CELEX: 52007PC0177
Language: en
Date: 2007-04-11
Title: Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Government of Japan on customs cooperation and mutual administrative assistance in customs matters

Important legal notice

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52007PC0177

Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Government of Japan on customs cooperation and mutual administrative assistance in customs matters  /* COM/2007/0177 final - ACC 2007/0067 */  

	[pic] | COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES |Brussels, 11.4.2007COM(2007) 177 final2007/0067 (ACC)Proposal for aCOUNCIL DECISIONconcerning the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Government of Japan on customs cooperation and mutual administrative assistance in customs matters(presented by the Commission)EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUMCONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL |110 | Grounds for and objectives of the proposal As part of the EU external policy, the European Community is seeking to cooperate on customs matters at international level with its largest trading partners. Based on a Recommendation of the Commission for a Council authorisation concerning the negotiation of customs cooperation agreements, the Council decided on 5 April 1993 to authorise the Commission to start negotiations with its main trading partners: Korea, Canada, USA, Hong Kong and Japan. A Customs Cooperation Agreement between the EC and Japan would be an important tool to balance trade liberalisation and procedural trade facilitation with regard to fighting against fraud and illegal activities. |120 | General context In coherence with the EC's international customs cooperation policy, Customs Cooperation and Mutual Administrative Assistance Agreements, allow the parties to put the necessary tools for customs cooperation in place. So far, the EC has concluded Customs Cooperation Agreements with Korea, Hong Kong, Canada, the US, India and China. Japan is the only one of the EC's main trading partners that has not yet concluded a Customs agreement with the EC. The EC-Japan Customs Cooperation Agreement, considered a priority within the EU-Japan Action Plan, would provide an ideal framework to discuss all customs related issues and problems such as trade facilitation, enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) legislation and fight against counterfeit as well as security of the logistic supply chain, which are priority areas for the EU and for Japan. Contacts in view of the negotiation of the Agreement EC-Japan started only in 2004, and were followed by a number of formal negotiating rounds with the authorities of Japan in 2005 and 2006. Following the last round of negotiations in 2006 and the legal proof-reading of the draft agreement by the Cabinet Legislation Bureau from Japan at the end of last year, both sides found agreement on the enclosed text. In order to enable the Agreement on customs co-operation and mutual administrative assistance in customs matters to be signed as soon as possible, the Commission proposes that the Council approve the attached proposal for a decision on the signing and conclusion of the Agreement. |130 | Existing provisions in the area of the proposal The draft Customs Cooperation Agreement EC-Japan contains the standards provisions on Legislative Cooperation, Technical Assistance and Mutual Administrative Assistance included in previous Customs Cooperation and Mutual Administrative Assistance Agreements. |140 | Consistency with the other policies and objectives of the Union The proposal is fully consistent with the EC's Customs policy vis-à-vis third countries on Customs Cooperation. It aims at the simplification and harmonisation of customs procedures and provides the means to fight against customs fraud and to exchange information on Mutual Administrative Assistance matters. |CONSULTATION OF INTERESTED PARTIES AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT |Consultation of interested parties |211 | Consultation methods, main sectors targeted and general profile of respondents Member States have been regularly consulted at the Council's Customs Union Working Party during the negotiations. OLAF, DG RELEX DG TRADE and the LS have received the Agreement for input prior to launching the Inter Service Consultation. |212 | Summary of responses and how they have been taken into account The proposal contains the oral input provided by Member States, represented at the Council's Customs Union Working Party, It reflects also the relevant Commission services' contribution. The bodies consulted share the view that the Agreement is the standard document in line with previous EC' Customs Cooperation arrangements with third countries |Collection and use of expertise |229 | There was no need for external expertise. |230 | Impact assessment No public consultation has been designed to form part of the strategic approach to customs relations between the EU and Japan. However, in various EU-Japan fora and dialogues, interested parties such as governments, private companies, consultants, business associations and industry federations, have expressed their expectation that the EC-Japan Customs Cooperation Agreement would play a considerable role in addressing current difficulties that the EC and Japan face in Customs matters. The Agreement will provide a legal basis for the exchange of information and administrative assistance between the contracting parties for the proper application of Customs law and presents some benefits and modern co-operation methods that involve a variety of enforcement techniques. The proposal will be a legal instrument necessary to ensure proper Customs Cooperation between the EC and Japan and will reflect the