title: 2007/717/EC: Commission Decision of 31 October 2007 setting up an Expert Group on electronic invoicing (e-Invoicing)

text:
               7.11.2007

               EN

               Official Journal of the European Union

               L 289/38

      COMMISSION DECISION

   of 31 October 2007
   setting up an Expert Group on electronic invoicing (e-Invoicing)
   (2007/717/EC)
   THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
   Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
   Whereas:

               (1)

               Article 3 of the Treaty assigned the Community the task of ensuring the creation of an internal market characterised by the abolition, between Member States, of obstacles to the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital.

               (2)

               Article 232 of Council Directive 2006/112/EC of 28 November 2006 on the common system of value added tax (1) allows the issue of electronic invoices instead of paper invoices.

               (3)

               The revised Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs (2) provides an all encompassing economic reform agenda. Its micro economic pillar focuses on creating a business-friendly environment. Within this target, the development of interoperable electronic invoicing (e-Invoicing) solutions is a vital component.

               (4)

               In its communication to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions ‘i2010 — A European Information Society for growth and employment’ (3) of 1 June 2005, the Commission launched the i2010 initiative as a framework for addressing the main challenges and developments in the information society and media sector up to 2010. It promotes an open and competitive digital economy and emphasises information and communication technologies (ICT as a driver of inclusion and quality of life).

               (5)

               The European Payments Council (EPC), the decision making and coordination body of the European banking industry in relation to payments, has committed itself to establishing by 2010 a Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) with integrated payment infrastructures and payment products.

               (6)

               e-Invoicing links the internal processes of enterprises to the payment systems. Therefore, SEPA and a successful European e-Invoicing initiative would complement each other. These two initiatives together are expected to deliver huge benefits to enterprises and financial service providers through improved efficiency and automation of supply chains.

               (7)

               In order to enhance the use of the digital environment and to reap the full benefits of e-Invoicing in the Community, the current practices should be simplified and the transition to new business models facilitated by a more integrated and uniform framework. This would specially serve the interests of European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

               (8)

               In December 2006, a group of stakeholders formed an industry Task Force on e-Invoicing, which was chaired by the services of the Commission, and included enterprises, representatives of banks and other service providers, as well as standardisation organisations. The aim of the Task Force was to pave the way for future work on a European e-Invoicing Framework. The Task Force formulated proposals for a potential governance structure and designed a roadmap for an e-Invoicing programme. The Task Force delivered its final report in June 2007.

               (9)

               Given the positive experience with the Task Force, and in order to address longer-term issues, an Expert Group on e-Invoicing should be established.

               (10)

               Its tasks should be to identify business requirements (4) and responsibilities for the execution of specific work, as well as to steer the creation — by the end of 2009 — of a European e-Invoicing Framework to establish a common conceptual structure to support the provision of e-Invoicing services in an open and interoperable manner across Europe.

               (11)

               The Expert Group should be composed of persons having direct and relevant expertise in respect of activities relating to e-Invoicing, including key stakeholders from the public sector, big and small enterprises as well as services providers, standardisation organisations and consumers representatives. In addition, provision should be made for the participation of observers. Any report or outcome of the Expert Group should be the work of the Group's members and should not be understood as reflecting the views of the Commission.

               (12)

               Rules on disclosure of information by members of the Expert Group should be provided for, without prejudice to the rules on security annexed to the Commission's rules of procedure by Decision 2001/844/EC, ECSC, Euratom (5).

               (13)

               Personal data relating to members of the Expert Group should be processed in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies on the free movement of such data (6).

               (14)

               It is appropriate to fix a period for the application of this Decision. The Commission will in due time consider the advisability of an extension,

         HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
   Article 1
   The Expert Group on e-Invoicing
   The Expert Group on e-Invoicing, hereinafter ‘the Group’, is set up. This Decision shall take effect on the date of its adoption.
   Article 2
   Tasks
   1.   The Group shall generally assist the Commission in the development and monitoring of progress towards an agreed strategy for the creation of a European e-Invoicing Framework.
   2.   The Group's tasks shall be completed by 31 December 2009.
   3.   The Group shall fulfil the following particular tasks:

