2003/155/EC: Council Decision of 16 December 2002 on the signature and conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Turkish Republic on precursors and chemical substances frequently used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances

Council Decision
of 16 December 2002
on the signature and conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Turkish Republic on precursors and chemical substances frequently used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances
(2003/155/EC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 133 in conjunction with Article 300(2), first sentence, and Article 300(4) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Whereas:
(1) On 5 April 2001, the Council authorised the Commission to negotiate with Turkey an Agreement on precursors and chemical substances frequently used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, hereinafter referred to as "the Agreement".
(2) The Community should strengthen controls on shipments of precursors to Turkey, given that they are re-entering the Community in the form of heroin or other psychotropic or narcotic substances.
(3) It is appropriate that the Council should authorise the Commission, in consultation with a special committee appointed by the Council, to approve amendments on behalf of the Community where the Agreement provides for them to be adopted by the Joint Follow-up Group. Such authorisation must, however, be limited to the amendment of the Annexes to the Agreement in so far as such amendment concerns substances already covered by Community legislation on drugs precursors and chemical substances.
(4) The Agreement should be approved,