recognition of the increasing scale, scope and sophistication of international piracy and counterfeiting and the parties' commitment to improve the protection of intellectual property, to secure the international supply chain while facilitating the movement of legitimate goods being traded around the globe. |LEGAL ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSAL |305 | Summary of the proposed action In accordance with the 1993 Council's directives and considering the importance of commercial links between Japan (one of our main trading partners) and the EC, there is an undertaking to ensure an effective cooperation between the Parties' customs authorities. The attached proposal aims at the adoption by the Council of a Decision on the agreement between the European Community and Japan on cooperation and mutual administrative assistance in customs matters The adoption of such an instrument will allow the parties to develop customs cooperation to fight against customs infringements, the prevention, investigation and combating of any breach of customs legislation, the simplification and harmonisation of customs procedures and the possibility to exchange information regarding activities that may result in offences within the territory of the other Party. |310 | Legal basis According to art. 133 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, where agreements with one or more States or international organisations need to be negotiated, the Commission shall make recommendations to the Council, which shall authorise the Commission to open the necessary negotiations. The Council and the Commission shall be responsible for ensuring that the agreements negotiated are compatible with internal Community policies and rules. Article 300 of the Treaty establishing the European Community states that the signing, and the conclusion of the agreements shall be decided on by the Council, acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission. Council's Decision of 5 April 1993 containing the directives to conduct the negotiations of Customs Cooperation Agreements with the EU's main trading partners |329 | Subsidiarity principle The proposal falls under the exclusive competence of the Community. The subsidiarity principle therefore does not apply. |Proportionality principle The proposal complies with the proportionality principle for the following reason(s). |331 | The measure proposed is necessary and adequate for the proper implementation of the Customs Cooperation between the EC and Japan. |332 | The proposal establishes a coordinating mechanism, the Joint Customs Cooperation Committee, composed by representatives of Customs administrations of the parties and Commission representatives. The Joint Customs Cooperation Committee will seek to reduce the administrative burden of the Agreement while being appropriate and proportional to the objectives pursued by the Contracting Parties. |Choice of instruments |341 |342 | According to Article 300 of the EC Treaty, the signing, and the conclusion of the agreements shall be decided on by the Council, acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission. The Council Decision is the appropriate instrument (and as such, was mentioned by the Council in April 1993 when it authorised the Commission to negotiate on its behalf Customs Cooperation Agreements with the EC's main trading partners). |BUDGETARY IMPLICATION |409 | The proposal has no implication for the Community budget. |ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |Review/revision/sunset clause |533 | The proposal does not include a sunset clause. |1.  Proposal for aCOUNCIL DECISIONconcerning the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Government of Japan on customs cooperation and mutual administrative assistance in customs mattersTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 133, in conjunction with the first sentence of Article 300 (2) thereof,Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,Whereas on 5 April 1993 the Council authorised the Commission to start negotiatiing on behalf of the European Community customs cooperation agreements with some of the Community's main trading partners,Whereas the Agreement between the European Community and the Government of Japan on customs cooperation and mutual administrative assistance in customs matters should be approved,HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:Article 1The Agreement between the European Community and the Government of Japan on customs cooperation and mutual administrative assistance in customs matters is hereby approved on behalf of the European Community.The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision.Article 2The Commission, assisted by representatives of the Member States, shall represent the Community on the Joint Customs Cooperation Committee set up under Article 21 of the Agreement.Article 3The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the persons empowered to sign the Agreement on behalf of the Community.Article 4The President of the Council shall effect the notification provided for in Article 22 of the Agreement on behalf of the Community.