               (a)

               identifying shortcomings in the regulatory framework for e-Invoicing at Community and Member State level, which prevent the Community economy exploiting its full potential;

               (b)

               identifying e-Invoicing business requirements for an European e-Invoicing Framework and ensure their validation by key stakeholders (7);

               (c)

               identifying relevant e-Invoicing data elements, especially for the linkage between the invoice and, at least, the procurement and the payments process, issues related to valueadded tax, authentication and integrity, archiving and storage demands, as well as the need to ensure the validation of those elements by key stakeholders;

               (d)

               proposing responsibilities to be assigned to standardisation bodies and a time schedule for the development of common standard(s) based on the business and data requirements of stakeholders to support a European e-Invoicing Framework;

               (e)

               proposing the European e-Invoicing Framework. The European e-Invoicing Framework is to establish a common conceptual structure, including business requirements and standard(s), and propose solutions supporting the provision of e-Invoicing services in an open and interoperable manner across Europe.

         4.   In carrying out its task, the Group shall take account of already existing work and solutions, in particular concerning business requirements and technical standards, in the domain of e-Invoicing in the public and private sector.
   5.   Where appropriate and necessary, the Group can identify responsibilities for the execution of specific work to subgroups or external bodies and organisations competent in the domain of e-Invoicing.
   6.   The Group shall establish and communicate to the Commission a mid-term report summarising progress on the tasks and any recommendations as an input to reflection and discussion between the Commission and Member States and stakeholders, in particular industry associations. This report shall be made available to the public.
   7.   The Group shall establish and communicate to the Commission a final report describing the European e-Invoicing Framework. This report shall be made available to the public.
   Article 3
   Consultation
   1.   The Commission may consult the Group on any matter relating to e-Invoicing.
   2.   The Chairperson of the Group may advise the Commission that it is desirable to consult the Group on a specific question.
   Article 4
   Membership — Appointment
   1.   The Group shall be composed of up to 30 members.
   2.   The members shall be appointed by the Commission from specialists with competence in the area of e-Invoicing on the basis of applications from industry associations, public sector bodies and individuals representing the interests of all or part of public sector, enterprises and ICT, consumers, financial service providers and standardisation organisations in the field of e-Invoicing.
   Applicants deemed suitable for membership but not appointed may be placed on a reserve list, which the Commission may use for the appointment of replacements.
   3.   The members shall be appointed as representatives of public authority and civil society.
   4.   The Commission shall assess applications against the following criteria:

               (a)

               members must represent the key stakeholders (e.g. service providers, solution providers, public sector, enterprises, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as consumers), and standardisation organisations;

               (b)

               members must have recent practical or operational expertise or experience with legal, administrative, tax-related, standardisation, commercial and/or technical challenges of e-Invoicing on a cross-border basis. In particular, members shall have relevant direct experience in business projects or matters which equip them with commercial or technical insights needed to develop solutions to the issues as set out in this Decision;

               (c)

               members must be in a position to contribute to defining or shaping the views of their administration, parent organisation, industry association or industry, or other stakeholder group in respect of the matters covered by the mandate;

               (d)

               members must be proficient in English at a level which allows them to contribute to discussions and preparation of reports.

         Applications received from interested parties should be accompanied by material demonstrating that the proposed member meets the above conditions.
   5.   When appointing the members, the Commission shall take into account the following criteria:

               (a)

               the required legal, commercial and technical expertise in respect of the matters covered by the mandate for the Group;

               (b)

               the expertise covering all relevant functions within the supply and demand side of e-Invoicing.

         In addition, the Commission shall aim at ensuring a broad geographical representation and a balanced gender composition on the basis of applications received.
   6.   The members shall inform the Commission in good time of any conflict of interests which might undermine their objectivity.
   7.   The names of members appointed individually are published on the Internet site of the DG or in the Official Journal of the European Union, Series C, or both. The names of members are collected, processed and published in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001.
   8.   Members shall be appointed for a twelve-month renewable term and shall remain in office until such time as they are replaced or their term of office ends.
   9.   Members may be replaced for the remainder of their term of office in any of the following cases:

               (a)

               where the member resigns;

               (b)

               where the member is no longer capable of contributing effectively to the Group’s deliberations;

               (c)

               where the member does not comply with Article 287 of the Treaty;

               (d)

               where, contrary to paragraph 6, the member has failed to inform the Commission in good time of a conflict of interests.

