EU - Georgia Association Agreement (2014)
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4. For conditions affecting trade of the commodities referred to in paragraph 1(a) of this Article, upon request of the exporting Party, the Parties shall enter into consultations within the SPS Sub-Committee in accordance with the provisions of Article 65 of this Agreement, in order to agree on alternative or additional import conditions of the importing Party. Such alternative or additional import conditions may, when appropriate, be based on measures of the exporting Party recognised as equivalent by the importing Party. If agreed, the importing Party shall within 90 days take the necessary legislative and/or administrative measures to allow import on the basis of the agreed import conditions.

5. List of establishments, provisional approval

(a) For the import of animal products referred to in Part 2 of Annex IV-A to this Agreement, upon request of the exporting Party accompanied by the appropriate guarantees, the importing Party shall provisionally approve processing establishments referred to in Annex VII.2 to this Agreement which are situated in the territory of the exporting Party, without prior inspection of individual establishments. Such approval shall be consistent with the conditions and provisions set out in Annex VII to this Agreement. Except when additional information is requested, the importing Party shall take the necessary legislative and/or administrative measures to allow import on that basis within 30 working days following the date of receipt of the request and the relevant guarantees by the importing Party.

The initial list of establishments shall be approved in accordance with the provisions of Annex VII to this Agreement.

(b) For the import of animal products referred to in paragraph 2(a) of this Article, the exporting Party shall inform the importing Party of its list of establishments meeting the importing Party's requirements.

6. Upon request of a Party, the other Party shall provide the necessary explanation and the supporting data for the determinations and decisions covered by this Article.

Article 61. Certification Procedure

1. For purposes of certification procedures and issuing of certificates and official documents the parties agree on the principles set out in Annex X to this Agreement.

2. The SPS Sub-Committee referred to in Article 65 of this Agreement may agree on the rules to be followed in case of electronic certification, withdrawal or replacement of certificates.

3. In the framework of approximated legislation as referred to in Article 55 of this Agreement, the Parties shall agree on common models of certificates, where applicable.

Article 62. Verification

1. In order to maintain confidence in the effective implementation of the provisions of this Chapter each Party has the right:

(a) to carry out verification of all or part of the inspection and certification system of the other Party's authorities, and/or of other measures, where applicable, in accordance with the relevant international standards, guidelines and recommendations of Codex Alimentarius, OIE and IPPC;

(b) to receive information from the other Party about its control system and be informed of the results of the controls carried out under that system respecting the confidentiality provisions applicable in either Party.

2. Either Party may share the results of the verifications referred to in paragraph 1(a) of this Article with third parties and make the results publicly available as may be required by provisions applicable to either Party. Confidentiality provisions applicable to either Party shall be respected in such sharing and/or publication of the results, where appropriate.

3. If the importing Party decides to carry out a verification visit to the exporting Party, the importing Party shall notify the exporting Party of this verification visit at least 60 working days before the verification visit is to be carried out, except in emergency cases or if the Parties agree otherwise. Any modification to this visit shall be agreed by the Parties.

4. The costs incurred in undertaking a verification of all or part of the other Party's competent authorities' inspection and certification systems and/or other measure, where applicable, shall be borne by the Party carrying out the verification or the inspection.

5. The draft written communication of verifications shall be forwarded to the exporting Party within 60 working days after the end of verification. The exporting Party shall have 45 working days to comment on the draft written communication. Comments made by the exporting Party shall be attached to and, where appropriate included in the final outcome. However, where a significant human, animal or plant health risk has been identified during the verification, the exporting Party shall be informed as quickly as possible and in any case within 10 working days following the end of the verification.

6. For clarity the results of verification may contribute to the procedures referred to in Articles 55, 57 and 63 of this Agreement conducted by the Parties or one of the Parties.

Article 63. Import Checks and Inspection Fees

1. The Parties agree that import checks by the importing Party of consignments from the exporting Party shall respect the principles set out in Part A of Annex IX to this Agreement. The results of these checks may contribute to the verification process referred to in Article 62 of this Agreement.

2. The frequencies of physical import checks applied by each Party are set out in Part B of Annex IX to this Agreement. A Party may amend these frequencies within its competences and in accordance with its internal legislation, as a result of progress made in accordance with Articles 55, 57 and 60 of this Agreement, or as a result of verifications, consultations or other measures provided for in this Agreement. SPS Sub-Committee referred to in Article 65 shall modify Part B of Annex IX to this Agreement by decision, accordingly.

3. Inspection fees, if applicable, may only cover the costs incurred by the competent authority for performing import checks. The fee shall be calculated on the same basis as the fees charged for the inspection of similar domestic products.

4. The importing Party shall upon request of the exporting Party inform the latter of any amendment, including the reasons for such an amendment concerning the measures affecting import checks and inspection fees, and of any significant changes in the administrative conduct for such checks.

5. From a date to be determined by the SPS Sub-Committee referred to in Article 65 of this Agreement, the Parties may agree on the conditions to approve each other's controls referred to in Article 62(1)(b) of this Agreement with a view to adapt and reciprocally reduce, where applicable, the frequency of physical import checks for the commodities referred to in Article 60(2)(a) of this Agreement.

From that date the Parties may reciprocally approve each other's controls for certain commodities and, consequently reduce or replace the import checks for these commodities.

Article 64. Safeguard Measures

1. Should the exporting Party take measures within its territory to control any cause likely to constitute a serious hazard or risk to human, animal or plant health, the exporting Party, without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph 2 of this Article, shall take equivalent measures to prevent the introduction of the hazard or risk into the territory of the importing Party.

2. On the basis of serious human, animal or plant health grounds, the importing Party may, take provisional measures necessary for the protection of human, animal or plant health. For consignments en route between the Parties, the importing Party shall consider the most suitable and proportionate solution in order to avoid unnecessary disruptions to trade.

