
ANNEX 2
Draft
proposal
for a Decision No ../2015 of the EU-EFTA Joint Committee on  simplification of
formalities in trade in goods as regards an  invitation to the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia to accede to the Convention on the simplification of
formalities in trade in goods
THE JOINT COMMITTEE,
Having regard to the Convention of 20 May
1987 on the simplification of formalities in trade in goods[2] ("the
Convention"), and in particular Article 11(3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)        The exchange of goods with the
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia would be facilitated by a simplification
of formalities which affect the trade in goods between the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia and the European Union, the Republic of Iceland, the
Kingdom of Norway, the Swiss Confederation and the Republic of Turkey.
(2)        With a view to achieving such
facilitation, it is appropriate to invite the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia to accede to the Convention,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article
1
In accordance with Article 11a of the
Convention, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia shall be invited to
accede to the Convention as from 1 June 2015. 
Article
2
This Decision shall enter into force on the
date of its adoption.[
Done at,              2015,
            
For the Joint Committee
                                                                                                The
President
[1]               OJ EU L 226, 13.08.1987, p. 2.
[2]               OJ EU L 134, 22.5.1987, p. 2.