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Official Journal of the European Union
7.12.2011
DECISIONS
COUNCIL DECISION
of 30 November 2011
on the position to be taken by the European Union within the General Council of the World Trade
Organization on the extension of the WTO waiver in order to implement the EU autonomous
preferential trade regime for the Western Balkans
(2011/809/EU)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
(3)
It is appropriate, therefore, to establish the position to be
taken by the Union within the WTO General Council
concerning that request,
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(9), thereof,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Article 1
Whereas:
The position to be taken by the European Union within the
General Council of the World Trade Organization is to approve
the extension of the WTO waiver for the Western Balkans until
(1) The
Union
has
adopted
legislation
renewing
the 31 December 2016.
autonomous preferential trade regime for the Western
Balkans until 31 December 2015. In the absence of a
waiver from the Union’s obligations under paragraph 1
This position shall be expressed by the Commission.
of Article I of the General Agreement on Tariffs and
Trade 1994 (GATT 1994), the treatment provided for
in the autonomous preferential trade regime would
Article 2
need to be extended to all other Members of the
World Trade Organization (WTO). It is therefore appro
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
priate to seek a waiver from paragraph 1 of Article I
GATT 1994 pursuant to paragraph 3 of Article IX of
the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade
Done at Brussels, 30 November 2011.
Organization.
For the Council
(2) The
Union
submitted
such
a
request
on
26
October
2011, and the WTO General Council is to deliberate
The President
thereon.
J. VINCENT-ROSTOWSKI

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