3. The Party adopting measures under paragraph 2 of this Article, shall inform the other Party no later than one working day following the date of the adoption of the measures. Upon request of either Party, and in accordance with the provisions of Article 59(3) of this Agreement, the Parties shall hold consultations regarding the situation within 15 working days of the notification. The Parties shall take due account of any information provided through such consultations and shall endeavour to avoid unnecessary disruption to trade, taking into account, where applicable, the outcome of the consultations provided for in Article 59(3) of this Agreement.

Article 65. Sanitary and Phytosanitary Sub-Committee

1. The SPS Sub-Committee is hereby established. It shall meet within three months after the date of entry into force of this Agreement, upon request of either Party thereafter, or at least once every year. If agreed by the Parties, a meeting of the SPS Sub-Committee may be held by video or audio-conference. The SPS Sub-Committee may also address issues out of session, by correspondence.

2. SPS Sub-Committee shall have the following functions:

(a) to consider any matter relating to this Chapter;

(b) to monitor the implementation of this Chapter and examine all matters which may arise in relation to its implementation;

(c) to review the Annexes IV to XII to this Agreement, notably in the light of progress made under the consultations and procedures provided for under this Chapter;

(d) to modify by means of an endorsement decision Annexes IV to XII to this Agreement in the light of the review provided for in point (c) of this paragraph, or as otherwise provided in this Chapter; and

(e) to give opinions and make recommendations to other bodies as defined in Title VIII (Institutional, General and Final Provisions) of this Agreement in light of the review provided for in point (c) of this paragraph.

3. The Parties agree to establish technical working groups, when appropriate, consisting of expert-level representatives of the Parties, which shall identify and address technical and scientific issues arising from the application of this Chapter.

When additional expertise is required, the Parties may establish ad hoc groups, including scientific and expert groups.

Membership of such ad hoc groups need not be restricted to representatives of the Parties.

4. SPS Sub-Committee shall regularly inform by means of a report the Association Committee in Trade configuration, as set out in Article 408(4) of this Agreement, on its activities and decisions taken within competence.

5. The SPS Sub-Committee shall adopt its working procedures at its first meeting.

6. Any decision, recommendation, report or other action by the SPS Sub-Committee or any group established by the SPS Sub-Committee shall be adopted by consensus between the Parties.

Chapter 5. Customs and Trade Facilitation

Article 66. Objectives

1. The Parties acknowledge the importance of customs and trade facilitation matters in the evolving bilateral trade environment. The Parties agree to reinforce cooperation in this area with a view to ensuring that the relevant legislation and procedures, as well as the administrative capacity of the relevant administrations, fulfil the objectives of effective control and support facilitation of legitimate trade as a matter of principle.

2. The Parties recognise that utmost importance shall be given to public policy objectives including trade facilitation, security and prevention of fraud and a balanced approach to them.

Article 67. Legislation and Procedures

1. The Parties agree that their respective trade and customs legislation, as a matter of principle, shall be stable and comprehensive, as well as that the provisions and the procedures shall be proportionate, transparent, predictable, nondiscriminatory, impartial and applied uniformly and effectively and will, inter alia:

(a) protect and facilitate legitimate trade through effective enforcement of and compliance with legislative requirements;

(b) avoid unnecessary or discriminatory burdens on economic operators, prevent fraud and provide further facilitation for economic operators having a high level of compliance;

(c) apply a Single Administrative Document (SAD) for the purposes of customs declarations;

(d) lead to greater efficiency, transparency and simplification of customs procedures and practices at the border;

(e) apply modern customs techniques, including risk assessment, post clearance controls and company audit methods in order to simplify and facilitate the entry, exit and the release of goods;

(f) aim at reducing compliance costs and increasing predictability for all economic operators;

(g) without prejudice to the application of objective risk assessment criteria, ensure the non-discriminatory administration of requirements and procedures applicable to imports, exports and goods in transit;

(h) apply the international instruments applicable in the field of customs and trade including those developed by the World Customs Organisation (WCO), the Istanbul Convention on temporary admission of 1990, the International Convention on the Harmonised System of 1983, the WTO, the UN TIR Convention of 1975, the 1982 Convention on harmonisation of frontier controls of goods; and may take into account the WCO Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade and European Commission guidelines such as the Customs Blueprints, where relevant;

(i) take the necessary measures to reflect and implement the provisions of the Revised Kyoto Convention on the Simplification and Harmonisation of Customs Procedures of 1973;

(j) provide for advance binding rulings on tariff classification and rules of origin. The Parties ensure that a ruling may be revoked or annulled only after notification to the affected operator and without retroactive effect, unless the rulings have been made on the basis of incorrect or incomplete information;

(k) introduce and apply simplified procedures for authorised traders according to objective and non-discriminatory criteria;

(l) set rules that ensure that any penalties imposed for breaches of customs regulations or procedural requirements be proportionate and non-discriminatory and, that their application, does not result in unwarranted and unjustified delays; and

(m) apply transparent, non-discriminatory and proportionate rules where government agencies provide services also provided by the private sector.

2. In order to improve working methods, as well as to ensure non-discrimination, transparency, efficiency, integrity and accountability of operations, the Parties shall:

(a) take further steps towards the reduction, the simplification and the standardisation of data and documentation required by customs and other relevant authorities;

(b) simplify requirements and formalities wherever possible, with respect to the rapid release and clearance of goods;

(c) provide effective, prompt and non-discriminatory procedures guaranteeing the right of appeal against customs and other relevant authorities' administrative actions, rulings and decisions affecting the goods submitted to customs. Such procedures for appeal shall be easily accessible and any costs shall be reasonable and commensurate with the costs incurred by the authorities to ensure the right of appeal;

(d) take steps to ensure that where a disputed administrative action, ruling or decision is the subject of an appeal, goods should normally be released and duty payments may be left pending, subject to any safeguard measures judged necessary. Where required, the release of the goods should be subject to the provision of a guarantee, such as a surety or a deposit; and

(e) ensure that the highest standards of integrity be maintained, in particular at the border, through the application of measures reflecting the principles of the relevant international conventions and instruments in this field, in particular the WCO Revised Arusha Declaration of 2003 and the European Commission Blueprint on Customs ethics of 2007, where appropriate.

