Commission Decision

of 18 March 2002

on the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Republic of Slovenia concerning the certificate referred to in paragraph 6 of the Agreement on reciprocal preferential trade concessions for certain wines

(notified under document number C(2002) 664)

(2002/296/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Decision 2001/920/EC of 4 December 2001 concerning the conclusion of an Additional Protocol adjusting the trade aspects of the Europe Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, acting within the framework of the European Union, of the one part, and the Republic of Slovenia, of the other part, to take account of the outcome of the negotiations between the parties on reciprocal preferential concessions for certain wines, the reciprocal recognition, protection and control of wine names and the reciprocal recognition, protection and control of designations for spirits and aromatised drinks(1), and in particular Article 3 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Paragraph 6 of Annex I (Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Slovenia on reciprocal preferential trade concessions for certain wines) of the Additional Protocol, which was concluded on 7 December 2001, stipulates that the entitlement to benefit from the tariff concessions is subject to presentation of a certificate issued by a mutually recognised official body appearing on a list drawn up jointly, to the effect that the wine in question complies with point 5(b).

(2) The Commission, on behalf of the Community, and Slovenia have agreed implementing rules for the abovementioned certificate. Therefore, the Commission should approve these rules agreed upon in the form of an Exchange of Letters.

(3) The measures provided for in this Decision and in the attached Exchange of Letters are in accordance with the opinion of the Customs Code Committee,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Republic of Slovenia concerning the certificate referred to in paragraph 6, Annex I of the Additional Protocol on reciprocal preferential trade concessions for certain wines is hereby approved on behalf of the Community.

The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision.

The Director-General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the Commission of the European Communities is authorised to sign the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters.

Article 2

This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

Done at Brussels, 18 March 2002.

For the Commission

Franz Fischler

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 342, 27.12.2001, p. 79.