CELEX: 51997PC0649
Language: en
Date: 1997-12-02
Title: Proposal for a Council Decision on the provisional application of certain Additional Protocols to the Free Trade and Europe Agreements with the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                           Brussels, 02.12.1997
                                           COM(97) 649 final
                                           97/0347 (ACQ
                            Proposal for a
                        POT TNCTI, DECISION
             on the provisional application of certain
Additional Protocols to the Free Trade and Europe Agreements with the
           Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania
                    (presented by the Commission)
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                         EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
1.      By decision of 10 November 1997 the Council authorised the Commission to
negotiate with the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania, respectively,
changes to the provisions concerning trade in textiles products contained in the Free
Trade Agreements and in the Europe Agreements with the two countries, in
particular with a view to extending Protocols 1 on trade in textile products, which
would lapse on 31 December 1997, and to eliminating customs duties on textiles
products on both sides.
As a result of these negotiations, Additional Protocols to the Free Trade
Agreements and the Europe Agreements were initialled with Latvia and Lithuania
on 13 November and on 19 November 1997, respectively.
Pending formal conclusion of the Additional Protocols in the form of an Exchange
of Letters, the Additional Protocols should be applied provisionally from 1 January
1998.
2.      Therefore, the Commission proposes that the Council adopt the attached
draft Decision on provisional application from 1 January 1998 of the Additional
Protocols to the Free Trade Agreements and the Europe Agreements with the
Republic of Latvia and the Republif of Lithuania.
 ---pagebreak---     Proposai for a Council Decision on the provisional application of certain
     Additional Protocols to the Free Trade and Europe Agreements with the
                   Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular
Article 113 in conjunction with Article 228(2), thereof,
Having regard to the proposal of the Commission,
Whereas the Commission has negotiated on behalf of the Community Additional
Protocols in the form of an exchange of letters to amend the Free Trade Agreements
and the Europe Agreements with the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania,
with a view to extending and amending certain provisions on trade in textile products
contained in these agreements;
Whereas these Additional Protocols should be applied on a provisional basis from 1
January 1998, pending the completion of procedures required for their conclusion,
subject to reciprocal provisional application by the Republic of Latvia and by the
Republic of Lithuania;
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
                                         Article 1
The Additional Protocols in the form of an exchange of letters to amend the Free
Trade Agreements and the Europe Agreements with the Republic of Latvia and the
Republic of Lithuania with a view to extending and amending certain provisions on
trade in textile products contained in these agreements shall be applied on a provisional
basis from 1 January 1998, pending their formal conclusion, subject to reciprocal
provisional application by the Republic of Latvia and by the Republic of Lithuania.
                                         Article 2
The texts of the initialled Additional Protocols are attached to this Decision.
Done at Brussels,        December 1997.
                                                                  For the Council
                                                                   The President
 ---pagebreak---                          ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL
in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the
Republic of Lithuania tQ the Free Trade Agreement between the European
Communities and the Republic of Lithuania and the Europe Agreement
between the Communities and their Member States and the Republic of
Lithuania
                 sC \c"At—
 ---pagebreak---                          Letter from the Council of the European Union
    Sir,
    1. I have the honour to refer to the consultations held on 6 November 1997 between
       our respective delegations with a view to amending the Agreement on free trade
       and trade-related matters between the European Community, the European Atomic
       Energy Community and the European Coal and Steel Community and the Republic
       of Lithuania, signed on 18 July 1994 and entered into force on 1 January 1995, and
       the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their Member
       States, of the one part, and the Republic of Lithuania, of the other part, signed on
        12 June 1995, in order to, inter alia, extend the duration of Protocols 1 of the
       above-mentioned Agreements concerning trade in textile products until 3 1
        December 2000 and modify the tariff regime for textile products contained in these
       Agreements.
    2. As a result of those consultations it was agreed to amend the Free Trade
       Agreement and the Europe Agreement as follows:
       2.1.1. Article 10 ( 1 ) of the Free Trade Agreement and Article 16 ( 1 ) of the
              Europe Agreement shall be replaced by the following text:
              'Customs duties on imports applicable in the Community to textile products
              originating in Lithuania listed in Chapters 50 to 63 of the Combined
              Nomenclature shall be abolished on 1 January 1998.'