[1]Article 5This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities.Done at Brussels,For the CouncilThe PresidentANNEXAGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AND THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN ON CO-OPERATION AND MUTUAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE IN CUSTOMS MATTERSTHE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY and THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN (hereinafter referred to as the “Contracting Parties”),CONSIDERING the importance of the commercial links between Japan and the European Community (hereinafter referred to in this Agreement as “the Community”), and desirous of contributing, to the benefit of both Contracting Parties, to the harmonious development of those links;BELIEVING that, in order to attain this objective, there should be an undertaking to develop customs co-operation;TAKING into account the development of customs co-operation between the Contracting Parties, concerning customs procedures;CONSIDERING that operations in breach of customs legislation are prejudicial to the economic, fiscal and commercial interests of both Contracting Parties, and recognising the importance of ensuring the accurate assessment of customs duties and other taxes;CONVINCED that action against such operations can be made more effective by co-operation between customs authorities;RECOGNISING the significant role of customs authorities and the importance of customs procedures in promoting trade facilitation;HAVING regard to the high level of commitment of both Contracting Parties to customs actions and co-operation in the fight against infringements of intellectual property rights;HAVING regard to obligations imposed under international conventions already accepted by, or applied to the Contracting Parties, as well as customs related activities undertaken by the World Trade Organisation (hereinafter referred to in this Agreement as the “WTO”);HAVING regard to the Recommendation of the Customs Co-operation Council (hereinafter referred to in this Agreement as the “CCC”) on Mutual Administrative Assistance of December 5, 1953;WHEREAS in 1991 the Joint Declaration on Relations between The European Community and its Member States and Japan provided general guidelines for relationship and set procedural objectives to further develop relations;HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:TITLE I GENERAL PROVISIONSArticle 1DefinitionsFor the purpose of this Agreement:a) “customs legislation” shall mean any laws and regulations of Japan or the Community, governing the import, export and transit of goods and placing of goods under any other customs procedures, including measures of prohibitions, restrictions and controls falling under the competence of the customs authorities;b) “laws and regulations of the Contracting Party” and “laws and regulations of each Contracting Party” shall mean the laws and regulations of Japan or the laws and regulations of the Community, as the context requires;c) “customs authority” shall mean, in Japan, the Ministry of Finance and, in the Community, the competent services of the Commission of the European Communities responsible for customs matters and the customs authorities of the Member States of the Community;d) “applicant authority” shall mean a customs authority of a Contracting Party which makes a request for assistance, on the basis of this Agreement;e) “requested authority” shall mean a customs authority of a Contracting Party which receives a request for assistance, on the basis of this Agreement;f) “personal data” shall mean all information relating to an identified or identifiable individual;g) “operation in breach of customs legislation’’ shall mean any violation or attempted violation of the customs legislation;h) “person” shall mean any natural person, any legal person, or any other entity without legal personality constituted or organised under the laws and regulations of each Contracting Party, carrying on importation, exportation, or transit of goods; andi) “information” shall mean data, documents, reports, and other communications in any format, including electronic copies thereof.Article 2Territorial ApplicationThis Agreement shall apply, on the one hand, to the territory of Japan in which its customs legislation is in force and, on the other hand, to the territories where the Treaty establishing the European Community is applied and under the conditions laid down in that Treaty.Article 3ImplementationThis Agreement shall be implemented by the Contracting Parties in accordance with the laws and regulations of each Contracting Party, and within the available resources of their respective customs authorities.Article 4Scope of the co-operation1. Under this Agreement, customs co-operation shall cover all matters relating to the application of customs legislation.2 The Contracting Parties through their customs authorities undertake to develop customs co-operation. In particular, the Contracting Parties shall co-operate in:(a) establishing and maintaining channels of communications between their customs authorities to facilitate the secure and rapid exchange of information;(b) facilitating effective co-ordination between their customs authorities; and(c) any other administrative matters related to this Agreement that may from time to time require their joint action.3. The Contracting Parties also undertake to make co-operative efforts through their customs authorities in order to develop trade facilitation actions in the field of customs in accordance with international standards.Article 5Scope of assistance1. The Contracting Parties through their customs authorities shall assist each other, in the areas within their competence and within the limits of available resources, and in the manner and under the conditions laid down in this Agreement, to ensure the correct application of customs legislation, in particular by preventing, investigating and combating operations in breach of that legislation.2. Assistance in customs matters under this Agreement shall be provided between the customs authorities of the Contracting Parties, which are competent for the application of this Agreement. It shall not prejudice the rights and obligations of either Contracting Party on mutual assistance in criminal matters under international agreements or the laws and regulations of each Contracting Party. Nor shall