Date: 2020-10-30Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Council Decision (EU) 2020/1581 of 23 October 2020 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Association Committee in Trade configuration established by the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part, regarding the update of Annex XIII (Approximation of customs legislation) to the Agreement
Executive Summary:
This Council Decision (EU 2020/1581) establishes the European Union's position for the 7th meeting of the Association Committee in Trade configuration regarding the update of Annex XIII of the Association Agreement between the EU and Georgia, specifically concerning the approximation of customs legislation. The decision is binding on the Union and enters into force on the date of its adoption, October 23, 2020. The adopted decision will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Purpose:** Defines the EU's stance on updating Annex XIII of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement.
* **Context:**
* The Association Agreement between the EU and Georgia entered into force on July 1, 2016.
* The Association Council can update or amend the Agreement's Annexes.
* The Association Council delegated authority to the Association Committee in Trade configuration to update Annexes related to Customs and Trade Facilitation.
* **Decision:**
* The EU's position for the 7th meeting of the Association Committee in Trade configuration will be based on the draft Decision of the Association Committee in Trade configuration.
* The Decision of the Association Committee in Trade configuration will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union after its adoption.
* **Effective Date:** This Decision entered into force on October 23, 2020.
Impact Analysis:
European Union:
* Impact: The EU's position in the Association Committee in Trade configuration regarding the update of Annex XIII is defined and binding.
* Action Required: Implement the decision reached at the 7th meeting of the Association Committee in Trade configuration.
Association Committee in Trade Configuration:
* Impact: Mandated to adopt a decision regarding the update of Annex XIII (Approximation of customs legislation) to the Agreement between the EU and Georgia.
* Action Required: Adopt a decision regarding the update of Annex XIII.
Georgia:
* Impact: Subject to the updated Annex XIII regarding the approximation of customs legislation as agreed upon within the Association Committee in Trade configuration.
* Action Required: Implement the changes to customs legislation as outlined in the updated Annex XIII.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.
European Atomic Energy Community: An international organisation established by the Treaty of Rome in 1957 with the purpose of creating a specialist market for nuclear power in Europe.
Georgia: A country located at the intersection of Eastern Europe and Western Asia.
Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part: A trade agreement between the European Union and Georgia.
Association Committee in Trade configuration: A committee established by the Association Agreement between the EU and Georgia, responsible for trade-related matters.
Annex XIII Approximation of customs legislation: An annex to the Association Agreement between the EU and Georgia, relating to the approximation of customs legislation.
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: One of the primary treaties of the European Union, outlining its scope of authority and procedures.
Luxembourg: The capital city of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Place where the Council Decision was made.
L 362/18 E N O f f i c i a l J o u r n a l o f t h e E u r o p e an Union 30.10.2020
COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/1581
of 23 October 2020
on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Association Committee in
Trade configuration established by the Association Agreement between the European Union and
the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of
the other part, regarding the update of Annex XIII (Approximation of customs legislation) to the
Agreement
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 Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their
Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part(1) (‘the Agreement’) was concluded by the Union by
Council Decision (EU) 2016/838(2) and entered into force on 1 July 2016.
(2) Pursuant to Article 406(3) of the Agreement, the Association Council has the power to update or amend the
Annexes to the Agreement.
(3) Pursuant to Article 408(2) of the Agreement, the Association Council may delegate to the Association Committee
any of its powers, including the power to take binding decisions.
(4) Pursuant to Article 1 of the Decision No 3/2014 of the Association Council(3), the Association Council delegated
the power to update or amend the Annexes to the Agreement which relate, inter alia, to Chapter 5 (Customs and
trade facilitation) of Title IV (Trade and Trade-related Matters) of the Agreement to the Association Committee in
Trade configuration, to the extent that there are no specific provisions in Chapter 5 relating to the update or the
amendment of those Annexes.
(5) The Association Committee in Trade configuration, during its 7th meeting, is to adopt a decision regarding the
update of Annex XIII (Approximation of customs legislation) to the Agreement.
(6) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the Association Committee in Trade
configuration, as the envisaged decision will be binding on the Union,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The position to be taken on the Union’s behalf at the 7th meeting of the Association Committee in Trade configuration, as
referred to in Article 408(4) of the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy
Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part, regarding the update of Annex XIII
(Approximation of customs legislation) to the Agreement, shall be based on the draft Decision of the Association
Committee in Trade configuration(4).
Article 2
After its adoption, the Decision of the Association Committee in Trade configuration referred to in Article 1 shall be
published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
(1) OJ L 261, 30.8.2014, p. 4.
(2) Council Decision (EU) 2016/838 of 23 May 2016 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Association Agreement
between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of
the other part (OJ L 141, 28.5.2016, p. 26).
(3) Decision No 3/2014 of the EU-Georgia Association Council of 17 November 2014 on the delegation of certain powers by the
Association Council to the Association Committee in Trade configuration [2015/2263] (OJ L 321, 5.12.2015, p. 72.).
(4) See document ST 11388/20 on http://register.consilium.europa.eu30.10.2020 E N O f f i c i a l J o u r n a l o f t h e E u r o p e a n Union L 362/19
Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
Done at Luxembourg, 23 October 2020.
For the Council
The President
S. SCHULZE