Home›Europe›Cameroon›Decision No 1/2019 of the EPA Committee set up by the interi...
Date: 2019-03-11Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Decision No 1/2019 of the EPA Committee set up by the interim Agreement with a view to an Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Central Africa Party, of the other part, of 18 February 2019 concerning the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union [2019/384]
Executive Summary:
This decision by the EPA Committee addresses the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union concerning the interim Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Community and Central Africa Party (Cameroon). It outlines the adoption of the agreement by Croatia, amends the article on authentic texts to include Croatian, and addresses the application of the agreement to goods traded between Cameroon and Croatia, including those in transit since August 4, 2014. The decision entered into force on the date of its signature, February 18, 2019, with Articles 3 and 4 applied retroactively from August 4, 2014.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Accession of Croatia:**
* The Republic of Croatia becomes a party to the Agreement, adopting the text, annexes, protocols, and declarations in the same manner as other EU Member States.
* **Amendment to Article 107:**
* Article 107 of the Agreement is replaced to include Croatian among the authentic languages of the agreement.
* **Communication of Croatian Text:**
* The Union must communicate the Croatian language version of the Agreement to the Republic of Cameroon.
* **Trade Provisions:**
* The Agreement applies to goods exported between Cameroon and Croatia that comply with origin rules and were in transit or temporary storage on August 4, 2014.
* Preferential treatment is granted if proof of origin is submitted within four months of the decision's entry into force.
* **Commitment by Cameroon:**
* The Republic of Cameroon will not make any claims, requests, or referrals, nor modify or withdraw any concession related to Croatia's accession to the EU, under GATT 1994 or GATS.
* **Entry Into Force:**
* The decision entered into force on February 18, 2019, with Articles 3 and 4 applying retroactively from August 4, 2014.
Impact Analysis:
* **Republic of Croatia:**
* Impact: Formally accedes to the Agreement, with the Croatian language version now considered an authentic text.
* Action Required: Adopt and take note of the text of the Agreement, its Annexes, Protocols, and Declarations.
* **Republic of Cameroon:**
* Impact: The Agreement now includes trade with Croatia under the established terms. Must receive the Croatian language version of the Agreement.
* Action Required: Accept trade with Croatia under the terms of the Agreement, and refrain from claims or modifications of concessions related to Croatia's EU accession.
* **European Union:**
* Impact: Responsible for ensuring the Agreement is implemented with Croatia as a member.
* Action Required: Communicate the Croatian language version of the Agreement to the Republic of Cameroon.
* **Customs Authorities (Exporting Country):**
* Impact: Responsible for issuing retroactive proof of origin for goods traded between Cameroon and Croatia that were in transit or temporary storage on August 4, 2014.
* Action Required: Issue proof of origin retroactively upon request, ensuring compliance with origin rules.
* **Customs Authorities (Importing Country):**
* Impact: Responsible for granting preferential treatment to goods traded between Cameroon and Croatia that were in transit or temporary storage on August 4, 2014, upon presentation of the required proof of origin.
* Action Required: Grant preferential treatment if presented with compliant proof of origin within four months of the decision's entry into force.
Key Entities Referenced
EPA Committee: The committee set up by the interim Agreement with a view to an Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Central Africa Party, of the other part.
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.
Republic of Cameroon: A country in Central Africa, part of the Central Africa Party.
Republic of Croatia: A country that acceded to the European Union and the Agreement.
interim Agreement with a view to an Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Central Africa Party, of the other part: The main agreement under consideration in the document.
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: A treaty that defines the scope and application of the European Union.
Brussels: The city where the Agreement was signed.
Yaound: The city in Cameroon where the decision was made.
L 69/52 EN Official Journal of the European Union 11.3.2019
ACTS ADOPTED BY BODIES CREATED BY
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
DECISION No 1/2019 OF THE EPA COMMITTEE
set up by the interim Agreement with a view to an Economic Partnership Agreement between the
European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Central Africa Party, of the
other part,
of 18 February 2019
concerning the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union [2019/384]
THE EPA COMMITTEE,
Having regard to the interim Agreement with a view to an Economic Partnership Agreement between the European
Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Central Africa Party, of the other part, (the ‘Agreement’),
signed in Brussels on 15 January 2009, and applied on a provisional basis since 4 August 2014, and in particular
Articles 100, 102 and 107 thereof,
Having regard to the Treaty concerning the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union (the ‘Union’),
and the act of accession to the Agreement deposited by the Republic of Croatia on 8 November 2017,
Whereas:
(1) Under the terms of the Agreement and this Decision, the Central Africa Party is composed of the Republic of
Cameroon.
(2) The Agreement applies, on the one hand, to the territories in which the Treaty on the Functioning of the
European Union is applied and under the conditions laid down in that Treaty and, on the other hand, to the
territory of the Republic of Cameroon.
(3) Pursuant to Article 102(3) of the Agreement, the EPA Committee may decide on any amending measures which
might be necessary following the accession of new Member States to the European Union,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The Republic of Croatia, as a Party to the Agreement, shall, in the same manner as the other Member States of the
Union, respectively adopt and take note of the text of the Agreement, as well as of the Annexes, Protocols and
Declarations attached thereto.
Article 2
Article 107 of the Agreement is replaced by the following:
‘Article 107
Authentic texts
This Agreement is drawn up in duplicate in the Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian,
Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian,
Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish and Swedish languages, each of these texts being equally authentic.’
Article 3
The Union shall communicate the Croatian language version of the Agreement to the Republic of Cameroon.11.3.2019 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 69/53
Article 4
1. The provisions of the Agreement shall apply to goods exported from either the Republic of Cameroon to the
Republic of Croatia or from the Republic of Croatia to the Republic of Cameroon, which comply with the rules of
origin in force in the territories of the Parties to the Agreement and which, on 4 August 2014, were either in transit or
in temporary storage, in a customs warehouse or in a free zone in the Republic of Cameroon or in the Republic of
Croatia.
2. Preferential treatment shall be granted in the cases referred to in paragraph 1, provided that a proof of origin
issued retroactively by the customs authorities of the exporting country is submitted to the customs authorities of the
importing country, within four months of the date of entry into force of this Decision.
Article 5
The Republic of Cameroon undertakes not to make any claim, request or referral nor to modify or withdraw any
concession pursuant to Article XXIV:6 and Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994
or Article XXI of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) in relation to the accession of the Republic of
Croatia to the European Union.
Article 6
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its signature.
However, Articles 3 and 4 shall apply from 4 August 2014.
Done at Yaoundé, 18 February 2019.
For the Republic of Cameroon For the European Union
Alamine OUSMANE MEY Cecilia MALMSTRÖM