         Article 5
   Chairperson — Appointment
   1.   The Commission shall appoint the Chairperson of the Expert Group, taking into account the extent to which the selected person represents the key stakeholders' interests, contributes to shaping the views of industry in respect of the matters covered by the mandate and possesses the required legal, commercial and technical expertise.
   2.   The Commission shall appoint the Chairperson for a renewable term of twelve months.
   Article 6
   Operation
   1.   The Commission shall organise the meetings of the Group, which will be chaired by the Chairperson.
   2.   In agreement with the Commission, subgroups may be set up to examine specific questions under terms of reference established by the Group; such subgroups shall be dissolved as soon as their tasks have been fulfilled.
   3.   The Commission's representative may invite experts or observers with specific competence on a subject on the agenda to participate in the deliberations of the Group or its subgroups.
   4.   Information obtained by participating in the deliberations or work of the Group, or of a subgroup, may not be divulged if, in the opinion of the Commission, that information relates to confidential matters.
   5.   The Group and its subgroups shall normally meet on Commission premises in accordance with the procedures and schedule established by it. The Commission shall provide secretarial services.
   Commission officials with an interest in the proceedings may attend the meetings of the Group or the subgroups.
   6.   The Group shall adopt its rules of procedure on the basis of the standard rules of procedure adopted by the Commission.
   7.   The Commission may publish, or place on the Internet, in the original language of the document concerned, any summary, conclusion or working document of the Group.
   Article 7
   Reimbursement of expenses
   1.   The Commission shall reimburse travel expenses and, where appropriate, subsistence expenses for the Chairperson, members, experts and observers in connection with the Group’s activities in accordance with the Commission’s rules on the compensation of external experts.
   2.   The Chairperson, members, experts and observers shall not be remunerated for the services they render.
   3.   Meeting expenses shall be reimbursed within the limits of the annual budget allocated to the Group by the competent Commission department.
   Article 8
   Expiry
   This Decision shall expire on 31 December 2009.

      Done at Brussels, 31 October 2007.

            For the Commission

         Günter VERHEUGEN

            Vice-President

      (1)  OJ L 347, 11.12.2006, p. 1. Directive as amended by Directive 2006/138/EC (OJ L 384, 29.12.2006, p. 92).

      (2)  COM(2005) 24.

      (3)  COM(2005) 229 final.

      (4)  e-Invoicing business requirements represent the characteristics that e-Invoice services should match in order to satisfy the stakeholders' business needs and goals, enabling the processes of the entire financial and supply chains. They are expressed in terms of high level process flows, e-invoice information and standard message structure.

      (5)  OJ L 317, 3.12.2001, p. 1. Decision as amended by Decision 2006/548/EC, Euratom (OJ L 215, 5.8.2006, p. 38).

      (6)  OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1.

      (7)  Notably public sector, enterprises and ICT and financial service providers.

      ANNEX
      TERMS OF REFERENCE
      EXPERT GROUP ON ELECTRONIC INVOICING
      1.   BACKGROUND
      The European Commission (EC) has responded to the challenges of economic globalisation. In its broad-based innovation strategy, launched in September 2006, the EC observed, ‘In this new economic order, Europe cannot compete unless it becomes more inventive, reacts better to consumer needs and preferences and innovates more.’
      Two aspects, efficiency and certainty, emerge as the basis for improving European competitiveness in a global economy. Making value chains more efficient reduces cost; improving the certainty of the environment in which they operate makes them more competitive. Therefore, achieving value chain efficiency and certainty is a foundation for innovation.
      Streamlining the flow of information in any value chain will reduce inefficiencies, improve certainty and reduce cost. As Europe moves to adopt the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), the business processes necessitating a vast majority of Business-to-Business and Business-to-Government payments should also be addressed. SEPA is expected to contribute significantly to the Lisbon Agenda.
      The scope and objective of a European Electronic Invoicing (EEI) Framework is to provide the basis to achieve interoperability of e-Invoicing solutions in the public and private sector. It will derive a basis for interoperability through common business rules and technical standards. Assisting in strengthening the positive commercial incentives for electronic trade as a replacement to manual paper-based processes, the Framework will contribute to the removal of current barriers to the take-up and establishment of intra-community (cross-border) e-Invoicing solutions.
      2.   MANDATE OF THE EXPERT GROUP ON E-INVOICING
      The Expert Group (the Group) will assist the Commission in the development and monitoring progress towards an agreed strategy for the creation of a European e-Invoicing Framework.
      The Group's tasks shall be completed by 31 December 2009.
      The Group shall fulfil the following particular tasks:

                  (a)

                  identifying shortcomings in the regulatory framework for e-Invoicing at Community and Member State level, which prevent the Community economy exploiting its full potential;

                  (b)

                  identifying e-Invoicing business requirements for an European e-Invoicing Framework and ensure their validation by key stakeholders;

                  (c)

                  identifying relevant e-Invoicing data elements, especially for the linkage between the invoice and, at least, the procurement and the payments process, issues related to value added tax, authentication and integrity, archiving and storage demands, as well as the need to ensure the validation of those elements by key stakeholders;

                  (d)

                  proposing responsibilities to be assigned to standardisation bodies and a time schedule for the development of common standard(s) based on the business and data requirements of stakeholders to support a European e-Invoicing Framework;

                  (e)

                  proposing the European e-Invoicing Framework. The European e-Invoicing Framework is to establish a common conceptual structure, including business requirements and standard(s), and propose solutions supporting the provision of e-Invoicing services in an open and interoperable manner across Europe.

            In carrying out its task, the Group shall take account of already existing work and solutions, in particular concerning business requirements and technical standards, in the domain of e-Invoicing in the public and private sector.
      Where appropriate and necessary, the Group can identify responsibilities for the execution of specific work to subgroups or external bodies and organisations competent in the domain of e-Invoicing.
      The Group shall establish and communicate to the Commission a mid-term report summarising progress on the tasks and any recommendations as an input to reflection and discussion between the Commission and Member States and stakeholders, in particular industry associations. This report shall be made available to the public.
      The Group shall establish and communicate to the Commission a final report describing the European e-Invoicing Framework. This report shall be made available to the public. The reports will not be considered as reflecting the views of the Commission services.
      3.   COMPOSITION AND OPERATION
      3.1.   Composition
      The Group shall be composed of up to 30 members.
      The members shall be appointed by the Commission from specialists with competence in the area of e-Invoicing on the basis of applications from industry associations, public sector bodies and individuals representing the interests of all or part of public sector, enterprises and ICT, consumers, financial service providers and standardisation organisations in the field of e-Invoicing.
      3.2.   Call for applications
      Upon the adoption of the Decision establishing the Group, the Commission will publish a call for applications from industry associations, public sector bodies and individuals representing the interests of all or part of public sector, enterprises and IT, consumers, financial service providers and standardisation organizations in the field of e-Invoicing.
      Industry associations, public sector bodies and individuals wishing to participate in the Group are asked to apply in the form of a written correspondence, to be forwarded to the Commission not later than 30 November 2007.
      Applications shall provide a duly motivated submission, stating reasons for the desired participation in the Group.
      The Commission shall assess applications against the following criteria:

                  (a)

                  members must represent the key stakeholders (e.g. service providers, solution providers, public sector, enterprises, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as consumers), and standardisation organisations;

                  (b)

                  members must have recent practical or operational expertise or experience with legal, administrative, tax-related, standardisation, commercial and/or technical challenges of e-Invoicing on a cross-border basis. In particular, members shall have relevant direct experience in business projects or matters which equip them with commercial or technical insights needed to develop solutions to the issues as set out in this Decision;

                  (c)

                  members must be in a position to contribute to defining or shaping the views of their administration, parent organisation, industry association or industry, or other stakeholder group in respect of the matters covered by the mandate;

                  (d)

                  members must be proficient in English at a level which allows them to contribute to discussions and preparation of reports.

