COUNCIL ACT of 23 July 1996 drawing up, on the basis of Article K.3 of the Treaty on European Union, the Protocol on the interpretation, by way of preliminary rulings, by the Court of Justice of the European Communities of the Convention on the establishment of a European Police Office (96/C 299/01)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article K.3 (2) (c) thereof,

Whereas Article K.3 (2) (c) provides that conventions drawn up on the basis of Article K.3 of the Treaty on European Union may stipulate that the Court of Justice shall have jurisdiction to interpret their provisions and to rule on any disputes regarding their application in accordance with such arrangements as they may lay down,

HAS DECIDED on the drawing up of the Protocol the text of which is annexed, which will be signed on 24 July 1996 by the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States of the European Union,

RECOMMENDS that it be adopted by the Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.

Done at Brussels, 23 July 1996.

For the Council

The President

I. YATES

ANNEX

PROTOCOL drawn up on the basis of Article K.3 of the Treaty on European Union, on the interpretation, by way of preliminary rulings, by the Court of Justice of the European Communities of the Convention on the establishment of a European Police Office

THE HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES,

HAVE AGREED on the following provisions, which shall be annexed to the Convention:

Article 1

The Court of Justice of the European Communities shall have jurisdiction, under the conditions laid down in this Protocol, to give preliminary rulings on the interpretation of the Convention on the establishment of a European Police Office, hereinafter referred to as 'the Europol Convention`.

Article 2

1. By a declaration made at the time of the signing of this Protocol or at any time thereafter, any Member State shall be able to accept the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the European Communities to give preliminary rulings on the interpretation of the Europol Convention under the conditions specified in either paragraph 2 (a) or (b).

2. A Member State making a declaration under paragraph 1 may specify that either:

(a) any court or tribunal of that State against whose decisions there is no judicial remedy under national law may request the Court of Justice of the European Communities to give a preliminary ruling on a question raised in a case pending before it and concerning the interpretation of the Europol Convention if that court or tribunal considers that a decision on the question is necessary to enable it to give judgment;

or

(b) any court or tribunal of that State may request the Court of Justice of the European Communities to give a preliminary ruling on a question raised in a case pending before it and concerning the interpretation of the Europol Convention if that court or tribunal considers that a decision on the question is necessary to enable it to give judgment.

Article 3

1. The Protocol on the Statute of the Court of Justice of the European Communities and the Rules of Procedure of that Court of Justice shall apply.

2. In accordance with the Statute of the Court of Justice of the European Communities, any Member State, whether or not it has made a declaration pursuant to Article 2, shall be entitled to submit statements of case or written observations to the Court of Justice of the European Communities in cases which arise under Article 1.

Article 4

1. This Protocol shall be subject to adoption by the Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.

2. Member States shall notify the depositary of the completion of their respective constitutional requirements for adopting this Protocol and communicate to him any declaration made pursuant to Article 2.

3. This Protocol shall enter into force 90 days after the notification, referred to in paragraph 2, by the Member State which, being a member of the European Union on the date of adoption by the Council of the act drawing up this Protocol, is the last to fulfil that formality. However, it shall at the earliest enter into force at the same time as the Europol Convention.

Article 5

1. This Protocol shall be open to accession by any State that becomes a member of the European Union.

2. Instruments of accession shall be deposited with the depositary.

3. The text of this Protocol in the language of the acceding State, drawn up by the Council of the European Union, shall be authentic.

4. This Protocol shall enter into force with respect to any State that accedes to it 90 days after the date of deposit of its instrument of accession, or on the date of the entry into force of this Protocol if the latter has not yet come into force when the said period of 90 days expires.

Article 6

Any State that becomes a member of the European Union and accedes to the Europol Convention in accordance with Article 46 thereof shall accept the provisions of this Protocol.

Article 7

1. Amendments to this Protocol may be proposed by any Member State, being a High Contracting Party. Any proposal for an amendment shall be sent to the depositary, who shall forward it to the Council.

2. Amendments shall be established by the Council, which shall recommend that they be adopted by the Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.

3. Amendments thus established shall enter into force in accordance with the provisions of Article 4.

Article 8

1. The Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union shall act as depositary of this Protocol.

2. The depositary shall publish in the Official Journal of the European Communities the notifications, instruments or communications concerning this Protocol.

