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1.11.2011 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
285/1
II
(Non-legislative acts)
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
DECISION OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE MEMBER STATES,
MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL
of 10 June 2011
authorising the Presidency of the Council to negotiate, on behalf of the Member States, the
provisions of a legally binding agreement on forests in Europe that fall within the competences
of the Member States
(2011/712/EU)
THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE MEMBER
2. The
negotiations
shall
be
aimed
at
adding
demonstrable
STATES, MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL,
value to the existing forest-related multilateral agreements and
non-legally binding instruments, while ensuring a cost-effective
Whereas:
implementation and avoiding further administrative burdens.
They shall be conducted in accordance with negotiating
(1) A
decision
to
open
negotiations
on
a
legally
binding positions established by the Representatives of the Governments
agreement (LBA) on forests in Europe may be adopted
of the Member States and on the basis of practical
at the Sixth Ministerial Conference on the Protection of
arrangements, both of which are to be agreed by consensus.
Forests in Europe, to be held between 14 and 16 June
The negotiations shall be conducted in consultation with the
2011 in Oslo, Norway.
Representatives of the Governments of the Member States
meeting within the special committee referred to in
Article 1(4) of the Council Decision on the participation of
(2) The
Presidency
of
the
Council
should
be
authorised
to the European Union in negotiations on a legally binding
negotiate, on behalf of the Member States, the provisions
agreement on forests in Europe. The Presidency of the
of the LBA on forests in Europe that fall within the
Council shall make every effort to secure the positions thus
competences of the Member States,
established, and shall report to the Representatives of the
Governments of the Member States on the progress of the
HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
negotiations after each session of the Intergovernmental
Negotiating Committee.
Article 1
1. The
Representatives
of
the
Governments
of
the
Member
States hereby authorise the Presidency of the Council to
3. The
Presidency,
acting
on
behalf
of
the
Member
States,
negotiate, on behalf of the Member States, as regards matters
shall cooperate closely with the Commission during the
falling within their competences and on the basis of their
negotiation process, with a view to aiming for unity in the
positions, the provisions of an LBA on forests in Europe, in
international representation of the Union and its Member States.
the event that a decision to open negotiations on such an LBA
is adopted at the Sixth Ministerial Conference on the Protection
of Forests in Europe, to be held between 14 and 16 June 2011
Article 3
in Oslo, Norway.
This Decision is addressed to the Presidency of the Council.
2. Paragraph
1
shall
be
without
prejudice
to
future
decisions
of the Member States relating to the designation of their repre
sentative on matters falling within their competences.
Done at Luxembourg, 10 June 2011.
Article 2
1. The
negotiations
shall
be
conducted
in
accordance
with
the Negotiating Directives set out in the Addendum to this
The President
Decision.
FELLEGI T.

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