Commission Decision

of 10 January 2006

on the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Republic of Chile concerning amendments to Appendices I, II, III and IV of the Agreement on Trade in Wines annexed to the Association Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Chile, of the other part

(2006/567/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Decision 2002/979/EC of 18 November 2002 on the signature and provisional application of certain provisions of an Agreement establishing an association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Chile, of the other part [1], and in particular Article 5(1) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Taking account of the enlargement of the European Community, the conclusions of the EU-Chile first Joint Committee of the Agreement on Trade in Wines that was held in Santiago de Chile on 8 January 2004, the conclusions of the Association Committee meeting that was held in December 2004 in Santiago de Chile and of the conclusions of the second Joint Committee meeting of the Agreement on Trade in Wines and first Joint Committee meeting of the Agreement on Trade in Spirit Drinks and Aromatised Drinks of the EU-Chile Association Agreement of 13- 14 June 2005, both held in Madrid, it is necessary to amend Appendices I, II, III, and IV of the Agreement on Trade in Wines of the Association Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Chile, of the other part, in order to protect the new geographical indications of the Community and of Chile, the traditional expressions of the Community and complementary quality mentions of Chile, with effect from 24 April 2006.

(2) The Community and the Republic of Chile have therefore negotiated, in accordance with Article 29(2) of the Agreement on Trade in Wines, an agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters to amend its Appendices I, II, III and IV.

(3) The Exchange of Letters should therefore be approved.

(4) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Wine,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Republic of Chile amending Appendices I, II, III and IV of the Agreement on Trade in Wines annexed to the Association Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Chile, of the other part, is hereby approved on behalf of the Community.

The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The Commissioner of Agriculture and Rural Development is hereby empowered to sign the Exchange of Letters in order to bind the Community.

Done at Brussels, 10 January 2006.

For the Commission

Mariann Fischer Boel

Member of the Commission

[1] OJ L 352, 30.12.2002, p. 1.

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