CELEX: 51998PC0412
Language: en
Date: 1998-07-01 00:00:00
Title: Recommendation for a Council Decision concerning exchange rate matters relating to the CFA franc and the Comorian franc

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                 Brussels, 01.07.1998
                                 COM(1998) 412 final
                Recommendation for a
               COUNCIL DECISION
         concerning exchange rate matters
relating to the CFA franc and the Comorian franc
           (presented by the Commission)
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---       Recommendation for a Council Decision concerning exchange rate matters
                      relating to the CFA franc and the Comorian franc
                               EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
France has concluded several agreements concerning exchange rate matters with the
UEMOA (Union économique et monétaire ouest-africaine), the CEMAC (Communauté
économique et monétaire de l'Afrique Centrale) and with the Comores1.
The existence of a common currency in this area, which is a consequence of the
agreement of France and the CFA zone countries, is a major complement to the
Community's development policy. It is in line with its effort to enhance regional co-
operation and growth through deeper economic interdependency and solidarity, e.g. in
the UEMOA. As such, it increases the efficiency of the Community's significant support
for the participant countries, whether in the form of national indicative programmes,
structural adjustment support or regional funds.
The use of a common currency is of course a monetary matter. But, in this particular
case, it encompasses a true development dimension, through complementing the
Community's development strategy aiming at achieving growth, poverty alleviation and
integration in the world economy through regional integration.
As from 1 January 1999, the Community will have the exclusive competence for
monetary and exchange rate matters in the Member States adopting the euro. Any
agreement with third countries concerning monetary or foreign exchange rate matters
needs to reflect this allocation of competence. Therefore, the Community must decide on
the future of these agreements. For this purpose, the Commission is presenting a draft
Council Decision which allows France to maintain the present agreements concerning
exchange rate matters relating to the CFA franc (issued by the Banque Centrale des Etats
de l'Afrique de l'Ouest and the Banque des Ftals de l'Afrique Centrale) and the
Comorian franc (issued by the Banque Centrale des Comores).
    Convention de coopération monétaire du 23 novembre 1972 entre les Etats membres de la Banque des
    Etats de l'Afrique centrale (BEAC) et la République française, as amended; Convention de compte
    d'opérations du 13 mars 1973 entre le ministre de l'Economie et des Finances de la République
    Française et le Président du Conseil de l'administration de la Banque des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale,
     as amended; Accord de coopération du 4 décembre 1973 entre la République française et les
     Républiques membres de l'union monétaire ouest-africaine, as amended; Convention de compte
     d'opérations du 4 décembre 1973 entre le ministre de l'Economie et des Finances de la République
     Française et le Président du conseil des ministres de l'Union monétaire quest-africaine, as amended;
     Accord de coopération monétaire du 23 novembre 1979 entre la République française et la République
     fédérale islamique des Comores, as amended; Convention de compte d'opérations du 23 novembre
     1979 entre le ministre de l'Economie et des Finances de la République Française et le ministre des
     Finances, de l'Economie et du Plan de la République fédérale des Comores, as amended.
 ---pagebreak--- I. General considerations
Article 109 (3) of the Treaty stipulates that "By way of derogation from Article 228,
where agreements concerning monetary or foreign exchange regime matters need to be
negotiated by the Community with one or more States or international organizations, the
Council, acting by a qualified majority, on a recommendation from the Commission and
after consulting the ECB, shall decide the arrangements for the negotiations and for the
conclusion of such agreements."
The existing agreements between France and the UEMOA (Union économique et
monétaire ouest-africaine), the CEMAC (Communauté économique et monétaire de
l'Afrique Centrale) and with the Comores include a fixed parity of the CFA franc and the
Comorian franc against the French franc, for which the euro will be substituted as from 1
January 1999.
These agreements are unlikely to have any material effect on the conduct of the single
monetary and exchange rate policy of the euro area. The guarantee of convertibility for
the CFA franc and the Comorian franc is based on a budgetary commitment of the French
Treasury. Each of the central banks participating in the agreements (Banque Centrale des
 Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest, Banque des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale et Banque Centrale
des Comores) holds an operation account with the French treasury which provides, in
principle, an unlimited overdraft facility to the respective central bank. At the same time,
these central banks are obliged to hold a large part (in principle at least 65%) of their
 foreign assets in their operation account.