       2.1.2. Annex VI of the Free Trade Agreement and of the Europe Agreement shall be
              abolished.
       2.2. Article 10 (2) of the Free Trade Agreement and Article 16 (2) of the Europe
              Agreement shall be replaced by the following text:
              'Customs duties on imports applicable in Lithuania to textile products
              originating in the Community listed in Chapters 50 to 63 of the Combined
              Nomenclature shall be abolished on 1 January 1998.'
       2.3. The following paragraph shall be added to Article 10 of the Free Trade
              Agreement and to Article 16 of the Europe Agreement:
              "3.    Protocol 1 lays down the other arrangements applicable to the textiles
                     products referred to therein."
ft,                                              v                                          gb?
 ---pagebreak--- 2.4.1. The last sentence of Article 19(1) of Protocol 1 of the Free Trade Agreement
       and of the Europe Agreement is replaced by the following:
        'It shall be applicable until 31 December 2000. '
2.4.2. The operation of Protocol 1 of the Free Trade Agreement and of the Europe
        Agreement shall be reviewed prior to the accession of Lithuania to the
       WTO.
2.4.3. Annex II of Protocol 1 of the Free Trade Agreement and of the Europe
       Agreement is replaced by the following:
           'Products without quantitative limits subject to the double-checking
                     system referred to in Article 2 (3) of the Agreement.
       (The full product descriptions of the categories listed in this Annex are to be
       found in Annex I to the Agreement)
       Category:
       2
       4
       5
       6
       7
       8
        12
        13
       20
       28
       39
        117
        118'
2.4.4. Article 2, paragraph 4 of Protocol A to Protocol 1 is replaced by the
       following:
       'The certificate of origin referred to in paragraph 1 above is not required
       for the importation of goods covered by a movement certificate EUR 1
       issued in conformity with Protocol No 3 of the Free Trade Agreement in
       cases where those documents clearly establish that the Republic of
       Lithuania is to be considered as the.country of origin on the basis.of the
       rules on non-preferential origin in force in the Community.'
 ---pagebreak---       2.5. This Protocol shall form an integral part of the Free Trade Agreement and of
             the Europe Agreement. It shall be drawn up in two copies in the Danish,
             Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish,
             Swedish and Lithuanian languages, each of these texts being equally
             authentic.
   3. I should be obliged if you could kindly confirm the acceptance of your Government
      of the foregoing! Should this be the case, this Additional Protocol to the Free Trade
      Agreement and to the Europe Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters
      shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the day on which the
      Parties have notified each other that the legal procedures to this end have been
      completed. In the meantime, it shall be applied provisionally from 1 January 1998
      on the conditions to be specified in an Exchange of Notes (see Appendix 1).
   Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.
                                                                         For the Council
                                                                     of the European Union
•S                                                *                                         SW
 ---pagebreak---                                                  Appendix 1
                                              Exchange of Notes
     The Directorate-General for External Relations of the Commission of the European Communities
     presents its compliments to the Mission of the Republic of Lithuania to the European Union and has the
     honour to refer to the Agreement on free trade and trade related matters between the European
     Community, the European Atomic Energy Community and the European Coal and Steel Community
     and the Republic of Lithuania, signed on 18 July 1994 and entered into force on 1 January 1995, to the
     Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and
     the Republic of Lithuania, of the other part, signed on 12 June 1995 and to the Additional Protocol to
     these Agreements in the form of an Exchange of Letters initialled on 19 November 1997.
     The Directorate-General wishes to inform the Mission that whilst awaiting the completion of the
     necessary procedures for the conclusion and coming into force of the Additional Protocol, the European
     Community is prepared to allow the provisions of the Additional Protocol to apply de facto from 1
     January 1998. This is on the understanding that cither Party may at any time terminate this de facto
     application of the Additional Protocol provided that one hundred and twenty day's notice is given.
     The Directorate-General for External Relations would be grateful if the Mission would confirm the
     agreement of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania to the foregoing.
     The Directorate-General for External Relations of the Commission of the European Communities avails
     itself of this opportunity to renew to the Mission of the Republic of Lithuania to the European Union the
     assurance of its highest consideration.
