Council Decision

of 22 February 2007

concerning the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Republic of Iceland concerning additional trade preferences in agricultural products undertaken on the basis of Article 19 of the Agreement on the European Economic Area

(2007/138/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 133 thereof, in conjunction with the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1) Article 19 of the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) foresees that the Contracting Parties undertake to continue their efforts with a view to achieving progressive liberalisation of agricultural trade between them.

(2) The European Community and the Republic of Iceland held bilateral trade negotiations in agriculture in 2005, on the basis of Article 19 of the Agreement on the European Economic Area, which were concluded satisfactorily on 14 December 2006.

(3) The Agreement, in the form of an Exchange of Letters, should be approved,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Republic of Iceland concerning additional trade preferences in agricultural products undertaken on the basis of Article 19 of the Agreement on the European Economic Area, is hereby approved on behalf of the Community.

The text of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters in order to bind the Community.

Done at Brussels, 22 February 2007.

For the Council

The President

F. M眉ntefering

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