 The Banque de France which will be, as from 1 January 1999, an integral part of the
 European System of Central Banks has no obligation to guarantee the convertibility of
 the CFA franc and the Comorian franc. The continuation of the present agreements
 should therefore not stand in the way of a smooth functioning of EMU.
 II. Comments on the articles
 Article 1
 This article reflects the fact that the agreements between France and UEMOA (Union
 économique et monétaire ouest-africaine), CEMAC (Communauté économique et
 monétaire de l'Afrique Centrale) and the Comores concerning exchange rate matters fall
 in the competence of the Community as from the date of the introduction of the euro. The
 article provides that France may continue the present agreements.
 Article 2
 This article provides that France and the African signatories to the agreements shall keep
 the sole responsibility for the implementation of the agreements concluded between
 France and the UEMOA, the CEMAC and the Comores. The article does not address any
 modifications of such agreements.
 ---pagebreak--- Article 3
This article provides that France shall keep the Commission and the Economic and
Financial Committee informed on a regular basis about the implementation of the
agreements. The degree of regularity should be such, that any developments which might
have an impact on the smooth functioning of the single monetary and exchange rate
policy are reported in good time.
In case of changes of the parity between the French franc and the CFA and Comorian
francs, France has to inform in advance the Economic and Financial Committee.
Article 4
Article 4 and 5 set rules for any future changes of the agreements between France, the
UEMOA, CEMAC and the Comores. A distinction is drawn between changes which
modify the nature or scope of the agreements and those which do not. Article 4 deals with
the latter type of changes. In such cases, France may agree to changes after having
informed the Commission and the Economic and Financial Committee.
By delegating to France the competence to negotiate and to agree such changes to the
existing agreements, the Council makes use of its power to decide the arrangements for
the negotiation and for the conclusion of agreements concerning monetary or foreign
exchange regime matters.
Article 5
This article refers to possible future changes of the agreements between France, the
UEMOA, the CEMAC and the Comores which change the scope or nature of the present
agreements.
France is required to submit such plans to the Commission and the Economic and
Financial Committee. The Commission shall submit to the Council a recommendation for
a decision. In accordance with Article 109 (3), the ECB will be consulted before any
Council decision.
 All changes which go beyond technical changes and which constitute changes of the
 nature or scope of these agreements will therefore have to be approved by the Council.
 This applies to any modification of the composition of countries which are parties to the
 agreements, and to any modification of the principle of free convertibility at a fixed
 parity between the euro and the CFA and Comorian francs, which is guaranteed by a
 budgetary commitment of the French Treasury.
 ---pagebreak--- Article 6 and 7
This article ensures that the decision addressed to France will be applicable as from the
first day of the third stage of Economic and Monetary Union, i.e. as from 1 January 1999.
This is also the first day on which Article 109 (3) is applicable.
 ---pagebreak---                    Recommendation for a Council Decision [ ] of...