it cover information obtained under powers exercised at the request of a judicial authority.3. Assistance to recover duties, taxes or fines is not covered by this Agreement.Article 6Relation to other international agreements1. The provision of this Agreement shall not affect the rights and obligations of either Contracting Party under any other international agreements.2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, the provisions of this Agreement shall take precedence over the provisions of any bilateral agreement on customs co-operation and mutual administrative assistance which has been or may be concluded between individual Member States of the Community and Japan, insofar as the provisions of the latter are incompatible with those of this Agreement.3. The provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the Community provisions governing the communication between the competent services of the Commission and the customs authorities of the Member States of the Community of any information obtained under this Agreement which could be of interest to the Community.TITLE II CUSTOMS CO-OPERATIONArticle 7Co-operation in customs proceduresFor the purpose of the facilitation of the legitimate movement of goods, the customs authorities shall exchange information and expertise on measures to improve customs techniques and procedures and on computerised systems in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.Article 8Technical co-operationThe customs authorities may provide technical co-operation to each other and exchange personnel and expertise on measures to improve customs techniques and procedures and on computerised systems with a view towards achieving these objectives in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.Article 9Discussions in international organisationsThe customs authorities shall seek to develop and strengthen their co-operation on topics of common interest with a view to facilitating discussions on customs matters in the framework of relevant international organisations such as the CCC and the WTO.TITLE III MUTUAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCEArticle 10Assistance on request1. At the request of the applicant authority, the requested authority shall provide it with all relevant information which may enable it to ensure that customs legislation of the Contracting Party of the applicant authority is correctly applied, including information regarding activities detected or planned which are or could be operations in breach of such customs legislation.In particular, upon request, the requested authority shall furnish the applicant authority with information regarding activities that may result in operations in breach of customs legislation of the Contracting Party of the applicant authority, for example, incorrect customs declarations and certificates of origin, invoices, or other documents known to be, or suspected of being, incorrect or falsified.2. At the request of the applicant authority, the requested authority shall inform it:(a) whether goods exported from the territory of one of the Contracting Parties have been properly imported into the other, specifying where appropriate, the customs procedure applied to the goods; and(b) whether goods imported into the territory of one of the Contracting Parties have been properly exported from the other, specifying where appropriate, the customs procedure applied to the goods.3. At the request of the applicant authority, the requested authority shall, within the framework of the laws and regulations of the Contracting Party of the requested authority, provide information on and exercise special surveillance of:(a) persons in respect of whom there are reasonable grounds for believing that they are or have been involved in operations in breach of customs legislation of the Contracting Party of the applicant authority;(b) places where stocks of goods have been or may be stored or assembled in such a way that there are reasonable grounds for believing that these goods are intended to be used in operations in breach of customs legislation of the Contracting Party of the applicant authority;(c) goods that are or may be transported in such a way that there are reasonable grounds for believing that they are intended to be used in operations in breach of customs legislation of the Contracting Party of the applicant authority; and(d) means of transport that are or may be used in such a way that there are reasonable grounds for believing that they are intended to be used in operations in breach of customs legislation of the Contracting Party of the applicant authority.Article 11Spontaneous assistanceThe Contracting Parties shall assist each other, at their own initiative and in accordance with the laws and regulations of each Contracting Party, if they consider that to be necessary for the correct application of customs legislation, in particular, in situations that could involve substantial damage to the economy, public health, public security, or similar vital interest of the other Contracting Party, particularly by providing information obtained pertaining to:(a) activities which are or appear to be operations in breach of customs legislation and which may be of interest to the other Contracting Party;(b) new means or methods employed in carrying out operations in breach of customs legislation;(c) goods known to be subject to operations in breach of customs legislation;(d) persons in respect of whom there are reasonable grounds for believing they are or have been involved in operations in breach of customs legislation; and(e) means of transport in respect of which there are reasonable grounds for believing that they have been, are, or may be used in operations in breach of customs legislation.Article 12Form and substance of requests for assistance1. Requests pursuant to this Agreement shall be made in writing. They shall be accompanied by the documents necessary to enable compliance with the request. When required because of the urgency of the situation, an oral request may be accepted, but must be confirmed immediately in writing.2. Requests pursuant to paragraph 1 shall include the following information:2.  