CELEX: 52015PC0333
Language: en
Date: 2015-07-13
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the position to be adopted on behalf of the European Union within the EU-Chile Association Committee relating to Article 12 of Annex III to the Agreement establishing an association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Chile, of the other part, concerning direct transport

EUROPEAN COMMISSION
            Brussels, 13.7.2015
            COM(2015) 333 final
            2015/0145(NLE)
            Proposal for a
            COUNCIL DECISION
            on the position to be adopted on behalf of the European Union within the EU-Chile Association Committee relating to Article 12 of Annex III to the Agreement establishing an association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Chile, of the other part, concerning direct transport
            
               
         
         
            
               EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
            
            
               1.CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL
            
            
               The Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Chile, of the other part, was signed in Brussels on 18 November 2002 and entered into force on 1 February 2003.
            
            
               Annex III to the Association Agreement sets out the rules for originating products and Article 12 to Annex III the rules for the direct transport of those products between the Parties. For preferential treatment the products should be transported directly between the two Parties but may under certain conditions pass via a third country.
            
            
               Chile and the European Union have agreed to introduce certain amendments to the rules of direct transport contained in Article 12 of Annex III to the Agreement. The aim is to clarify that when a consignment passes via a third country, and subject to fulfilling the conditions in Article 12, a consignment may be split for onward transport to a Party of the Agreement without affecting the preferential treatment of those products. Moreover, the splitting of consignments should not of itself give rise to doubt as to the origin of the products unless there is evidence to the contrary.    
            
            
               2.LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY
            
            
               •Legal basis
            
            
               Article 207(4) first subparagraph in conjunction with Article 218(9) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
            
            
               •Subsidiarity (for non-exclusive competence) 
            
            
               The proposal falls under the exclusive competence of the European Union. The subsidiarity principle therefore does not apply.
            
            
               •Proportionality
            
            
                The proposal does not go beyond what is necessary or appropriate to achieve the expected objectives.
            
            
               3.RESULTS OF EX-POST EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS
            
            
               •Stakeholder consultations
            
            
               Not relevant. This proposal introduces amendments to a previous text.
            
            
               •Collection and use of expertise
            
            
               There was no need for external expertise.
            
            
               •Impact assessment
            
            
               Not relevant. This proposal introduces amendments to an existing bilateral trade agreement. There are no other options to be considered.
            
         
         
            
               4.BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS
            
            
               The proposal has no implication for the Union budget.
            
            
               5.OTHER ELEMENTS
            
            
               None
            
            
               2015/0145 (NLE)
            
            
               Proposal for a
            
            
               COUNCIL DECISION
            
            
               on the position to be adopted on behalf of the European Union within the EU-Chile Association Committee relating to Article 12 of Annex III to the Agreement establishing an association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Chile, of the other part, concerning direct transport
            
            
               THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
            
            
               Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 207(4) in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,
            
            
               Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
            
            
               Whereas:
            
            
               (1)The Association Council set up by Article 3 to the Agreement establishing an association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Chile, of the other part, (EU-Chile Association Agreement) is established to examine and adopt proposals from the Parties for the improvement of the EU-Chile Association Agreement. To help it fulfil its duties the Association Council is assisted by the Association Committee, which has been given the power to adopt decisions.
            
            
               (2)A Special Committee on Customs Cooperation and Rules of Origin has been set up by the Association Council to assist it in its duties. The Special Committee, which met on 4 November 2014 in Santiago, Chile, agreed to recommend an amendment to Article 12 of Annex III to the EU-Chile Association Agreement concerning direct transport.
            
            
               (3)The shipment of consignments from one Party of the EU-Chile Association Agreement should go directly to the other Party but may also pass via a third country subject to certain restrictions. The conditions for transport via a third country have been clarified to expressly allow for the splitting of consignments but without any relaxation of the existing restrictions.
            
            
               (4)The amendment to Article 12 of Annex III to the EU-Chile Association Agreement will provide legal certainty to importers and exporters, and consistency of interpretation for the Parties.
            
            
               (5)The position of the Union within the EU-Chile Association Committee should be based on the attached draft decision,
            
            
               HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
            
            
               Article 1
            
            
               The position to be adopted by the Union within the Association Committee relating to Article 12 of Annex III to the Agreement establishing an association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Chile, of the other part, shall be based on the attached draft decision of the Association Committee.
            
         
         
            
               Minor changes to the draft decision of the Association Committee may be agreed to by the representatives of the Union in the Association Committee without further decision of the Council.
            
            
               Article 2
            
            
               This Decision of the Association Committee shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
            
            
               Article 3
            
            
               This Decision shall enter force on the date of its adoption.
            
            
               Done at Brussels,
            
            
               
                     For the Council
               
               
                     The President
               
            
         
         
      
    ---documentbreak--- 
      
         
               EUROPEAN COMMISSION
            Brussels, 13.7.2015
            COM(2015) 333 final
            ANNEX
            Attachment
            to the
            proposal for a Council Decision
            on the position to be adopted on behalf of the European Union within the EU-Chile Association Committee relating to Article 12 of Annex III to the Agreement establishing an association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Chile, of the other part, concerning direct transport
            
               
         
         
            
               Draft
            
            
               DECISION No … OF THE EU-CHILE ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE
            
            
               of
            
            
               amending article 12 of Title III of Annex III to the Association Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Chile concerning direct transport
               
            
               THE ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE,
            
            
               Having regard to the Agreement establishing an association between the European Union and the Republic of Chile, and in particular Article 38 of Annex III;
            
            
               Whereas:
            
            
               (1) 
                     Article 12 of Title III of Annex III establishes that preferential treatment applies only to goods satisfying the requirements of Annex III which are transported directly between Chile and the European Union,
            
            
               (2)
                     Chile and the European Union have concluded numerous agreements with trade content since the entry into force of the Association Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Chile, which gave economic operators the possibility to adapt their export strategy in order to save costs and better respond to market demand,
            
            
               (3)
                     Chile and the European Union have agreed to amend the provisions of article 12 of Title III of Annex III, in order to allow for more flexibility for economic operators. 
            
            
               HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
            
            
               Article 1
            
            
               Article 12 of Title III of Annex III concerning direct transport is replaced with the text set out in the Annex to this Decision. 
            
            
               Article 2
            
            
               This Decision shall enter into force ninety (90) days after the day of the last notification on which the Parties communicate the completion of the necessary domestic legal procedures.
            
            
               Done at…
            
            
               For the Association Committee
            
            
               The President
            
            
               Annex
            
         
         
            
               Article 12
            
            
               Direct Transport
            
            
               1. The preferential treatment provided for under this Agreement applies only to products, satisfying the requirements of this Annex, which are transported directly between the European Union and Chile. However, products may be transported through other territories with transhipment or temporary warehousing in such territories provided that they remain under the surveillance of the customs authorities in the country of transit or warehousing and do not undergo operations other than adding or affixing marks, labels, seals, unloading, reloading, splitting of consignments or any operation designed to preserve them in good condition.
            
            
               2. Compliance with paragraph 1 shall be considered as satisfied unless the customs authorities have reason to believe the contrary; in such cases, the customs authorities may require the importer to provide evidence of compliance, which shall be given by any appropriate means, such as contractual transport documents such as bills of lading or factual or concrete evidence based on marking or numbering of packages or any evidence related to the goods themselves.