           concerning exchange rate matters relating to the CFA Franc
                               and the Comorian Franc
The Council of the European Union,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular
Article 109 (3) thereof,
Having regard to the recommendation from the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Central Bank,
(1) Whereas according to Council regulation (EC) No 974/98 of 3 May 19981 the euro
     will be substituted as from 1 January 1999 for the currency of each participating
     Member State at the conversion rate;
(2) Whereas the Community will have the competence for monetary and exchange rate
     matters in the Member States adopting the euro as from the same date;
(3) Whereas the Council is to determine the appropriate arrangements for the negotiation
     and conclusion of agreements concerning monetary or foreign exchange regime
     matters;
(4) Whereas France has concluded several agreements with the UEMOA (Union
     économique et monétaire ouest-africaine), the CEMAC (Communauté économique
     et monétaire de l'Afrique Centrale) and with the Comores which are intended to
 1
   OJL 139, 11.5.1998, p.l
 ---pagebreak---      guarantee the convertibility of the CFA and Comorain francs into the French franc at
      a fixed parity2;
 (5) Whereas the euro will be substituted for the French franc on 1 January 1999;
(6) Whereas the convertibility of the CFA and Comorian francs is guaranteed by a
      budgetary commitment of the French authorities; whereas the French authorities
     have given the assurance that the agreements with the UEMOA, the CEMAC and
     with the Comores have no substantial financial implications for France;
(7) Whereas these agreements are unlikely to have any material effect on the monetary
     and exchange rate policy of the euro area; whereas in their present form and state of
     implementation these agreements therefore are unlikely to present any obstacle to a
     smooth functioning of Economic and Monetary Union;
(8) Whereas France and the African signatories to the agreements are willing to continue
     the present agreements after the substitution of the euro for the French franc;
     whereas it is appropriate that France may continue the present agreements after the
     substitution of the euro for the French franc and that France and the African
     signatories to the agreements implement them under their sole responsibility;
(9) Whereas it is necessary for the Community to be informed on a regular basis about
     the implementation and envisaged modifications of the agreements;
(10) Whereas it is necessary to involve the competent Community bodies before making
     any changes to the nature or scope of the present agreements; whereas this applies to
     the membership of the agreements and to the principle of free convertibility at a
     fixed parity between the euro and the CFA and Comorian francs, convertibility being
     guaranteed by a budgetary commitment of the French Treasury;
    Convention de coopération monétaire du 23 novembre 1972 entre les Etats membres de la Banque des
    Etats de l'Afrique centrale (BEAC) et la République française, as amended; Convention de compte
    d'opérations du 13 mars 1973 entre le ministre de l'Economie et des Finances de la République
    Française et le Président du Conseil de l'administration de la Banque des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale,
    as amended; Accord de coopération du 4 décembre 1973 entre la République française et les
    Républiques membres de l'union monétaire ouest-africaine, as amended, Contrition de ~OÎ. J.+*
    d'opérations du 4 décembre 1973 entre le ministre de l'Economie et des Finances dr T? Rt 7 '' h j t - -
    Française et le Président du conseil des ministres de l'Union monétaire que-,' ifi c'n*u ^ . .nr't
    Accord de coopération monétaire du 23 novembre 1979 entre la République fr .v ,<>< ^ e **
     fédérale islamique des Comores, as amended; Convention de compte d'opéntr -, .. . .           s (^T-u
     1979 entre le ministre de l'Economie et des Finances de la République Fjun v aiso t le 'ii " i »k
     Finances, de l'Economie et du Plan de la République fédérale des Comores, as amended
 ---pagebreak--- (11) Whereas Member States may conclude international agreements, without prejudice
     to Community competence and Community agreements as regards economic and
     monetary union,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
                                        Article 1
Upon the substitution of the euro for the French franc, France may continue its present
agreements concerning exchange rate matters with the UEMOA (Union économique et
monétaire ouest-africaine), the CEMAC (Communauté économique et monétaire de
l'Afrique Centrale) and with the Comores.
                                        Article 2
France and the African signatories to the agreements shall keep the sole responsibility for
the implementation of these agreements.
                                        Article 3
The competent French authorities shall keep the Commission, the European Central Bank
and the Economic and Financial Committee informed on a regular basis about the
implementation of the agreements. The French authorities shall inform the Economic and
Financial Committee prior to changes of the parity between the euro and the CFA or
Comorian franc.
                                        Article 4
France may negotiate and conclude modifications to the present agreements to the extent
that the nature or scope of the agreements are not changed. It shall inform in advance the
Commission and the Economic and Financial Committee of such changes.
                                                3-
 ---pagebreak---                                          Àrticïc 5
Any plans to change the nature or scope of these agreements shall be submitted by France
to the Commission ant! the Economic and Financial Committee. Such plans require the
approval of the Council on the basis of a recommendation from the Commission and after
consultation of the European Central Bank.
                                        Article 6
This decision shall apply as from 1 January 1999.
                                        Article 7
This decision is addressed to France.
Done at Brussels,
                                                                    For the Council
                                                                    The President
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                                                                   ISSN 0254-1475
                                                            COM(98) 412 final
                                              DOCUMENTS
EN                                                                09 06    11
                                    Catalogue number : CB-CO-98-431-EN-C
                                                             ISBN 92-78-37877-1
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities
L-2985 Luxembourg
                                                                                 1