            Applications received from interested parties should be accompanied by material demonstrating that the proposed member meets the above conditions.
      3.3.   Final determination of Group composition
      The Commission shall decide upon the composition of the Group on the basis of proposals submitted in response to the call for applications.
      When appointing the members, the Commission shall take into account the following criteria:

                  (a)

                  the required legal, commercial and technical expertise in respect of the matters covered by the mandate for the Group;

                  (b)

                  the expertise covering all relevant functions within the supply and demand side of e-Invoicing;

            In addition, the Commission shall aim at ensuring a broad geographical representation and a balanced gender composition on the basis of applications received.
      The members shall inform the Commission in good time of any conflict of interests which might undermine their objectivity.
      The names of members appointed individually are published on the internet site of the DG or in the Official Journal of the European Union, Series C, or both. The names of members are collected, processed and published in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001.
      Members shall be appointed for a twelve-month renewable term and shall remain in office until such time as they are replaced or their term of office ends.
      Members may be replaced for the remainder of their term of office in any of the following cases:

                  (a)

                  where the member resigns;

                  (b)

                  where the member is no longer capable of contributing effectively to the Group’s deliberations;

                  (c)

                  where the member does not comply with Article 287 of the Treaty;

                  (d)

                  where the member has failed to inform the Commission in good time of a conflict of interests.

            3.4.   Chairperson
      The Commission shall appoint the Chairperson of the Expert Group, taking into account the extent to which the selected person represents the key stakeholder's interests, contributes to shaping the views of industry in respect of the matters covered by the mandate and possesses the required legal, commercial and technical expertise.
      The Commission shall appoint the Chairperson for a renewable mandate of twelve months.
      3.5.   Operation
      The Commission shall organise the meetings of the Group, which will be chaired by the Chairperson.
      In agreement with the Commission, subgroups may be set up to examine specific questions under terms of reference established by the Group; they shall be dissolved as soon as these tasks have been fulfilled.
      The Commission’s representative may invite experts or observers with specific competence on a subject on the agenda to participate in the Group’s or its subgroups’ deliberations.
      Information obtained by participating in the Group’s or subgroup’s deliberations may not be divulged if, in the Commission’s opinion, this information relates to confidential matters.
      The Group and its subgroups shall normally meet on Commission premises in accordance with the procedures and schedule established by it. The Commission shall provide secretarial services. Commission officials with an interest in the proceedings may attend the meetings of the Group or the subgroups.
      The Group shall adopt its rules of procedure on the basis of the standard rules of procedure adopted by the Commission.
      The Commission may publish, or place on the Commission’s Internet, in the original language of the document concerned, any summary, conclusion or working document of the Group.
      3.6.   Reimbursement of expenses
      The Commission shall reimburse travel and, where appropriate, subsistence expenses for the Chairperson, members, experts and observers in connection with the Group’s activities in accordance with the Commission’s rules on the compensation of external experts.
      The Chairperson, members, experts and observers shall not be remunerated for the services they render.
      Meeting expenses shall be reimbursed within the limits of the annual budget allocated to the Group by the competent Commission department.


title: Decision of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community, meeting in Council of 24 June 1975 opening tariff preferences for products within the province of that Community originating in the African, Caribbean and Pacific States and in the overseas countries and territories associated with the Community