the applicant authority;3.  the action requested;4.  the object of and the reason for the request;5.  indications as exact and comprehensive as possible on the persons who are the target of the investigations;6.  a summary of the relevant facts and of the enquiries already carried out; and7.  legal elements involved.3. Requests shall be submitted in a language acceptable to both requested and applicant authorities. This requirement may also apply, to the extent necessary, to any documents that accompany the request under paragraph 1.4. If a request does not meet the formal requirement set out above, its correction or completion may be requested; precautionary measures may be taken by the requested authority in the meantime.Article 13Execution of requests1. In order to comply with a request for assistance, the requested authority shall, within the limits of its competence and available resources, take all reasonable measures by supplying information already possessed, by carrying out appropriate enquiries or by arranging for them to be carried out.2. Requests for assistance shall be executed in accordance with the laws and regulations of the Contracting Party of the requested authority.3. Duly authorised officials from the applicant authority, may, with the agreement of the requested authority and subject to the conditions laid down by the latter, be present to obtain in the offices of the requested authority, information related to activities that are or may be operations in breach of customs legislation which the applicant authority needs for the purpose of this Agreement.4. Duly authorised officials from the applicant authority may, with the agreement of the requested authority and subject to the conditions laid down by the latter, be present at enquiries carried out in the latter’s jurisdiction into specific cases.5. In the event that the request cannot be complied with, the applicant authority shall be notified promptly of that fact with a statement of the reasons. The statement may be accompanied by the relevant information that the requested authority considers may be of assistance to the applicant authority.6. The requested authority shall, upon request by the applicant authority and when it deems appropriate, advise the applicant authority of the time and place of the action it will take in response to the request for assistance so that such action may be co-cordinated.Article 14Form in which information is to be communicated1. The requested authority shall communicate results of enquiries to the applicant authority in writing together with relevant documents or other items.2. This information may be in computerised form.Article 15Exceptions to the obligation to provide assistance1. Assistance may be refused or withheld, or may be made subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions or requirements, in cases where the Contracting Party of the requested authority is of the opinion that assistance under this Agreement would infringe upon the sovereignty of Japan or of a Member State of the Community, or upon its security, public policy, or other essential interest such as that referred to in Article 16(2).In particular, each Contracting Party may limit the information it communicates to the other Contracting Party when the latter Contracting Party is unable to give the assurance requested by the former Contracting Party with respect to confidentiality or with respect to the limitations of purposes for which the information will be used.2. Assistance may be withheld by the requested authority on the ground that it will interfere with an ongoing investigation, including investigation by the relevant law enforcement agencies, prosecution or judicial and administrative proceedings. In such a case, the requested authority shall consult with the applicant authority to determine if assistance can be given subject to such terms or conditions as the requested authority may require.3. Where the applicant authority seeks assistance which it would itself be unable to provide if so requested, it shall draw attention to that fact in its request. It shall then be for the requested authority to decide how to respond to such a request.4. For the cases referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, the decision of the requested authority and the reasons thereof must be communicated to the applicant authority without undue delay.Article 16Information exchange and confidentiality1. Any information communicated in whatsoever form pursuant to this Agreement shall be treated as of a confidential nature, depending on the laws and regulations of each Contracting Party and shall enjoy the protection extended to similar information under the relevant laws and regulations of the Contracting Party of the customs authority that received it and the corresponding provisions applying to the Community authorities, unless the Contracting Party which provided the information gives a prior consent to the disclosure of such information.2. Personal data may be exchanged only where the Contracting Party which may receive it undertakes to protect such data in at least an equivalent way to the one applicable to that particular case in the Contracting Party that may supply it. The Contracting Party that may supply the information shall not stipulate any requirements that are more onerous than those applicable to it in its