     The Mission of the Republic of Lithuania to the European Union presents its compliments to the
     Directorate-General for External Relations of the Commission of the European Communities and has
     the honour to refer to the Note of the Directorate-General of (date oî Note Verbale) regarding, the
     Agreement on free trade and trade related matters between the European Community, the European
     Atomic Energy Community and the European Coal and Steel Community and the Republic of
     Lithuania, signed on 18 July 1994 and entered into force on 1 January 1995, to the Europe Agreement
     between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of
     Lithuania, of the other part, signed on 12 June 1995 and to the Additional Protocol to these Agreements
     in the form of an Exchange of Letters initialled on 19 November 1997.
     The Mission of the Republic of Lithuania to the European Union wishes to confirm to the "Directorate-
     General that whilst awaiting the completion of the necessary procedures for the conclusion and coming
     into force of the Additional Protocol in the form of an Exchange of Letters, the Government of the
     Republic of Lithuania is prepared to allow the provisions of the Additional Protocol to apply de facto
     from 1 January 1998. This is on the understanding that either Party may at any time terminate this de
     facto application of the Additional Protocol provided that one hundred and twenty day's notice is given.
     The Mission of the Republic of Lithuania to the European Union avails itself of this opportunity to
     renew to the Directorate-General for External Relations of the Commission of the European
     Communities the assurance of its highest consideration.
•fc\                                                     «              •                                '     6tf
 ---pagebreak---                  Letter from the Government of the Republic of Lithuania
Sir,
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of... which reads as follows:
"Sir,
1. I have the honour to refer to the consultations held on 6 November 1997 between
   our respective delegations with a view to amending the Agreement on free trade
   and trade-related matters between the European Community, the European Atomic
   Energy Community and the European Coal and Steel Community and the Republic
   of Lithuania, signed on 18 July 1994 and entered into force on 1 January 1995, and
   the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their Member
   States, of the one part, and the Republic of Lithuania, of the other part, signed on
    12 June 1995, in order to, inter alia, extend the duration of Protocols 1 of the
   above-mentioned Agreements concerning trade in textile products until 3 1
   December 2000 and modify the tariff regime for textile products contained in these
   Agreements.
2. As a result of those consultations it was agreed to amend the Free Trade
   Agreement and the Europe Agreement as follows:
   2.1.1. Article 10 ( 1 ) of the Free Trade Agreement and Article 16 ( 1 ) of the
          Europe Agreement shall be replaced by the following text:
          'Customs duties on imports applicable in the Community to textile products
          originating in Lithuania listed in Chapters 50 to 63 of the Combined
          Nomenclature shall be abolished on 1 January 1998.'
   2.1.2. Annex VI of the Free Trade Agreement and of the Europe Agreement shall be
          abolished.
   2.2. Article 10 (2) of the Free Trade Agreement and Article 16 (2) of the Europe
          Agreement shall be replaced by the following text:
          'Customs duties on imports applicable in Lithuania to textile products
          originating in the Community listed in Chapters 50 to 63 of the Combined
          Nomenclature shall be abolished on 1 January 1998.'
   2.3. The following paragraph shall be added to Article 10 of the Free Trade
          Agreement and to Article 16 of the Europe Agreement:
 ---pagebreak---        "3.    Protocol 1 lays down the other arrangements applicable to the textiles
              products referred to therein."
2.4.1. The last sentence of Article 19(1) of Protocol 1 of the Free Trade Agreement
       and of the Europe Agreement is replaced by the following:
       4
        It shall be applicable until 31 December 2000.'
2.4.2. The operation of Protocol 1 of the Free Trade Agreement and of the Europe
       Agreement shall be reviewed prior to the accession of Lithuania to the
       WTO.
2.4.3. Annex II of Protocol 1 of the Free Trade Agreement and of the Europe
       Agreement is replaced by the following:
           'Products without quantitative limits subject to the double-checking
                    system referred to in Article 2 (3) of the Agreement.
       (The full product descriptions of the categories listed in this Annex are to be
       found in Annex I to the Agreement)
       Category:
       2
       4
       5
       6
       7
       12
       13
       20
       28
       39
      .117
       118'
2.4.4. Article 2, paragraph 4 of Protocol A to Protocol 1 is replaced by the
       following:
       'The certificate of origin referred to in paragraph 1 above is not required
       for the importation of goods covered by a movement certificate EUR1
       issued in conformity with Protocol No 3 of the Free Trade Agreement in
                                             1<-                                       «CKJ?