3. The Parties agree to eliminate:

(a) any requirements for the mandatory use of customs brokers; and

(b) any requirements for the mandatory use of pre-shipment or destination inspections.

4. With regard to transit:

(a) for the purposes of this Agreement, the transit rules and definitions set out in the WTO provisions, in particular Article V of GATT 1994, and related provisions, including any clarifications and amendments resulting from the Doha Round negotiations on trade facilitation shall apply. Those provisions also apply when the transit of goods begins or ends in the territory of a Party;

(b) the Parties shall pursue the progressive interconnectivity of their respective customs transit systems, with a view to the future participation of Georgia in the common transit system (1);

(c) the Parties shall ensure cooperation and coordination between all relevant authorities in their territories to facilitate traffic in transit. Parties shall also promote cooperation between the authorities and the private sector in relation to transit.

Article 68. Relations with the Business Community

The Parties agree:

(a) to ensure that their respective legislation and procedures are transparent, publicly available, as far as possible through electronic means, and contain a justification for their adoption. There should be regular consultations and a reasonable time period between the publication of new or amended provisions and their entry into force;

(b) on the need for timely and regular consultations with trade representatives on legislative proposals and procedures related to customs and trade issues;

(c) to make publicly available relevant notices of administrative nature, including authority's requirements and entry or exit procedures, hours of operations and operating procedures for customs offices at ports and border crossing points, and points of contact for information enquiries;

(d) to foster cooperation between operators and relevant administrations, using non-arbitrary and publicly accessible procedures based, inter alia, on those promulgated by the WCO; and

(e) to ensure that their respective customs and customs-related requirements and procedures continue to meet the legitimate needs of the trading community, follow best practices, and remain the least trade-restrictive possible.

(1) Convention of 20 May 1987 on a common transit procedure.

Article 69. Fees and Charges

1. The Parties shall prohibit administrative fees having an equivalent effect to import or export duties or charges.

2. With regard to all fees and charges of whatever character imposed by the customs authorities of each Party, including fees and charges for tasks undertaken on behalf of the said authorities, upon or in connection with import or export and without prejudice to the relevant provisions of Chapter 1 (National Treatment and Market Access for Goods) of Title IV (Trade and Trade-related Matters) of this Agreement:

(a) fees and charges may only be imposed for services provided at the request of the declarant outside normal working conditions, hours of operation and in places other than those referred to in the customs regulations, as well as for any formality related to such services and required for undertaking such import or export;

(b) fees and charges shall not exceed the cost of the service provided;

(c) fees and charges shall not be calculated on an ad valorem basis;

(d) the information on the fees and the charges shall be published via an officially designated medium, and where feasible and possible, an official website. This information shall include the reason for the fee or the charge for the service provided, the responsible authority, the fees and the charges that will be applied, and when and how payment is to be made; and

(e) new or amended fees and charges shall not be imposed until information on them is published and made readily available.

Article 70. Customs Valuation

1. The provisions of Agreement on the Implementation of Article VII of GATT 1994 contained in Annex 1A to the WTO Agreement, including any subsequent amendments, shall govern the customs valuation of goods in the trade between the Parties. Those provisions of the WTO Agreement are hereby incorporated into this Agreement and made part thereof. Minimum customs values shall not be used.

2. The Parties shall cooperate with a view to reaching a common approach to issues relating to customs valuation.

Article 71. Customs Cooperation

The Parties shall strengthen cooperation in the area of customs to ensure implementation of the objectives of this Chapter in order to further trade facilitation, while ensuring effective control, security and prevention of fraud. To that end the Parties may use, where appropriate, the European Commission Customs Blueprint as a benchmarking tool. In order to ensure compliance with the provisions of this Chapter the Parties shall, inter alia:

(a) exchange information concerning customs legislation and procedures;

(b) develop joint initiatives relating to import, export and transit procedures, as well as work towards ensuring that an effective service is provided to the business community;

(c) cooperate on the automation of customs and other trade procedures;

(d) exchange, where appropriate, information and data subject to respect of the confidentiality of sensitive data and the protection of personal data;

(e) cooperate in preventing and combating illicit cross-border traffic in goods, including in tobacco products;

(f) exchange information or enter into consultations with a view to establishing where possible, common positions in international organisations in the field of customs such as the WTO, the WCO, the UN, the United Nations Conference on Trade And Development (UNCTAD) and the UN-ECE;

(g) cooperate in the planning and delivery of technical assistance, notably to facilitate customs and trade facilitation reforms in accordance with the relevant provisions of this Agreement;

(h) exchange best practices in customs operations, in particular on risk based customs control systems and on intellectual property rights enforcement, especially in relation to counterfeited products;

(i) promote coordination between all border authorities of the Parties to facilitate border crossing process and enhance control, taking into account joint border controls, where feasible and appropriate; and

(j) establish, where relevant and appropriate, mutual recognition of trade partnership programmes and customs controls, including equivalent trade facilitation measures.

Article 72. Mutual Administrative Assistance In Customs Matters

Without prejudice to other forms of cooperation envisaged in this Agreement, in particular in Article 71 of this Agreement, the Parties shall provide mutual administrative assistance in customs matters in accordance with the provisions of Protocol II on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters to this Agreement.

Article 73. Technical Assistance and Capacity Building

The Parties shall cooperate with a view to providing technical assistance and capacity building for the implementation of trade facilitation and customs reforms.

Article 74. Customs Sub-committee

1. The Customs Sub-Committee is hereby established. It shall report to the Association Committee in Trade configuration, as set out in Article 408(4) of this Agreement.

2. The function of the Sub-Committee shall include regular consultations and monitoring of the implementation and the administration of this Chapter, including but not limited to the issues of customs cooperation, cross-border customs cooperation and management, technical assistance, rules of origin, trade facilitation, as well as mutual administrative assistance in customs matters.