text:
28 . 6. 75                           Official Journal of the European Communities                         No L 166/83
                                                            II
                                      (Acts whose publication is not obligatory)
                                                  COUNCIL
                                                       DECISION
               OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE MEMBER STATES
                            OF THE EUROPEAN COAL AND STEEL COMMUNITY,
                                               MEETING IN COUNCIL
                                                    of 24 June 1975
               opening tariff preferences for products within the province of that Community originating
               in the African, Caribbean and Pacific States and in the overseas countries and territories
                                            associated with the Community
                                                     (75/371/ECSC)
THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS                          Whereas a Council Regulation is envisaged to define
OF THE MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN                            the interim arrangements for trade with the overseas
COAL      AND    STEEL    COMMUNITY        MEETING     IN       countries and territories associated with the Euro
COUNCIL,
                                                                pean Economic Community; whereas it will not
                                                                apply to products within the province of the Euro
Whereas the Member States have concluded with
                                                                pean Coal and Steel Community, and whereas the
                                                                 association's arrangements should nevertheless be
each other the Treaty establishing the European Coal            extended to these products ;
and Steel Community ;
Whereas the Agreement on products within the                    Whereas, until the rules of origin which will be laid
province of the European Coal and Steel Community,              down by the abovementioned Regulation enter into
hereinafter called the 'Agreement', between the                 force, the rules of origin laid down in Regulation
Member States of that Community and the African,                 (EEC) No 1598/75 should be applied to products
Caribbean and Pacific States, hereinafter called the            imported from the 'countries and territories'
'ACP States', was signed on 28 February 1975 at the             mutatis mutandis with products imported from the
same time as the ACP-EEC Lome convention and                    ACP States, and whereas thereafter the rules of origin
whereas that Agreement is being submitted for                   laid down by the Regulation on the interim arrange
ratification ;                                                  ments    for trade with the 'countries and territories'
                                                                should be applied ;
Whereas when the Agreement was signed, the
European Economic Community, its Member States                  In agreement with the Commission,
and the ACP States agreed in an exchange of letters
to apply autonomously from 1 July 1975 certain                  HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS :
provisions of the convention relating to trade in
goods ;
                                                                                Article 1
Desiring to apply likewise autonomously and
concurrently the tariff suspensions contained in the            From 1 July 1975, the duties applicable in the
Agreement;                                                      Community to imports of products within the
 ---pagebreak--- No L 166/84                           Official Journal of the European Communities                            28 . 6 . 75
province of the European Coal and Steel Community,               entry into force of that Regulation, its provisions
originating in the ACP States listed in Annex I or in            on origin shall apply to products imported from the
the ' overseas    countries    and territories'  listed in       said 'countries and territories '.
Annex II, and charges having equivalent effect, or
the levying of such duties and charges, shall be
suspended. The treatment applied to such products                                        Article 3
may not be more favourable than that accorded by
the Member States among themselves.                              The Member States shall decide by mutual agreement
                                                                 on any safeguard measures suggested by one or more
For purposes of the implementation of the first                  Member States or by the Commission.
subparagraph, account shall not be taken of residual
customs duties and charges having equivalent effect
arising from the application of Articles 32 and 36                                       Article 4
of the Act of Accession.
                                                                 This Decision shall remain applicable until the entry
                                                                 into force of the Agreement and at the latest until
                                                                 29 February 1976.
                         Article 2
                                                                 Where necessary, the representatives of the
 The provisions defining the rules of origin provided            Governments of the Member States of the European
 for in Council Regulation (EEC) No 1598/75 (x) of               Coal and Steel Community, meeting in Council, may
 24 June 1975 on the advance implementation of                   decide to keep this Decision in force beyond that
 certain provisions of the ACP-EEC Lomé convention               date and until the entry into force of the Agreement
                                                                 aforesaid .
 relating to trade in goods shall apply to products
 referred to in Article 1 imported from the ACP
States .
                                                                                Article 5
 They shall apply mutatis mutandis to products                   The Member States shall take all the measures
 referred to in Article 1 imported from the 'countries           necessary for the implementation of this Decision.
 and territories' until the entry into force of the
 Council Regulation on the interim arrangements for              Done at Luxembourg, 24 June 1975 .
 trade with the 'countries and territories'. After the
                                                                                The President
 (*) See page 1 of this Official Journal.                                                            G. FITZGERALD
 ---pagebreak--- 28 . 6. 75                       Official Journal of the European Communities            No L 166/85
                                                     ANNEX I
                             List of States referred to in Article 1, first subparagraph
           Bahamas                                          Liberia
           Barbados                                         Malagasy Republic
           Botswana                                         Malawi
           Burundi                                          Mali
           Cameroon                                         Mauritania
           Central African Republic                         Mauritius
           Chad                                             Niger
           People's Republic of the Congo                    Nigeria
           Dahomey                                          Rwanda
           Equatorial Guinea                                Senegal
           Ethiopia                                          Sierra Leone
           Fiji                                              Somali
           Gabon                                             Sudan
           Gambia                                            Swaziland
           Ghana                                             Tanzania
           Grenada                                           Togo
           Guinea                                            Tonga
           Guinea Bissau                                     Trinidad and Tobago
           Guyana                                            Uganda
           Ivory Coast                                       Upper Volta
           Jamaica                                           Western Samoa
           Kenya                                             Zaire             '
           Lesotho                                           Zambia
 ---pagebreak--- No L 166/86                          Official Journal of the European Communities                          28 . 6 . 75
                                                          ANNEX II
                   List of the 'countries and territories' referred to in Article 1, first subparagraph
            1 . Overseas countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands :
                — Surinam ,
                — The Netherlands Antilles (Aruba, Bonaire, Cura9ao and St Martin, Saba, St Eustatius)
            2. Overseas territories of the French Republic :
                — Saint Pierre and Miquelon ,
                — The Comoro Archipelago ,
                — The Territory of the Afars and Issas,
                — New Caledonia and Dependencies,
                — Wallis and Futuna Islands ,
                — French Polynesia,
                — French Southern and Antarctic Territories .
            3. Overseas countries and territories of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ire
                land :
                — Belize,
                — Brunei,
                — Associated States in the Caribbean : Antigua, Dominica , St Lucia, St Vincent,
                    St Christopher, Nevis and Anguilla,
                — Cayman Islands,
                — Falkland Islands and Dependencies,
                — Gilbert and Ellice Islands ,
                — British Solomon Islands ,
                — Turks and Caicos Islands,
                — British Virgin Islands ,
                — Montserrat,
                — Pitcairn,
                —   St Helena and Dependencies,
                —   The Seychelles,
                —   British Antarctic Territory,
                —   British Indian Ocean Territory.
            4. Anglo-French Condominium of the New Hebrides.