En fe de lo cual, los plenipotenciarios abajo firmantes suscriben el presente Protocolo.

Til bekr忙ftelse heraf har undertegnede befuldm忙gtigede underskrevet denne protokol.

Zu Urkund dessen haben die unterzeichneten Bevollm盲chtigten ihre Unterschriften unter dieses Protokoll gesetzt.

脫氓 冒脽贸么霉贸ç 么霉铆 谩铆霉么脻帽霉, 茂é 玫冒茂茫帽脺枚茂铆么氓貌 冒毛ç帽氓卯茂媒贸é茂é 脻è氓贸谩铆 么ç铆 玫冒茂茫帽谩枚脼 么茂玫貌 锚脺么霉 谩冒眉 么茂 冒谩帽眉铆 冒帽霉么眉锚茂毛毛茂.

In witness whereof the undersigned Plenipotentiaries have signed this Protocol.

En foi de quoi, les plénipotentiaires soussignés ont apposé leur signature au bas du présent protocole.

D谩 fhian煤 sin, chuir na L谩nchumhachtaigh th铆os-s铆nithe a l谩mh leis an bPr贸tacal seo.

In fede di che i plenipotenziari sottoscritti hanno apposto le loro firme in calce al presente Protocollo.

Ten blijke waarvan de ondergetekende gevolmachtigden hun handtekening onder dit Protocol hebben gesteld.

Em fé do que, os plenipotenci谩rios abaixo assinados apuseram as suas assinaturas no final do presente protocolo.

T盲m盲n vakuudeksi alla mainitut t盲ysivaltaiset edustajat ovat allekirjoittaneet t盲m盲n p枚yt盲kirjan.

Till bevis p氓 detta har undertecknade befullm盲ktigade ombud undertecknat detta f枚rdrag.

Hecho en un 煤nico ejemplar, en lenguas alemana, danesa, espa帽ola, finesa, francesa, griega, inglesa, irlandesa, italiana, neerlandesa, portuguesa y sueca, siendo cada uno de estos textos igualmente auténtico.

Udf忙rdiget i ét eksemplar p氓 dansk, engelsk, finsk, fransk, gr忙sk, irsk, italiensk, nederlandsk, portugisisk, spansk, svensk og tysk, hvilke tolv tekster har samme gyldighed.

Abgefa脽t in einer Urschrift in d盲nischer, deutscher, englischer, finnischer, franz枚sischer, griechischer, irischer, italienischer, niederl盲ndischer, portugiesischer, schwedischer und spanischer Sprache, wobei jeder Wortlaut.

赂茫é铆氓 贸氓 脻铆谩 矛眉铆茂 谩铆么脽么玫冒茂, 贸么ç铆 谩茫茫毛é锚脼, 茫氓帽矛谩铆é锚脼, 茫谩毛毛é锚脼, 盲谩铆é锚脼, 氓毛毛ç铆é锚脼, é贸冒谩铆é锚脼, é么谩毛é锚脼, 茂毛毛谩铆盲é锚脼, 冒茂帽么茂茫谩毛é锚脼, 贸茂玫ç盲é锚脼 锚谩é 枚é铆毛谩铆盲é锚脼 茫毛镁贸贸谩. 录毛谩 么谩 锚氓脽矛氓铆谩 氓脽铆谩é 氓卯脽贸茂玫 谩玫è氓铆么é锚脺.

Done in a single original in the Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Irish, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish languages, each text being equally authentic.

Fait en un exemplaire unique, en langues allemande, anglaise, danoise, espagnole, finnoise, française, grecque, irlandaise, italienne, néerlandaise, portugaise et suédoise, chaque texte faisant également foi.

Arna dhéanamh i scr铆bhinn bhunaidh amh谩in sa Bhéarla, sa Danmhairgis, san Fhionlainnis, sa Fhraincis, sa Ghaeilge, sa Ghearm谩inis, sa Ghréigis, san Iod谩ilis, san Ollainnis, sa Phortaingéilis, sa Sp谩innis agus sa tSualainnis, agus comh煤dar谩s ag gach ceann de na téacsanna sin.