3. The Customs Sub-Committee shall, inter alia:

(a) see to the proper functioning of this Chapter and of Protocols I and II to this Agreement;

(b) adopt practical arrangements, measures and decisions to implement this chapter and Protocols I and II to this Agreement, including on exchange of information and data, mutual recognition of customs controls and trade partnership programmes, and mutually agreed benefits;

(c) exchange views on any points of common interest, including future measures and the resources needed for their implementation and application;

(d) make recommendations where appropriate; and (e) adopt its internal rules of procedure.

Article 75. Approximation of Customs Legislation

Gradual approximation to the Union's customs law and certain international law shall be carried out as set out in Annex XIII to this Agreement.

Chapter 6. Establishment, Trade In Services and Electronic Commerce

Section 1. General Provisions

Article 76. Objective, Scope and Coverage

1. The Parties, reaffirming their respective commitments under the WTO Agreement hereby lay down the necessary arrangements for the progressive reciprocal liberalisation of establishment and trade in services and for cooperation on electronic commerce.

2. Public procurement is covered in Chapter 8 (Public procurement) of Title IV (Trade and Trade-related Matters) of this Agreement and nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to impose any obligation with respect to public procurement.

3. Subsidies are covered in Chapter 10 (Competition) of Title IV (Trade and Trade-related Matters) of this Agreement and the provisions of this Chapter shall not apply to subsidies granted by the Parties.

4. Consistent with the provisions of this Chapter, each Party retains the right to regulate and to introduce new regulations to meet legitimate policy objectives.

5. This Chapter shall not apply to measures affecting natural persons seeking access to the employment market of a Party, nor shall it apply to measures regarding citizenship, residence or employment on a permanent basis.

6. Nothing in this Chapter shall prevent a Party from applying measures to regulate the entry of natural persons into, or their temporary stay in, its territory, including those measures necessary to protect the integrity of, and to ensure the orderly movement of natural persons across its borders, provided that such measures are not applied in such a manner as to nullify or impair the benefits accruing to any Party under the terms of a specific commitment in this Chapter and Annex XIV to this Agreement (1).

(1) The sole fact of requiring a visa for natural persons of certain countries and not for those of other countries shall not be regarded as nullifying or impairing benefits under a specific commitment.

Article 77. Definitions

For the purposes of this Chapter:

(a) ‘measure' means any measure by a Party, whether in the form of a law, regulation, rule, procedure, decision, administrative action or any other form;

(b) ‘measures adopted or maintained by a Party' means measures taken by:

(i) central, regional or local governments and authorities; and

(ii) non-governmental bodies in the exercise of powers delegated by central, regional or local governments or authorities;

(c) ‘natural person of a Party' means a national of a Member State of the EU or a national of Georgia in accordance with the respective legislation;

(d) ‘juridical person' means any legal entity duly constituted or otherwise organised under applicable law, whether for profit or otherwise, and whether privately-owned or governmentally-owned, including any corporation, trust, partnership, joint venture, sole proprietorship or association;

(e) ‘juridical person of a Party' means a juridical person as defined in point (d) and set up in accordance with the law of a Member State of the EU or of Georgia respectively, and having its registered office, central administration, or principal place of business in the territory (1) to which the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union applies or in the territory of Georgia, respectively.

Should that juridical person have only its registered office or central administration in the territory to which the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union applies or in the territory of Georgia respectively, it shall not be considered as a juridical person of the Union or a juridical person of Georgia respectively, unless its operations possess a real and continuous link with the economy of the Union or of Georgia, respectively;

Notwithstanding the preceding subparagraph, shipping companies established outside the Union or Georgia and controlled by nationals of a Member State of the EU or of Georgia, respectively, shall also be beneficiaries under this Agreement, if their vessels are registered in accordance with their respective legislation, in that Member State or in Georgia and fly the flag of a Member State or of Georgia;

(f) ‘subsidiary' of a juridical person of a Party means a juridical person which is owned or effectively controlled by that juridical person (2);

(g) ‘branch' of a juridical person means a place of business not having legal personality which has the appearance of permanency, such as the extension of a parent body, has a management structure and is materially equipped to negotiate business with third parties so that the latter, although knowing that there will, if necessary, be a legal link with the parent body, the head office of which is abroad, do not have to deal directly with such parent body but may transact business at the place of business constituting the extension;

(h) ‘establishment' means:

(i) as regards juridical persons of the Union or of Georgia, the right to take up and pursue economic activities by means of setting up, including the acquisition of, a juridical person and/or create a branch or a representative office in Georgia or in the Union respectively;

(ii) as regards natural persons, the right of natural persons of the Union or of Georgia to take up and pursue economic activities as self-employed persons, and to set up undertakings, in particular companies, which they effectively control.

(i) ‘economic activities' shall include activities of an industrial, commercial and professional character and activities of craftsmen and do not include activities performed in the exercise of governmental authority;

(j) ‘operations' shall mean the pursuit of economic activities;

(k) ‘services' includes any service in any sector except services supplied in the exercise of governmental authority;

