If either Party considers that the other Party has failed to fulfil an obligation under this Agreement, it may take appropriate measures. Before so doing, except in cases of special urgency, it shall supply the Joint Committee with all relevant information required for a thorough examination of the situation with a view to seeking a solution acceptable to the Parties.
In the selection of measures, priority must be given to those which least disturb the functioning of this Agreement. These measures shall be notified immediately to the Joint Committee and shall be the subject of consultations within the Joint Committee if the other Party so requests.
Article 20. Annexes
Annexes I and II to this Agreement shall form an integral part thereof.
Article 21. Entry Into Force and Renewal
1. This Agreement shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the date on which the Parties notify each other of the completion of the procedures necessary for this purpose.
2. This Agreement is concluded for a period of five years. It shall be renewed automatically from year to year unless one of the Parties denounces it six months before its expiry date.
Article 22. Authentic Texts
This Agreement is drawn up in duplicate in the Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish and Lao languages, each text being equally authentic.
Conclusion
Done at Luxembourg, 29 April 1997.
For the European Community
For the Lao People's Democratic Republic
Attachments
(a) The Parties agree, for the purposes of the interpretation and practical application of this Agreement, that the term 'cases of special urgency' in Article 19 of the Agreement means cases of the material breach of the Agreement by one of the Parties. A material breach of the Agreement consists in:
- Repudiation of the Agreement not sanctioned by the general rules of international law;
- Violation of essential elements of the Agreement set out in Article 1.
(b) The Parties agree that the 'appropriate measures' referred to in Article 19 are measures taken in accordance with international law. If a Party takes a measure in a case of special urgency as provided for under Article 19, the other Party may avail itself of the procedure relating to settlement of disputes.
Joint Declaration on Intellectual, Industrial and Commercial Property The Parties agree for the purposes of the Agreement that 'intellectual, industrial and commercial property' includes in particular protection of copyright and related rights, patents, industrial designs, software, brands and trademarks, topographies of integrated circuits, geographical indications, as well as protection against unfair competition and the protection of undisclosed information.
JOINT DECLARATION ON THE READMISSION OF CITIZENS
The European Community recalls the importance that its Member States attach to the
Establishment of effective cooperation with third countries in order to facilitate the
Readmission by the latter of its nationals unlawfully residing on the territory of a Member State.
The Lao People's Democratic Republic undertakes to conclude agreements for the readmission of Laotian citizens in such a situation with those Member States of the European Union which request it.