Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

16.10.2009 EN Official Journ al of the E uropean Un ion L 272/1

## II

_(Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is not obligatory)_

## DECISIONS

# COUNCIL

**COUNCIL DECISION**

**of 13 July 2009**

**on the signature and provisional application of the Interim Partnership Agreement between the**
**European Community, of the one part, and the Pacific States, of the other part**

(2009/729/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu­
nity, and in particular Article 133, in conjunction with the first
sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1) On 12 June 2002 the Council authorised the Commission
to open negotiations for Economic Partnership Agree­
ments with ACP countries.

(2) Negotiations for an Interim Partnership Agreement, which
establishes a framework for an Economic Partnership
Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the ‘interim EPA’ )
were concluded on 23 November 2007 with Papua New
Guinea and Republic of the Fiji Islands.

(3) Article 76(3) of the interim EPA provides for its provi­
sional application pending its entry into force.

(4) The interim EPA should be signed on behalf of the Com­
munity and applied on a provisional basis subject to its
conclusion at a later date,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

_Article 1_

The signing of the Interim Partnership Agreement between the
European Community and the Pacific States is hereby approved
on behalf of the Community, subject to the Council Decision con­
cerning the conclusion of the said interim EPA.

The text of the interim EPA is attached to this Decision.

_Article 2_

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the
person(s) empowered to sign the interim EPA on behalf of the
European Community, subject to its conclusion.

_Article 3_

The interim EPA shall be applied on a provisional basis as pro­
vided for in Article 76(3) of the Agreement, pending completion
of the procedures for conclusion. The Commission will publish a
notice providing information on the date of provisional
application.

Done at Brussels; 13 July 2009.

_For the Council_

_The President_

E. ERLANDSSON