 ---pagebreak---             cases where those documents clearly establish that the Republic of
            Lithuania is to be considered as the country of origin on the basis of the
            rules on non-preferential origin in force in the Community.'
     2.5. This Protocol shall form an integral part of the Free Trade Agreement and of
            the Europe Agreement. It shall be drawn up in two copies in the Danish,
            Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish,
            Swedish and Lithuanian languages, each of these texts being equally
            authentic.
     I should be obliged if you could kindly confirm the acceptance of your Government
     of the foregoing. Should this be the case, this Additional Protocol to the Free Trade
     Agreement and to the Europe Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters
     shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the day on which the
     Parties have notified each other that the legal procedures to this end have been
     completed. In the meantime, it shall be applied provisionally from 1 January 1998
     on the conditions to be specified in an Exchange of Notes (see Appendix 1).
  Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration."
  I have the honour to confirm that my Government is in agreement with the contents of
  your letter.
  Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.
                                                                  For the Government
                                                               of the Republic of Lithuania
V                                                                                           êé
 ---pagebreak---                          ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL
in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the
Republic of Latvia to the Free Trade Agreement between the European
Communities and the Republic of Latvia and the Europe Agreement between
the Communities and their Member States and the Republic of Latvia
                                          AA-.
 ---pagebreak---                          Letter from the Council of the European Union
    Sir,
    1. I have the honour to refer to the negotiations held on 12 November 1997 between
       our respective delegations with a view to amending the Agreement on free trade
       and trade-related matters between the European Community, the European Atomic
       Energy Community and the European Coal and Steel Community and the Republic
       of Latvia, signed on 18 July 1994 and entered into force on 1 January 1995, and the
       Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States,
       of the one part, and the Republic of Latvia, of the other part, signed on 12 June
        1995, in order to, inter alia, extend the duration of Protocols 1 of the above-
       mentioned Agreements concerning trade in textile products and modify the tariff
       regime for textile products contained in these Agreements.
    2. As a result of those negotiations it was agreed to amend the Free Trade
       Agreement and the Europe Agreement as follows:
       2.1.1. Article 10 (1) of the Free Trade Agreement and Article 16(1) of the
              Europe Agreement shall be replaced by the following text:
              'Customs duties on imports applicable in the Community to textile products
              originating in Latvia listed in Chapters 50 to 63 of the Combined
              Nomenclature shall be abolished on 1 January 1998.'
       2.1.2. Annex V of the Free Trade Agreement and of the Europe Agreement
              shall be abolished.
       2.2. Article 10 (2) of the Free Trade Agreement and Article 16 (2) of the Europe
              Agreement shall be replaced by the following text:
            'Customs duties on imports applicable in Latvia to textile products originating
            in the Community listed in Chapters 50 to 63 of the Combined
            Nomenclature shall be abolished on 1 January 1998.'
       2.3. The following paragraph shall be added to Article 10 of the Free Trade
              Agreement and to Article 16 of the Europe Agreement:
              '3.    Protocol 1 lays down the other arrangements applicable to the textiles
                     products referred to therein.'
       2.4.1. The last sentence of Article 19 (1) of Protocol 1 of the Free Trade Agreement
              and of the Europe Agreement is replaced by the following:
/ /                                            A*U
 ---pagebreak---         'It shall be applicable until 31 December 2000, or until Latvia's accession to
        the WTO, whichever date is earlier. Should Latvia accede to the WTO
        before 31 December 2000, consultations will take place prior to Latvia's
        WTO-accession with a view to agreeing on the maintenance of the double-
        checking system as specified in Article 2 (3) of Protocol 1.'
2.4.2. Annex II of Protocol 1 of the Free Trade Agreement and of the Europe
        Agreement is replaced by the following:
               'Products subject to the double-checking system referred to in
                                 Article 2 (3) of the Agreement.