  • Article   1 Objectives 1
  • Title   I GENERAL PRINCIPLES 1
  • Article   2 General Principles 1
  • Title   II POLITICAL DIALOGUE AND REFORM, COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY 1
  • Article   3 Aims of Political Dialogue 1
  • Article   4 Domestic Reform 1
  • Article   5 Foreign and Security Policy 1
  • Article   6 Serious Crimes of International Concern 1
  • Article   7 Conflict Prevention and Crisis Management 1
  • Article   8 Regional Stability 1
  • Article   9 Peaceful Conflict Resolution 1
  • Article   10 Weapons of Mass Destruction 1
  • Article   11 Small Arms and Light Weapons and Conventional Arms Exports Control 1
  • Article   12 Fight Against Terrorism 1
  • Title   III FREEDOM, SECURITY AND JUSTICE 1
  • Article   13 Rule of Law and Respect for Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms 1
  • Article   14 Protection of Personal Data 2
  • Article   15 Cooperation on Migration, Asylum and Border Management 2
  • Article   16 Movement of Persons and Readmission 2
  • Article   17 The Fight Against Organised Crime and Corruption 2
  • Article   18 Illicit Drugs 2
  • Article   19 Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing 2
  • Article   20 Cooperation In the Fight Against Terrorism 2
  • Article   21 Legal Cooperation 2
  • Title   IV TRADE AND TRADE-RELATED MATTERS 2
  • Chapter   1 National Treatment and Market Access for Goods 2
  • Section   1 Common Provisions 2
  • Article   22 Objective 2
  • Article   23 Scope and Coverage 2
  • Section   2 Elimination of Customs Duties, Fees and other Charges 2
  • Article   24 Definition of Customs Duties 2
  • Article   25 Classification of Goods 2
  • Article   26 Elimination of Customs Duties on Imports 2
  • Article   27 Anti-circumvention Mechanism for Agricultural Products and Processed Agricultural Products 2
  • Article   28 Standstill 2
  • Article   29 Customs Duties on Exports 2
  • Article   30 Fees and other Charges 2
  • Section   3 Non-tariff Measures 2
  • Article   31 National Treatment 2
  • Article   32 Import and Export Restrictions 2
  • Section   4 Specific Provisions Related to Goods 2
  • Article   33 General Exceptions 2
  • Section   5 Administrative Cooperation and Coordination with other Countries 2
  • Article   34 Temporary Withdrawal of Preferences 2
  • Article   35 Management of Administrative Errors 2
  • Article   36 Agreements with other Countries 2
  • Chapter   2 Trade Remedies 2
  • Section   1 Global Safeguard Measures 2
  • Article   37 General Provisions 2
  • Article   38 Transparency 2
  • Article   39 Application of Measures 2
  • Section   2 Anti-dumping and Countervailing Measures 2
  • Article   40 General Provisions 2
  • Article   41 Transparency 2
  • Article   42 Consideration of Public Interest 2
  • Article   43 Lesser Duty Rule 2
  • Chapter   3 Technical Barriers to Trade, Standardisation, Metrology, Accreditation and Conformity Assessment 2
  • Article   44 Scope and Definitions 2
  • Article   45 Affirmation of the TBT Agreement 2
  • Article   46 Technical Cooperation 2
  • Article   47 Approximation of Technical Regulations, Standards, and Conformity Assessment 3
  • Article   48 Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products (ACAA) 3
  • Article   49 Marking and Labelling 3
  • Chapter   4 Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures 3
  • Article   50 Objective 3
  • Article   51 Multilateral Obligations 3
  • Article   52 Scope 3
  • Article   53 Definitions 3
  • Article   54 Competent Authorities 3
  • Article   55 Gradual Approximation 3
  • Article   56 Recognition for Trade Purposes of Animal Health and Pest Status and Regional Conditions 3
  • Article   57 Recognition of Equivalence 3
  • Article   58 Transparency and Exchange of Information 3
  • Article   59 Notification, Consultation and Facilitation of Communication 3
  • Article   60 Trade Conditions 3
  • Article   61 Certification Procedure 4
  • Article   62 Verification 4
  • Article   63 Import Checks and Inspection Fees 4
  • Article   64 Safeguard Measures 4
  • Article   65 Sanitary and Phytosanitary Sub-Committee 4
  • Chapter   5 Customs and Trade Facilitation 4
  • Article   66 Objectives 4
  • Article   67 Legislation and Procedures 4
  • Article   68 Relations with the Business Community 4
  • Article   69 Fees and Charges 4
  • Article   70 Customs Valuation 4
  • Article   71 Customs Cooperation 4
  • Article   72 Mutual Administrative Assistance In Customs Matters 4
  • Article   73 Technical Assistance and Capacity Building 4
  • Article   74 Customs Sub-committee 4
  • Article   75 Approximation of Customs Legislation 4
  • Chapter   6 Establishment, Trade In Services and Electronic Commerce 4
  • Section   1 General Provisions 4
  • Article   76 Objective, Scope and Coverage 4
  • Article   77 Definitions 4
  • Section   2 Establishment 5
  • Article   78 Scope 5
  • Article   79 National Treatment and Most Favoured Nation Treatment 5
  • Article   80 Review 5
  • Article   81 Other Agreements 5
  • Article   82 Standard of Treatment for Branches and Representative Offices 5
  • Section   3 Cross-border Supply of Services 5
  • Article   83 Scope 5
  • Article   84 Market Access 5
  • Article   85 National Treatment 5
  • Article   86 Lists of Commitments 5
  • Article   87 Review 5
  • Section   4 Temporary Presence of Natural Persons or Business Persons 5
  • Article   88 Scope and Definitions 5
  • Article   89 Key Personnel and Graduate Trainees 5
  • Article   90 Business Sellers 5
  • Article   91 Contractual Service Suppliers 5
  • Article   92 Independent Professionals 5
  • Section   5 Regulatory Framework 5
  • Subsection   1 Domestic Regulation 5
  • Article   93 Scope and Definitions 5
  • Article   94 Conditions for Licencing and Qualification 5
  • Article   95 Licencing and Qualification Procedures 5
  • Subsection   2 Provisions of General Application 6
