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29.2.2012 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union
L
57/1
II
(Non-legislative acts)
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
COUNCIL DECISION
of 14 December 2011
on the signing, on behalf of the Union, and provisional application of the Agreement in the form of
an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Russian Federation relating to the
administration of tariff-rate quotas applying to exports of wood from the Russian Federation to the
European Union and the Protocol between the European Union and the Government of the Russian
Federation on technical modalities pursuant to that Agreement
(2012/105/EU)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
administration of tariff-rate quotas applying to exports of
wood from the Russian Federation to the European
Union (‘the Agreement’).
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(5) thereof,
(4)
As foreseen in the Agreement, the Union and the Russian
Federation have negotiated detailed technical modalities
on the management of the tariff-rate quotas, which are
contained in a Protocol on technical modalities pursuant
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
to the Agreement (‘the Protocol’).
(5) The
Agreement
and
the
Protocol
should
be
signed.
Whereas:
(6)
In view of the need to ensure the implementation of the
(1)
In view of the economic importance for the Union of
necessary management system for the tariff-rate quotas
imports of raw wood and the importance that the
applying to exports of wood from the Russian Federation
Russian Federation has for the Union as a supplier of
to the Union as from the date of accession of the Russian
raw wood, the Commission has negotiated with the
Federation to the WTO, the Agreement and the Protocol
Russian Federation commitments by the latter to
should be applied on a provisional basis from that date,
reduce or eliminate its currently applied export duties,
pending the completion of the procedures for their
including for raw wood.
conclusion.
(2) These
commitments,
which
are
to
become
part
of
the (7) In
order
to
ensure
uniform
conditions
for
the
implemen
World Trade Organization (WTO) Schedule of
tation of the provisions of the Agreement and the
Concessions of the Russian Federation upon its
Protocol regarding the management of the tariff-rate
accession to the WTO, include tariff-rate quotas for the
quotas applying to exports of wood from the Russian
export of specified types of coniferous wood, a share of
Federation to the Union, implementing powers should
which has been allocated to exports to the Union.
be conferred on the Commission. Those powers should
be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU)
No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules
(3)
In the context of the negotiations regarding the accession
and general principles concerning mechanisms for
of the Russian Federation to the WTO, the Commission
control by the Member States of the Commission’s
has negotiated, on behalf of the Union, an Agreement in
exercise of implementing powers ( 1 ).
the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European
Union and the Russian Federation relating to the
( 1 ) OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13.

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L 57/2
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
29.2.2012
(8) The
examination
procedure
should
be
used
for
the date of accession of the Russian Federation to the WTO,
adoption of implementing acts regarding the
pending the completion of the procedures for the conclusion
management in the Union of tariff-rate quotas applying
of the Agreement ( 1 ).
to exports of wood from the Russian Federation, given
that those acts are acts relating to the common
commercial policy and therefore fall under point (iv) of
Article 4
Article 2(2)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011,
The Commission shall adopt detailed rules on the method of
allocation of quota authorisations pursuant to paragraph 2 of
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 5 of the Protocol, and any other provisions necessary for
the management by the Union of the quantities of the tariff-rate
quotas allocated to exports to the Union. Those implementing
Article 1
acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination
The signing of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of
procedure referred to in Article 5.
Letters between the European Union and the Russian Federation
relating to the administration of tariff-rate quotas applying to
exports of wood from the Russian Federation to the European
Article 5
Union, and of the Protocol between the European Union and
1. The
Commission
shall
be
assisted
by
a
committee.
That
the Government of the Russian Federation on technical
committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regu
modalities pursuant to that Agreement, is hereby authorised
lation (EU) No 182/2011.
on behalf of the Union, subject to their conclusion.
2. Where
reference
is
made
to
this
Article,
Article
5
of
The texts of the Agreement and the Protocol are attached to this
Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.
Decision.
Article 2
Article 6
The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
the person(s) empowered to sign the Agreement and the
Protocol on behalf of the Union.
Done at Geneva, 14 December 2011.
Article 3
For the Council
In accordance with the provisions of the Agreement and
paragraph 3 of Article 26 of the Protocol, the Agreement and
The President
the Protocol shall be applied on a provisional basis as from the
M. NOGAJ
( 1 ) The date from which the Agreement and the Protocol will be
provisionally applied will be published in the Official Journal of the
European Union by the General Secretariat of the Council.

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