        (The full product descriptions of the categories listed in this Annex are to be
        found in Annex I to the Agreement)
        Category:
            1
           2
           4                                            •        <•
            5
           6
           7
           9
            12
            15
           26
           27
           31'
2.4.3. Article 2, paragraph 4 of Protocol A to Protocol 1 is replaced by the
       following:
       The certificate of origin referred to in paragraph 1 above is not required
       for the importation of goods covered by a movement certificate EUR1
       issued in conformity with Protocol No 3 of the Free Trade Agreement in
       cases where those documents clearly establish that the Republic of Latvia is
       to be considered as the country of origin on the basis of the rules on non-
      preferential origin in force in the Community.'
2.5. This Protocol shall form an integral part of the Free Trade Agreement and of
      the Europe Agreement. It shall be drawn up in two copies in the Danish,
      Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish,
       Swedish and Latvian languages, each of these texts being equally authentic.
                                                                                        gy>
                                          AM.
 ---pagebreak--- 3. I should be obliged if you could kindly confirm the acceptance of your Government
   of the foregoing. Should this be the case, this Additional Protocol to the Free Trade
   Agreement and to the Europe Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters
   shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the day on which the
   Parties have notified each other that the legal procedures to this end have been
   completed. In the meantime, it shall be applied provisionally from 1 January 1998
   on the conditions to be specified in an Exchange of Notes (see Appendix 1).
Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.
                                                                      For the Council
                                                                  of the European Union
                                         A<                                              &*P
 ---pagebreak---                                                 Appendix 1
                                            Exchange of Notes
    The Directorate-General for External Relations of the Commission of the European Communities
    presents its compliments to the Mission of the Republic of Latvia to the European Union and has the
    honour to refer to the Agreement on free trade and trade related matters between the European
    Community, the European Atomic Energy Community and the European Coal and Steel Community
    and the Republic of Latvia, signed on 18 July 1994 and entered into force on 1 January 1995, to the
    Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and
    the Republic of Latvia, of the other part, signed on 12 June 1995 and to the Additional Protocol to these
    Agreements in the form of an Exchange of Letters, initialled on 13 November 1997.
    The Directorate-General wishes to inform the Mission that whilst awaiting the completion of the
    necessary procedures for the conclusion and coming into force of the Additional Protocol, the European
    Community is prepared to allow the provisions of the Additional Protocol to apply de facto from 1
    January 1998. This is on the understanding that cither Party may at any time terminate this de facto
    application of the Additional Protocol provided that one hundred and twenty day's notice is given.
    The Directorate-General for External Relations would be grateful if the Mission would confirm the
    agreement of the Government of the Republic of Latvia to the foregoing.
    The Directorate-General for External Relations of the Commission of the European Communities avails
    itself of this opportunity to renew to the Mission of the Republic of Latvia to the European Union the
    assurance of its highest consideration.
    The Mission of the Republic of Latvia to the European Union presents its compliments to the
    Directorate-General for External Relations of the Commission of the European Communities and has
    the honour to refer to the Note of the Directorate-General of (date of Note Verbale) regarding the
    Agreement on free trade and trade related matters between the European Community, the European
    Atomic Energy Community and the European Coal and Steel Community and the Republic of Latvia,
    signed on 18 July 1994 and entered into force on 1 January 1995, to the Europe Agreement between the
    European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Latvia, of the
    other part, signed on 12 June 1995 and to the Additional Protocol to these Agreements in the form of an
    Exchange of Letters, initialled on 13 November 1997.
    The Mission of the Republic of Latvia to the European Union wishes to confirm to the Directorate-
    General that whilst awaiting the completion of the necessary procedures for the conclusion and coming
    into force of the Additional Protocol in the form of an Exchange of Letters, the Government of the
    Republic of Latvia is prepared to allow the provisions of the Additional Protocol to apply de facto from
     1 January 1998. This is on the understanding that either Party may at any time terminate this de facto
    application of the Additional Protocol provided that one hundred and twenty day's notice is given.