Fatto in unico esemplare in lingua danese, finlandese, francese, greca, inglese, irlandese, italiana, olandese, portoghese, spagnola, svedese e tedesca, ciascun testo facente ugualmente fede.

Gedaan in één exemplaar in de Deense, de Duitse, de Engelse, de Finse, de Franse, de Griekse, de Ierse, de Italiaanse, de Nederlandse, de Portugese, de Spaanse en de Zweedse taal, zijnde elk der teksten gelijkelijk authentiek.

Feito em exemplar 煤nico, nas l铆nguas alem茫, dinamarquesa, espanhola, finlandesa, francesa, grega, inglesa, irlandesa, italiana, neerlandesa, portuguesa e sueca, fazendo igualmente fé todos os textos.

Tehty englannin-, espanjan-, hollannin-, iirin-, italian-, kreikan-, portugalin-, ranskan-, ruotsin-, saksan-, suomen- ja tanskankielisen盲, ja jokainen teksti on yht盲 todistusvoimainen.

Utf盲rdat i ett enda exemplar p氓 danska, engelska, finska, franska, grekiska, iriska, italienska, nederl盲ndska, portugisiska, spanska, svenska och tyska spr氓ken, vilka texter 盲r lika giltiga.

Pour le gouvernement du Royaume de Belgique

Voor de Regering van het Koninkrijk Belgi毛

F眉r die Regierung des K枚nigreichs Belgien

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For regeringen for Kongeriget Danmark

>REFERENCE TO A FILM>

F眉r die Regierung der Bundesrepublik Deutschland

>REFERENCE TO A FILM>

脙é谩 么ç铆 脢玫芒脻帽铆ç贸ç 么ç貌 脜毛毛ç铆é锚脼貌 脛ç矛茂锚帽谩么脽谩貌

>REFERENCE TO A FILM>

Por el Gobierno del Reino de Espa帽a

>REFERENCE TO A FILM>

Pour le gouvernement de la République française

>REFERENCE TO A FILM>

Thar ceann Rialtas na h脡ireann

For the Government of Ireland

>REFERENCE TO A FILM>

Per il Governo della Repubblica italiana

>REFERENCE TO A FILM>

Pour le gouvernement du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg

>REFERENCE TO A FILM>

Voor de Regering van het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden

>REFERENCE TO A FILM>

F眉r die Regierung der Republik 脰sterreich

>REFERENCE TO A FILM>

Pelo Governo da Rep煤blica Portuguesa

>REFERENCE TO A FILM>

Suomen hallituksen puolesta

>REFERENCE TO A FILM>

P氓 svenska regeringens v盲gnar

>REFERENCE TO A FILM>

For the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

>REFERENCE TO A FILM>

DECLARATION concerning the simultaneous adoption of the Convention on the establishment of a European Police Office and the Protocol on the interpretation by way of preliminary rulings, by the Court of Justice of the European Communities, of that Convention

The Representatives of the Governments of the Member States of the European Union meeting within the Council,

At the time of the signing of the Council act drawing up the Protocol on the interpretation, by way of preliminary rulings, by the Court of Justice of the European Communities of the Convention on the establishment of a European Police Office,

Wishing to ensure that the said Convention is interpreted as effectively and uniformly as possible as from its entry into force,

Declare themselves willing to take appropriate steps to ensure that the national procedures for adopting the Convention on the establishment of a European Police Office and the Protocol concerning its interpretation are completed simultaneously at the earliest opportunity.

En fe de lo cual, los plenipotenciarios abajo firmantes firman la presente declarac铆on.

Til bekr忙ftelse heraf har undertegnede befuldm忙gtigede underskrevet denne erkl忙ring.

Zu Urkund dessen haben die unterzeichneten Bevollm盲chtigten ihre Unterschriften unter diese Erkl盲rung gesetzt.

脫氓 冒脽贸么霉贸ç 么霉铆 谩铆霉么脻帽霉, 茂é 玫冒茂茫帽脺枚茂铆么氓貌 冒毛ç帽氓卯茂媒贸é茂é 脻è氓贸谩铆 么ç铆 玫冒茂茫帽谩枚脼 么茂玫貌 锚脺么霉 谩冒眉 么ç铆 冒谩帽茂媒贸谩 盲脼毛霉贸ç.

