Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

4 . 7 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 167 / 15

AGREEMENT

for trade and cooperation between the European Economic Community and Macao

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

and

THE GOVERNMENT OF MACAO,

CONSIDERING that the European Economic Community, hereinafter referred to as the ' Community ',
and Macao wish to develop, extend and deepen economic and trade relations between them,

CONSIDERING that it would be timely to reinforce existing links between the parties by means of
cooperation between Macao and the Community in matters of mutual interest,

REAFFIRMING the importance they attach to democratic values and to respecting human rights,

DECLARING that the basic aim of this Agreement shall be to consolidate, intensify and diversify relations
between the Parties, to the benefit of both,

DESIROUS of stepping up and diversifying trade and actively developing cooperation in an evolutionary
and pragmatic manner,

CONVINCED of the importance of the rules and principles of the General Agreement on Tariffs and
Trade ( GATT ) for the purposes of open and continually expanding international trade, and reaffirming
their commitments under that Agreement,

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS :

Article 1

Basis for cooperation

The two parties undertake to strengthen their relations
and resolve to promote cooperation between them,
taking account of Macao 's special situation and of its
level of development .

Cooperation between the Community and Macao and
the implementation of this Agreement are based on
respect for the democratic principles and human rights
which inspire the policies of both the Community and

Macao .

CHAPTER I

I
TRADE COOPERATION

Article 2

1 . The Contracting Parties reaffirm their reciprocal
commitments under the terms of the General Agreement
on Tariffs and Trade, and shall accord each other most ­
favoured-nation treatment in all trade matters regarding :

( a ) customs duties and charges of any kind imposed on

or in connection with imports, exports, re-exports or
transit of goods, including the method of levying
such duties and charges ;

( b ) methods of payment and the transfer of such

payments ;

( c ) rules and regulations, procedures and formalities

connected with imports and exports, including
provisions relating to customs clearance, transit,
warehousing and transhipment of imports or exports ;

( d ) administrative formalities relating to import and

export licences ;

( e ) taxes and other internal charges levied directly or

indirectly on imported or exported goods and
services ;

( f ) laws, rules and regulations and requirements relating

to the sale, offering for sale, purchase, trans ­
portation, distribution and use of goods on the
domestic market .

No C 167 / 16 Official Journal of the European Communities 4 . 7 . 92

2 . In accordance with the General Agreement on
Tariffs and Trade, this treatment shall not apply to :

( a ) advantages accorded by one of the two Contracting

Parties with the aim of creating a customs union or a
free-trade area or pursuant to the creation of such a
union area ;

( b ) other advantages accorded under the General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade .

Article 3

The Contracting Parties undertake to promote trade
between them to the greatest possible degree, taking into
account their respective economic situations and granting
each other the widest possible opportunities .

CHAPTER II

OTHER FIELDS OF COOPERATION

Article 4

With the particular aims of bringing about the devel ­
opment of their economies and standards of living,
diversifying their links with each other, encouraging
scientific and technological progress, opening up new
sources of supply and new markets, promoting
investment, protecting the environment and improving
living conditions, the Contracting Parties agree to
develop cooperation, within the bounds of their
respective powers and on the basis of mutual interest, in
all areas in which they have responsibility for policy,
notably the following :

— industry,

— trade,

— science and technology,

— energy,

— transport,

— telecommunications,

— data processing,

— intellectual and industrial property, standards and

specifications,

— protection of the environment,

— social development,

— tourism,

— financial services,

— fisheries,

— customs matters,

— statistics .

Article 5

Industry

The Contracting Parties shall encourage the use of the
various forms of industrial and technical cooperation to

benefit their firms and entities, within the bounds of the
needs and capabilities of the Parties .

With the aims of the Agreement in mind, the
Contracting Parties shall endeavour to facilitate and
promote the following, inter alia :

— the establishment of joint ventures,

— the transfer of technology,

— cooperation between financial institutions,

— steps such as visits, contacts and activities to promote

cooperation between persons and delegations rep ­
resenting firms or economic organizations,

— the organization of seminars and symposia .

Article 6

The Contracting Parties shall promote the development
and diversification of Macao 's production base in
industry and services, in particular by targeting
cooperation activities at small and medium-sized enter ­
prises and by encouraging steps to facilitate access on the
part of such enterprises to sources of capital, markets
and appropriate technology . Such measures could
include the joint establishment of suitable mechanisms
and institutions .

Article 7

Investment

The Contracting Parties agree :

( a ) to promote an increase in mutually beneficial
investment, within the limits of their responsibilities,
rules and policies,

( b ) to improve the climate for investment on both sides,

notably by means of agreements between the
Community Member States and Macao for the
protection and promotion of investment, on a basis
of non-discrimination and reciprocity .