  • Article   96 Mutual Recognition 6
  • Article   97 Transparency and Disclosure of Confidential Information 6
  • Subsection   3 Computer Services 6
  • Article   98 Understanding on Computer Services 6
  • Subsection   4 Postal and Courier Services 6
  • Article   99 Scope and Definitions 6
  • Article   100 Universal Service 6
  • Article   101 Licences 6
  • Article   102 Independence of the Regulatory Body 6
  • Article   103 Gradual Approximation 6
  • Subsection   5 Electronic Communication Networks and Services 6
  • Article   104 Scope and Definitions 6
  • Article   105 Regulatory Authority 6
  • Article   106 Authorisation to Provide Electronic Communication Services 6
  • Article   107 Access and Interconnection 6
  • Article   108 Scarce Resources 6
  • Article   109 Universal Service 6
  • Article   110 Cross-border Provision of Electronic Communication Services 6
  • Article   111 Confidentiality of Information 6
  • Article   112 Disputes between Services Suppliers 6
  • Article   113 Gradual Approximation 6
  • Subsection   6 Financial Services 6
  • Article   114 Scope and Definitions 6
  • Article   115 Prudential Carve-out 7
  • Article   116 Effective and Transparent Regulation 7
  • Article   117 New Financial Services 7
  • Article   118 Data Processing 7
  • Article   119 Specific Exceptions 7
  • Article   120 Self-regulatory Organisations 7
  • Article   121 Clearing and Payment Systems 7
  • Article   122 Gradual Approximation 7
  • Subsection   7 Transport Services 7
  • Article   123 Scope 7
  • Article   124 International Maritime Transport 7
  • Article   125 Air Transport 7
  • Article   126 Gradual Approximation 7
  • Section   6 Electronic Commerce 7
  • Subsection   1 General Provisions 7
  • Article   127 Objective and Principles 7
  • Article   128 Cooperation In Electronic Commerce 7
  • Article   129 Use of Intermediaries' Services 7
  • Article   130 Liability of Intermediary Service Providers: ‘mere Conduit' 7
  • Article   131 Liability of Intermediary Service Providers: ‘caching' 7
  • Article   132 Liability of Intermediary Service Providers: ‘hosting' 7
  • Article   133 No General Obligation to Monitor 7
  • Section   7 Exceptions 7
  • Article   134 General Exceptions 7
  • Article   135 Taxation Measures 7
  • Article   136 Security Exceptions 7
  • Chapter   7 Current Payments and Movement of Capital 7
  • Article   137 Current Payments 7
  • Article   138 Capital Movements 7
  • Article   139 Safeguard Measures 7
  • Article   140 Facilitation and Evolution Provisions 7
  • Chapter   8 Public Procurement 7
  • Article   141 Objectives 7
  • Article   142 Scope 7
  • Article   143 Institutional Background 7
  • Article   144 Basic Standards Regulating the Award of Contracts 8
  • Article   145 Planning of Gradual Approximation 8
  • Article   146 Gradual Approximation 8
  • Article   147 Market Access 8
  • Article   148 Information 8
  • Article   149 Cooperation 8
  • Chapter   9 Intellectual Property Rights 8
  • Section   1 General Provisions 8
  • Article   150 Objectives 8
  • Article   151 Nature and Scope of Obligations 8
  • Article   152 Exhaustion 8
  • Section   2 Standards Concerning Intellectual Property Rights 8
  • Subsection   1 Copyright and Related Rights 8
  • Article   153 Protection Granted 8
  • Article   154 Authors 8
  • Article   155 Performers 8
  • Article   156 Producers of Phonograms 8
  • Article   157 Broadcasting Organisations 8
  • Article   158 Broadcasting and Communication to the Public 8
  • Article   159 Term of Protection 8
  • Article   160 Protection of Technological Measures 8
  • Article   161 Protection of Rights Management Information 8
  • Article   162 Exceptions and Limitations 8
  • Article   163 Artists' Resale Right In Works of Art 8
  • Article   164 Cooperation on Collective Management of Rights 8
  • Subsection   2 Trademarks 8
  • Article   165 International Agreements 8
  • Article   166 Registration Procedure 8
  • Article   167 Well-known Trademarks 8
  • Article   168 Exceptions to the Rights Conferred by a Trademark 8
  • Subsection   3 Geographical Indications 8
  • Article   169 Scope 8
  • Article   170 Established Geographical Indications 9
  • Article   171 Addition of New Geographical Indications 9
  • Article   172 Scope of Protection of Geographical Indications 9
  • Article   173 Protection of Transcription of Geographical Indications 9
  • Article   174 Right of Use of Geographical Indications 9
  • Article   175 Enforcement of Protection 9
  • Article   176 Relationship with Trademarks 9
  • Article   177 General Rules 9
  • Article   178 Cooperation and Transparency 9
  • Article   179 Geographical Indications Sub-committee 9
  • Subsection   4 Designs 9
  • Article   180 International Agreements 9
  • Article   181 Protection of Registered Designs 9
  • Article   182 Exceptions and Exclusions 9
  • Article   183 Relationship to Copyright 9
  • Subsection   5 Patents 9
  • Article   184 International Agreements 9
  • Article   185 Patents and Public Health 9
  • Article   186 Supplementary Protection Certificate 9
  • Article   187 Protection of Data Submitted to Obtain a Marketing Authorisation for Medicinal Products  (1) 9
  • Article   188 Protection of Data to Obtain a Marketing Authorisation for Plant Protection Products 9
  • Article   189 Plant Varieties 9
  • Article   190 General Obligations 9
  • Article   191 Entitled Applicants 9
  • Subsection   1 Civil Enforcement 9
  • Article   192 Measures for Preserving Evidence 9
  • Article   193 Right of Information 9
  • Article   194 Provisional Measures 9
  • Article   195 Measures Resulting from a Decision on the Merits of the Case 9
  • Article   196 Damages 9
  • Article   197 Legal Costs 9
  • Article   198 Publication of Judicial Decisions 9
  • Article   199 Presumption of Authorship or Ownership 9
  • Subsection   2 Other Provisions 9
  • Article   200 Border Measures 9