    The Mission of the Republic of Latvia to the European Union avails itself of this opportunity to renew
    to the Directorate-General for External Relations of the Commission of the European Communities the
    assurance of its highest consideration.
it.                                              X6                                                         £kJp
 ---pagebreak---                    Letter from the Government of the Republic of Latvia
Sir,
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of... which reads as follows:
"Sir,
1. I have the honour to refer to the negotiations held on 12 November 1997 between
   our respective delegations with a view to amending the Agreement on free trade
   and trade-related matters between the European Community, the European Atomic
   Energy Community and the European Coal and Steel Community and the Republic
   of Latvia, signed on 18 July 1994 and entered into force on 1 January 1995, and the
   Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States,
   of the one part, and the Republic of Latvia, of the other part, signed on 12 June
    1995, in order to, inter alia, extend the duration of Protocols 1 of the above-
   mentioned Agreements concerning trade in textile products and modify the tariff
   regime for textile products contained in these Agreements.
2. As a result of those negotiations it was agreed to amend the Free Trade
   Agreement and the Europe Agreement as follows:
   2.1.1. Article 10 ( 1 ) of the Free Trade Agreement and Article 16 ( 1 ) of the
          Europe Agreement shall be replaced by the following text:
          'Customs duties on imports applicable in the Community to textile products
          originating in Latvia listed in Chapters 50 to 63 of the Combined
          Nomenclature shall be abolished on 1 January 1998.'
   2.1.2. Annex V of the Free Trade Agreement and of the Europe Agreement
          shall be abolished.
   2.2. Article 10 (2) of the Free Trade Agreement and Article 16 (2) of the Europe
          Agreement shall be replaced by the following text:
        'Customs duties on imports applicable in Latvia to textile products originating
        in the Community listed in Chapters 50 to 63 of the Combined Nomenclature
        shall be abolished on 1 January 1998.'
   2.3. The following paragraph shall be added to Article 10 of the Free Trade
          Agreement and to Article 16 of the Europe Agreement:
          '3.    Protocol 1 lays down the other arrangements applicable to the textiles
                 products referred to therein.'
                                             Àf-                                        &£
 ---pagebreak--- 2.4.1. The last sentence of Article 19(1) of Protocol 1 of the Free Trade Agreement
        and of the Europe Agreement is replaced by the following:
        'It shall be applicable until 31 December 2000, or until Latvia's accession to
        the WTO, whichever date is earlier. Should Latvia accede to the WTO
        before 31 December 2000, consultations will take place prior to Latvia's
        WTO-accession with a view to agreeing on the maintenance of the double-
        checking system as specified in Article 2 (3) of Protocol 1.'
2.4.2. Annex II of Protocol 1 of the Free Trade Agreement and of the Europe
        Agreement is replaced by the following:
               'Products subject to the double-checking system referred to in
                                 Article 2 (3) of the Agreement.
        (The full product descriptions of the categories listed in this Annex are to be
        found in Annex I to the Agreement)
        Category:
            1
            2
           4
            5
           6
           7
           9
            12
            15
           26
           27
           31'
2.4.3. Article 2, paragraph 4 of Protocol A to Protocol 1 is replaced by the
       following:
       The certificate of origin referred to in paragraph 1 above is not required
       for the importation of goods covered by a movement certificate EUR1
       issued in conformity with Protocol No 3 of the Free Trade Agreement in
       cases where those documents clearly establish that the Republic of Latvia is
       to be considered as the country of origin on the basis of the rules on non-
      preferential origin in force in the Community.'
                                          AS                                            ®d
 ---pagebreak---        2.5. This Protocol shall form an integral part of the Free Trade Agreement and of
              the Europe Agreement. It shall be drawn up in two copies in the Danish,
              Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish,
              Swedish and Latvian languages, each of these texts being equally authentic.
       I should be obliged if you could kindly confirm the acceptance of your Government
       of the foregoing. Should this be the case, this Additional Protocol to the Free Trade
       Agreement and to the Europe Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters
       shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the day on which the
       Parties have notified each other that the legal procedures to this end have been
       completed. In the meantime, it shall be applied provisionally from 1 January 1998
       on the conditions to be specified in an Exchange of Notes (see Appendix 1).
    Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration."
    I have the honour to confirm that my Government is in agreement with the contents of
    your letter.
    Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.
                                                                    For the Government
                                                                  of the Republic of Latvia
At-                                               A,                                         &
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                                                                   ISSN 0254-1475
                                                           COM(97) 649 final
                                              DOCUMENTS
EN                                                                         11
                                    Catalogue number : CB-CO-97-664-EN-C
                                                             ISBN 92-78-28401-7
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities
L-2985 Luxembourg
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