COUNCIL DECISION

of 11 May 1999

concerning the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and Hong Kong, China on cooperation and mutual administrative assistance in customs matters

(1999/400/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 113, in conjunction with the first sentence of Article 228(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

(1) Whereas on 5 April 1993 the Council authorised the Commission to negotiate, on behalf of the Community, customs cooperation agreements with some of the Community's main trading partners;

(2) Whereas the Agreement between the European Community and Hong Kong, China on cooperation and mutual administrative assistance in customs matters should be approved,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Agreement between the European Community and Hong Kong, China on cooperation and mutual administrative assistance in customs matters is hereby approved on behalf of the Community.

The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The Commission, assisted by representatives of the Member States, shall represent the Community on the Joint Customs Cooperation Committee established under Article 21 of the Agreement.

Article 3

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the persons empowered to sign the Agreement in order to bind the Community.

Article 4

The President of the Council shall, on behalf of the Community, give the notification provided for in Article 22 of the Agreement(1).

Article 5

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

Done at Brussels, 11 May 1999.

For the Council

The President

L. SCHOMERUS

(1) The date of the entry into force of the Agreement will be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities by the General Secretariat of the Council.