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Official Journal of the European Union
10.1.2012
COUNCIL DECISION
of 14 December 2011
establishing the position to be taken by the European Union within the relevant instances of the
World Trade Organization on the accession of the Russian Federation to the WTO
(2012/17/EU)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
(6) The
Protocol
of
Accession
should
therefore
be
approved.
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European
(7) Article XII of the Agreement establishing the WTO
Union, and in particular Articles 91, 100(2) and 207, in
provides that the terms of accession are to be agreed
conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,
between the acceding Member and the WTO, and that
the WTO Ministerial Conference approves the terms of
accession on the WTO side. Paragraph 2 of Article IV of
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
the Agreement establishing the WTO provides that in the
intervals between meetings of the Ministerial Conference,
Whereas:
its functions shall be conducted by the General Council.


(8)
Accordingly, it is necessary to establish the position to be
(1) In
June
1993
the
Government
of
the
Russian
Federation
taken by the Union within the relevant instances of the
applied for accession to the Marrakesh Agreement estab
WTO, be it the Ministerial Conference or the General
lishing the World Trade Organization (WTO), pursuant
Council, on the accession of the Russian Federation to
to Article XII of that Agreement.
the WTO,
(2) A Working Party on the accession of the Russian
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Federation was established on 16 June 1993 in order
to reach agreement on terms of accession acceptable to
the Russian Federation and all WTO Members.
Article 1

The position to be taken by the European Union within the
relevant instances of the World Trade Organization on the
(3) The
Commission,
on
behalf
of
the
Union,
has
negotiated accession of the Russian Federation to the WTO is to
a comprehensive series of market opening and other
approve the accession.
regulatory commitments on the part of the Russian
Federation which satisfy the Union’s requests, are
consistent with its objectives and in line with the devel
Article 2
opment level of the Russian Federation.
This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.
(4) These
commitments
are
now
embodied
in
the
Protocol
of Accession of the Russian Federation to the WTO.
Done at Geneva, on 14 December 2011.
(5)
Accession to the WTO is expected to make a positive
For the Council
and lasting contribution to the process of economic
reform and sustainable development in the Russian
The President
Federation.
M. NOGAJ

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