Avis juridique important

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31968D0250

Council Decision of 30 May 1968 concluding agreements negotiated, under Article XXIV Paragraph 6 of the GATT, with the United States of America and the United Kingdom concerning certain types of manufactured tobacco and certain oil products

Official Journal L 131 , 13/06/1968 P. 0014 Danish special edition: Series II Volume I(2) P. 0132  English special edition: Series II Volume I(2) P. 0216

++++COUNCIL DECISION  OF 30 MAY 1968  ON THE CONCLUSION OF AGREEMENTS NEGOTIATED UNDER ARTICLE XXIV ( 6 ) OF GATT WITH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM ON CERTAIN TYPES OF MANUFACTURED TOBACCO AND CERTAIN PETROLEUM PRODUCTS   ( 68/250/EEC )  THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,  HAVING REGARD TO THE TREATY ESTABLISHING THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY , AND IN PARTICULAR ARTICLES 111 , 114 AND 228 THEREOF ;  HAVING REGARD TO THE COMMON CUSTOMS TARIFF OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY ;  HAVING REGARD TO THE COUNCIL DECISION OF 5 MAY 1959 ;  HAVING REGARD TO THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSION ;  WHEREAS THE MEMBER STATES , AS CONTRACTING PARTIES TO THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE , HAVE GRANTED CONCESSIONS ON CERTAIN TYPES OF MANUFACTURED TOBACCO AND CERTAIN PETROLEUM PRODUCTS ; WHEREAS THE FIXING OF CUSTOMS DUTIES FOR THOSE PRODUCTS IN THE COMMON CUSTOMS TARIFF MADE IT NECESSARY TO WITHDRAW THOSE CONCESSIONS ; WHEREAS , IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE XXIV ( 6 ) OF THE GENERAL AGREEMENT , THE WITHDRAWAL WAS THE SUBJECT OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE COUNTRIES CONCERNED , NAMELY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM , FOR THE PURPOSE OF REPLACING THOSE CONCESSIONS BY OTHER NOT LESS FAVOURABLE CONCESSIONS ;  WHEREAS THE RESULTS OF THOSE NEGOTIATIONS ARE ACCEPTABLE ,  HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS :  ARTICLE 1  THE AGREEMENTS NEGOTIATED WITH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM UNDER ARTICLE XXIV ( 6 ) OF THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE ARE CONCLUDED ON BEHALF OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY ; THE TEXTS OF THE AGREEMENTS ARE ANNEXED TO THIS DECISION .  ARTICLE 2  THE CONTRACTING PARTIES TO THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE SHALL BE NOTIFIED OF THE CONCLUSION OF THOSE AGREEMENTS .  DONE AT BRUSSELS , 30 MAY 1968 .  FOR THE COUNCIL  THE PRESIDENT  G . LUPIS  ANNEXES : SEE O.J .