  • Article   201 Codes of Conduct 10
  • Article   202 Cooperation 10
  • Chapter   10 Competition 10
  • Article   203 Principles 10
  • Article   204 Antitrust and Mergers Legislation and Its Implementation 10
  • Article   205 State Monopolies, State Enterprises and Enterprises Entrusted with Special or Exclusive Rights 10
  • Article   206 Subsidies 10
  • Article   207 Dispute Settlement 10
  • Article   208 Relationship with the WTO 10
  • Article   209 Confidentiality 10
  • Chapter   11 Trade-related Energy Provisions 10
  • Article   210 Definitions 10
  • Article   211 Transit 10
  • Article   212 Unauthorised Taking of Goods In Transit 10
  • Article   213 Uninterrupted Transit 10
  • Article   214 Transit Obligation for Operators 10
  • Article   215 Regulatory Authorities 10
  • Article   216 Organisation of Markets 10
  • Article   217 Access to Energy Transport Facilities 10
  • Article   218 Relationship with the Energy Community Treaty  (1) 10
  • Chapter   12 Transparency 10
  • Article   219 Definitions 10
  • Article   220 Objective 10
  • Article   221 Publication 10
  • Article   222 Enquiries and Contact Points 10
  • Article   223 Administration of Measures of General Application 10
  • Article   224 Review and Appeal 10
  • Article   225 Regulatory Quality and Performance and Good Administrative Behaviour 10
  • Article   226 Specific Rules 10
  • Chapter   13 Trade and Sustainable Development 10
  • Article   227 Context and Objectives 10
  • Article   228 Right to Regulate and Levels of Protection 10
  • Article   229 Multilateral Labour Standards and Agreements 10
  • Article   230 Multilateral Environmental Governance and Agreements 10
  • Article   231 Trade and Investment Promoting Sustainable Development 10
  • Article   232 Biological Diversity 10
  • Article   233 Sustainable Management of Forests and Trade In Forest Products 11
  • Article   234 Trade In Fish Products 11
  • Article   235 Upholding Levels of Protection 11
  • Article   236 Scientific Information 11
  • Article   237 Transparency 11
  • Article   238 Review of Sustainability Impacts 11
  • Article   239 Working Together on Trade and Sustainable Development 11
  • Article   240 Institutional Set-up and Overseeing Mechanisms 11
  • Article   241 Joint Civil Society Dialogue Forum 11
  • Article   242 Government Consultations 11
  • Article   243 Panel of Experts 11
  • Chapter   14 Dispute Settlement 11
  • Section   1 Objective and Scope 11
  • Article   244 Objective 11
  • Article   245 Scope of Application 11
  • Section   2 Consultations and Mediation 11
  • Article   246 Consultations 11
  • Article   247 Mediation 11
  • Section   3 Dispute Settlement Procedures 11
  • Subsection   1 Arbitration Procedure 11
  • Article   248 Initiation of the Arbitration Procedure 11
  • Article   249 Establishment of the Arbitration Panel 11
  • Article   250 Preliminary Ruling on Urgency 11
  • Article   251 Arbitration Panel Report 11
  • Article   252 Conciliation for Urgent Energy Disputes 11
  • Article   253 Notification of the Ruling of the Arbitration Panel 11
  • Subsection   2 Compliance 11
  • Article   254 Compliance with the Arbitration Panel Ruling 11
  • Article   255 Reasonable Period of Time for Compliance 11
  • Article   256 Review of Any Measure Taken to Comply with the Arbitration Panel Ruling 11
  • Article   257 Temporary Remedies In Case of Non-compliance 11
  • Article   258 Remedies for Urgent Energy Disputes 11
  • Article   259 Review of Any Measure Taken to Comply after the Adoption of Temporary Remedies for Non-compliance 11
  • Article   260 Replacement of Arbitrators 11
  • Article   261 Suspension and Termination of Arbitration and Compliance Procedures 11
  • Article   262 Mutually Agreed Solution 11
  • Article   263 Rules of Procedure 12
  • Article   264 Information and Technical Advice 12
  • Article   265 Rules of Interpretation 12
  • Article   266 Decisions and Rulings of the Arbitration Panel 12
  • Article   267 Referrals to the Court of Justice of the European Union 12
  • Section   4 General Provisions 12
  • Article   268 Lists of Arbitrators 12
  • Article   269 Relation with Wto Obligations 12
  • Article   270 Time-limits 12
  • Chapter   15 General Provisions on Approximation Under Title IV 12
  • Article   271 Progress In Approximation In Trade-related Areas 12
  • Article   272 Repeal of Inconsistent Domestic Law 12
  • Article   273 Assessment of Approximation In Trade-related Areas 12
  • Article   274 Developments Relevant to Approximation 12
  • Article   275 Exchange of Information 12
  • Article   276 General Provision 12
  • Title   V ECONOMIC COOPERATION 12
  • Chapter   1 Economic Dialogue 12
  • Article   277 12
  • Article   278 12
  • Chapter   2 Management of Public Finances and Financial Control 12
  • Article   279 12
  • Chapter   3 Taxation 12
  • Article   280 12
  • Article   281 12
  • Article   282 12
  • Article   283 12
  • Article   284 12
  • Article   285 12
  • Chapter   4 Statistics 12
  • Article   286 12
  • Article   287 12
  • Article   288 12
  • Article   289 12
  • Article   290 12
  • Article   291 12
  • Title   VI OTHER COOPERATION POLICIES 12
  • Chapter   1 Transport 12
  • Article   292 12
  • Article   293 12
  • Article   294 12
  • Article   295 12
  • Article   296 12
  • Chapter   2 Energy Cooperation 12
  • Article   297 12
  • Article   298 12
  • Article   299 13
  • Article   300 13
  • Chapter   3 Environment 13
  • Article   301 13
  • Article   302 13
  • Article   303 13
  • Article   304 13
  • Article   305 13
  • Article   306 13
  • Chapter   4 Climate Action 13
  • Article   307 13
  • Article   308 13
  • Article   309 13
  • Article   310 13
  • Article   311 13
  • Article   312 13
  • Chapter   5 Industrial and Enterprise Policy and Mining 13
  • Article   313 13
  • Article   314 13
  • Article   315 13
  • Chapter   6 Company Law, Accounting and Auditing and Corporate Governance 13