own jurisdiction.The Contracting Parties shall communicate to each other information on the laws and regulations of each Contracting Party, including where appropriate, those in the Member States of the Community.3. Information obtained shall be used solely for the purposes of this Agreement. Where one of the Contracting Parties wishes to use such information for other purposes, it shall obtain the prior written consent of the customs authority which provided the information. Such use shall then be subject to any restrictions laid down by that authority.4. Paragraph 3 shall not impede the use of information obtained in accordance with this Agreement, as evidence in administrative proceedings subsequently instituted in respect of operations in breach of customs legislation. Therefore, the Contracting Parties may, in their records of evidence, reports and testimonies and in administrative proceedings use as evidence information obtained in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. The customs authority which supplied that information shall be notified of such use.5. Notwithstanding paragraph 3 of this Article, unless otherwise notified by the customs authority providing the information, the customs authority receiving the information may provide the information received pursuant to this Agreement to the relevant law enforcement agencies of its Contracting Party. These agencies may only use this information for the correct application of customs legislation and shall be subject to the conditions stipulated in Article 16 and 17 of this Agreement.6. This Article shall not preclude the use or disclosure of information to the extent that there is an obligation to do so under the laws and regulations of the Contracting Party of the customs authority that received it. Such customs authority shall, wherever possible, give advance notice of any such disclosure to the customs authority which provided the information.The receiving Contracting Party shall, unless otherwise agreed by the Contracting Party which provided the information, wherever appropriate, use all available measures under the applicable laws and regulations of the former Contracting Party to maintain the confidentiality of information and to protect personal data as regards applications by a third party or other authorities for disclosure of the information concerned.Article 17Criminal proceedingsInformation provided from the customs authority of a Contracting Party to the customs authority of the other Contracting Party pursuant to this Agreement shall not be used by the latter Contracting Party in criminal proceedings carried out by a court or a judge.Article 18Assistance expenses1. Expenses incurred in the implementation of this Agreement shall be borne by the respective Contracting Parties.2. If during the execution of a request it becomes apparent that completion of the execution of the request will entail expenses of an extraordinary nature, the customs authorities shall consult to determine the terms and conditions under which the execution may continue.TITLE IV FINAL PROVISIONSArticle 19HeadingsThe headings of the Titles and the Articles of this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.Article 20ConsultationAll questions or disputes related to the interpretation or implementation of this Agreement shall be settled by mutual consultation between the Contracting Parties.Article 21Joint Customs Co-operation Committee1. A Joint Customs Co-operation Committee is hereby established, consisting of officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and of officials of the European Community responsible for customs matters. Other officials of both Contracting Parties with the necessary expertise relevant to the issues to be discussed may be included on an ad hoc basis. It shall meet at a place, on a date and with an agenda, fixed by mutual consent.2. The Joint Customs Co-operation Committee shall inter alia :(a) see to the proper functioning of the Agreement;(b) take measures necessary for customs co-operation in accordance with the objectives of this Agreement;(c) exchange views on any points of common interest regarding customs co-operation, including future measures and the resources for them;(d) recommend solutions aimed at attaining the objectives of this Agreement; and(e) adopt its internal rules of procedure.Article 22Entry into force and duration1. 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 through diplomatic notes exchanged between them.2. This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent of the Contracting Parties through diplomatic notes exchanged between them. Amendments shall enter into force within the same conditions as mentioned in paragraph 1, except otherwise agreed by the Contracting Parties.3. Each Contracting Party may terminate this Agreement by giving notice to the other in writing. The termination shall take effect three months from the date of notification to the other Contracting Party. Requests for assistance which have been received prior to the termination of the Agreement shall be completed in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.Article 23Authentic textsThis Agreement shall be drawn up in duplicate in the Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish and Japanese languages, each text being equally authentic. In case of divergence of interpretation, the English and Japanese texts shall prevail over the other language texts.In witness whereof, the undersigned, being duly authorised to do so, have signed this Agreement.Done at Brussels,For the European Community | For the Government of Japan | [1] The date of the entry into force of the Agreement will be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities by the General Secretariat of the Council.