4 . 7 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 167 / 17

Article 8

Science and technology

2 . Measures to attain this aim could include technical
assistance concentrating on vocational training, the
administration and improvement of social services, job
creation, improvement of housing and preventive
medicine .

Taking into account their mutual interest and the creation, improvement of

medicine .

objectives of their development strategies, the
Contracting Parties shall undertake to promote
cooperation in science and technology in such a manner
as to improve Macao 's potential for development . Article 13

Article 9

Information, communication and culture

Drugs

Within the bounds of their respective powers, the

Contracting Parties undertake to coordinate and
intensify their efforts to inhibit and reduce the
production, trafficking and consumption of drugs . They
shall exchange relevant information in this regard .

The Contracting Parties shall establish cooperation in shall exchange, relevant information
information and communication, taking account of the
cultural dimension of relations between them . Such
cooperation could include conservation of objects of Article 14
historic and cultural interest .

Article 10

Training

1 . Cooperation under this Agreement shall include
appropriate provision for training . The Contracting
Parties shall furthermore implement individual training
programmes in areas of mutual interest .

2 . The measures concerned shall be targeted first and
foremost at teachers, trainers and executive personnel in
positions of responsibility in firms, government, public
services and other educational, economic and social
entities . They could include promotion of cooperation
agreements between institutions of higher education and
training in Europe and in Macao, notably with regard to
science, technology and vocational training .

Article 11

The environment

The Contracting Parties shall undertake to cooperate on
environmental protection, particularly with regard to
legislation and standards, research, training, technical
assistance, the implementation of environmental
improvement projects and the organization of seminars
and meetings in this field .

Article 12

Social development

1 . The Contracting Parties shall establish cooperation
in the field of social development in Macao in order to
improve the standard of living and quality of life of the
most disadvantaged sections of the population .

Tourism

Within the bounds of their legislation, the Contracting
Parties shall encourage cooperation in Macao 's tourist
industry through targeted action, notably the devel ­
opment of promotion, an interchange of information and
statistics, exchanges of experts and training focused on a
transfer of technology and improved administration in
the industry .

Article 15

Resources for undertaking cooperation

In order to facilitate the achievement of the aims set out
in this Agreement, the Contracting Parties shall make
available, within the limits of their abilities and through
their own channels, the appropriate resources, including
financial resources .

CHAPTER III

JOINT COMMITTEE

Article 16

1 . The Contracting Parties shall establish under this
Agreement a Joint Committee consisting of represen ­
tatives of the Community, on the one hand, and rep ­
resentatives of Macao, on the other .

The role of the Joint Committee shall be to promote

cooperation as proposed by the Contracting Parties, and
in particular :

— to oversee and verify the functioning of the
Agreement,

— to study the development of trade and cooperation,

No C 167 / 18 Official Journal of the European Communities 4 . 7 . 92

— to seek appropriate methods of forestalling problems

which might arise in areas covered by the Agreement .

— to propose measures suitable for the development and

diversification of trade and cooperation,

— to exchange opinions and make suggestions on any

issue of common interest within the fields covered by
this Agreement .

2 . The Joint Committee shall meet at least once a
year, in Brussels and Macao alternately . Special meetings
may be convened by mutual agreement, at the request of
either Contracting Party .

3 . The Joint Committee shall adopt its own rules of
procedure and programme of work . The agenda for
meetings of the Joint Committee shall be determined by
agreement between the Parties .

CHAPTER IV

FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 17

Without prejudice to the provisions of the Treaties estab ­
lishing the European Communities, neither this
Agreement nor any action taken under it shall in any
way affect the powers of the Member States of the

Communities to undertake bilateral activities with Macao
in the field of economic cooperation or where appro ­
priate to conclude new economic cooperation
agreements with Macao .

Article 18

Territorial application

This Agreement shall apply, on the one hand, to the
territories in which the Treaty establishing the
Community is applied and under the conditions laid

down in that Treaty and, on the other, to the territory of
Macao .

Article 19

Entry into force and tacit renewal

1 . This Agreement shall enter into force on the first
day of the month following the date on which the
Contracting Parties have notified each other of the
completion of the procedures necessary for this purpose .

2 . This Agreement is concluded for a period of five
years . It shall be renewed tacitly on a yearly basis unless

one of the Contracting Parties denounces it to the other
Party in writing six months before the date of expiry .

Article 20

Authentic texts

This Agreement is drawn up in duplicate in the Danish,
Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Italian,
Portuguese, Spanish and Chinese languages, each text
being equally authentic .

Article 21

Future developments

1 . The Contracting Parties may by mutual consent
expand this Agreement with a view to enhancing the
levels of cooperation and supplementing them, within the
bounds of their respective laws, by means of agreements
on specific sectors or activities .

2 . With regard to the implementation of this
Agreement, either of the Contracting Parties may put
forward suggestions for widening and strengthening
cooperation, taking into account the experience gained
in its application .