  • Article   316 13
  • Article   317 13
  • Article   318 13
  • Article   319 13
  • Chapter   7 Financial Services 13
  • Article   320 13
  • Article   321 13
  • Article   322 13
  • Article   323 13
  • Chapter   8 Cooperation In the Field of Information Society 13
  • Article   324 13
  • Article   325 13
  • Article   326 13
  • Article   327 13
  • Chapter   9 Tourism 13
  • Article   328 13
  • Article   329 13
  • Article   330 13
  • Article   331 13
  • Chapter   10 Agriculture and Rural Development 13
  • Article   332 13
  • Article   333 13
  • Article   334 13
  • Chapter   11 Fisheries and Maritime Governance 13
  • Article   335 13
  • Article   336 13
  • Article   337 14
  • Article   338 14
  • Article   339 14
  • Article   340 14
  • Article   341 14
  • Chapter   12 Cooperation In Research, Technological Development and Demonstration 14
  • Article   342 14
  • Article   343 14
  • Article   344 14
  • Chapter   13 Consumer Policy 14
  • Article   345 14
  • Article   346 14
  • Article   347 14
  • Chapter   14 Employment, Social Policy and Equal Opportunities 14
  • Article   348 14
  • Article   349 14
  • Article   350 14
  • Article   351 14
  • Article   352 14
  • Article   353 14
  • Article   354 14
  • Chapter   15 Public Health 14
  • Article   355 14
  • Article   356 14
  • Article   357 14
  • Chapter   16 Education, Training and Youth 14
  • Article   358 14
  • Article   359 14
  • Article   360 14
  • Article   361 14
  • Chapter   17 Cooperation In the Cultural Field 14
  • Article   362 14
  • Article   363 14
  • Chapter   18 Cooperation In the Audiovisual and Media Fields 14
  • Article   364 14
  • Article   365 14
  • Article   366 14
  • Article   367 14
  • Chapter   19 Cooperation In the Field of Sport and Physical Activity 14
  • Article   368 14
  • Chapter   20 Civil Society Cooperation 14
  • Article   369 14
  • Article   370 14
  • Article   371 14
  • Chapter   21 Regional Development, Cross-border and Regional Level Cooperation 14
  • Article   372 14
  • Article   373 15
  • Article   374 15
  • Article   375 15
  • Chapter   22 Civil Protection 15
  • Article   376 15
  • Article   377 15
  • Article   378 15
  • Article   379 15
  • Chapter   23 Participation In European Union Agencies and Programmes 15
  • Article   380 15
  • Article   381 15
  • Article   382 15
  • Title   VII FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND ANTI-FRAUD AND CONTROL PROVISIONS 15
  • Chapter   1 Financial Assistance 15
  • Article   383 15
  • Article   384 15
  • Article   385 15
  • Article   386 15
  • Article   387 15
  • Article   388 15
  • Article   389 15
  • Chapter   2 Anti-fraud and Control Provisions 15
  • Article   390 Definitions 15
  • Article   391 Scope 15
  • Article   392 Measures to Prevent and Fight Fraud, Corruption and Any other Illegal Activities 15
  • Article   393 Exchange of Information and Further Cooperation at Operational Level 15
  • Article   394 Prevention of Fraud, Corruption and Irregularities 15
  • Article   395 Legal Proceedings, Investigation and Prosecution 15
  • Article   396 Communication of Fraud, Corruption and Irregularities 15
  • Article   397 Audits 15
  • Article   398 On-the-spot Checks 15
  • Article   399 Administrative Measures and Penalties 15
  • Article   400 Recovery 15
  • Article   401 Confidentiality 15
  • Article   402 Approximation of Legislation 15
  • Title   VIII INSTITUTIONAL, GENERAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS 15
  • Chapter   1 Institutional Framework 15
  • Article   403 15
  • Article   404 15
  • Article   405 15
  • Article   406 15
  • Article   407 Association Committee 15
  • Article   408 15
  • Article   409 Special Committees, Sub-committees and Bodies 15
  • Article   410 Parliamentary Association Committee 15
  • Article   411 16
  • Article   412 Civil Society Platform 16
  • Article   413 16
  • Chapter   2 General and Final Provisions 16
  • Article   414 Access to Courts and Administrative Organs 16
  • Article   415 Security Exceptions 16
  • Article   416 Non-discrimination 16
  • Article   417 Gradual Approximation 16
  • Article   418 Dynamic Approximation 16
  • Article   419 Monitoring of Approximation 16
  • Article   420 Fulfilment of Obligations 16
  • Article   421 Dispute Settlement 16
  • Article   422 Appropriate Measures In Case of Non-fulfilment of Obligations 16
  • Article   423 Relation to other Agreements 16
  • Article   424 16
  • Article   425 16
  • Article   426 Annexes and Protocols 16
  • Article   427 Duration 16
  • Article   428 Definition of the Parties 16
  • Article   429 Territorial Application 16
  • Article   430 Depositary of this Agreement 16
  • Article   431 Entry Into Force and Provisional Application 16
  • Article   432 Authentic Texts 16
  • ANNEX XIV  LIST OF RESERVATIONS ON ESTABLISHMENT; LIST OF COMMITMENTS ON CROSS-BORDER SUPPLY OF SERVICES; LIST OF RESERVATIONS ON KEY PERSONNEL, GRADUATE TRAINEES AND BUSINESS SELLERS; LIST OF RESERVATIONS ON CONTRACTUAL SERVICES SUPPLIERS AND INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONALS 16
  • ANNEX XIV-A  LIST OF RESERVATIONS ON ESTABLISHMENT (UNION) 17
  • ANNEX XIV-E  LIST OF RESERVATIONS ON ESTABLISHMENT (GEORGIA)  (1) 18
  • ANNEX XIX  MEDIATION MECHANISM 19
  • 1 Objective 19
  • Section   1 PROCEDURE UNDER THE MEDIATION MECHANISM 19
  • 2 Request for Information 19
  • 3 Initiation of the Procedure 19
  • 4 Selection of the Mediator 19
  • 5 Rules of the Mediation Procedure 19
  • Section   2 IMPLEMENTATION 19
  • 6 Implementation of a Mutually Agreed Solution 19
  • Section   3 GENERAL PROVISIONS 19
  • 7 Confidentiality and Relationship to Dispute Settlement 19
  • 8 Time-limits 19
  • 9 Costs 19
  • ANNEX XX  RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR DISPUTE SETTLEMENT 19
  • ANNEX XXI  CODE OF CONDUCT FOR ARBITRATORS AND MEDIATORS 20