In witness whereof the undersigned Plenipotentiaries have signed this Declaration.

En foi de quoi, les plénipotentiaires soussignés ont apposé leurs signatures au bas de la présente déclaration.

D谩 fhian煤 sin, chuir na L谩nchumhachtaigh th铆os-s铆nithe a l谩mh leis an Dearbh煤 seo.

In fede di che i plenipotenziari sottoscritti hanno apposto le loro firme in calce alla presente dichiarazione.

Ten blijke waarvan de ondergetekende gevolmachtigden hun handtekening onder deze Verklaring hebben gesteld.

Em fé do que, os plenipotenci谩rios abaixo assinados apuseram as respectivas assinaturas no final da presente declaraç茫o.

T盲m盲n vakuudeksi alla mainitut t盲ysivaltaiset edustajat ovat allekirjoittaneet t盲m盲n julistuksen.

Till bevis p氓 detta har undertecknade befullm盲ktigade ombud undertecknat denna f枚rklaring.

Pour le gouvernement du Royaume de Belgique

Voor de Regering van het Koninkrijk Belgi毛

F眉r die Regierung des K枚nigreichs Belgien

>REFERENCE TO A FILM>

For regeringen for Kongeriget Danmark

>REFERENCE TO A FILM>

F眉r die Regierung der Bundesrepublik Deutschland

>REFERENCE TO A FILM>

脙é谩 么ç铆 脢玫芒脻帽铆ç贸ç 么ç貌 脜毛毛ç铆é锚脼貌 脛ç矛茂锚帽谩么脽谩貌

>REFERENCE TO A FILM>

Por el Gobierno del Reino de Espa帽a

>REFERENCE TO A FILM>

Pour le gouvernement de la République française

>REFERENCE TO A FILM>

Thar ceann Rialtas na h脡ireann

For the Government of Ireland

>REFERENCE TO A FILM>

Per il Governo della Repubblica italiana

>REFERENCE TO A FILM>

Pour le gouvernement du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg

>REFERENCE TO A FILM>

Voor de Regering van het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden

>REFERENCE TO A FILM>

F眉r die Regierung der Republik 脰sterreich

>REFERENCE TO A FILM>

Pelo Governo da Rep煤blica Portuguesa

>REFERENCE TO A FILM>

Suomen hallituksen puolesta

>REFERENCE TO A FILM>

P氓 svenska regeringens v盲gnar

>REFERENCE TO A FILM>

For the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

>REFERENCE TO A FILM>

Declarations made pursuant to Article 2

At the time of the signing of this Protocol, the following declared that they accepted the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the European Communities in accordance with the procedures laid down in Article 2.

The French Republic and Ireland in accordance with the procedures laid down in Article 2 paragraph 2 (a);

The Kingdom of Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Hellenic Republic, the Italian Republic, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Republic of Austria, the Portuguese Republic and the Republic of Finland in accordance with the procedures laid down in Article 2 paragraph 2 (b).

DECLARATIONS

The Kingdom of Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Hellenic Republic, the Italian Republic, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Republic of Austria and the Portuguese Republic reserve the right to make provision in their national law to the effect that, where a question relating to the interpretation of the Europol Convention is raised in a case pending before a national court or tribunal against whose decision there is no judicial remedy under national law, that court or tribunal will be required to refer the matter to the Court of Justice.

For the Kingdom of Sweden, the declaration(s) will be made in the autumn of 1996; for the Kingdom of Denmark and the Kingdom of Spain, the declaration(s) will be made at the time of adoption.

The Governments of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg once again draw attention to the need to arrive as soon as possible at a solution similar to that provided for under this Protocol regarding the jurisdiction to be assigned to the Court of Justice of the European Communities for the interpretation of the Convention on the use of information technology for customs purposes and the Convention on the protection of the communities' financial interests.

In accordance with its position on the assignment of jurisdiction to the Court of Justice of the European Communities in acts concluded under Title VI of the Treaty on European Union, the Italian Government considers that a solution similar to that provided for under this Protocol should be adopted for the Convention on the use of information technology for customs purposes and the Convention on the protection of the communities' financial interests.