DECISION No 1/2021 OF THE EU-GEORGIA ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE IN TRADE CONFIGURATION

of 17 June 2021

updating Annex XIII (Approximation of customs legislation) to the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part [2021/1114]

THE ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE IN TRADE CONFIGURATION,

Having regard to the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part, and in particular Article 75 and Article 406(3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

The Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part ('the Agreement') was signed on 27 June 2014 and entered into force on 1 July 2016.

(2)

The Preamble of the Agreement recognises the Parties' desire to move the reform and approximation process forward in Georgia, thus contributing to the gradual economic integration and deepening of political association and to achieving economic integration through extensive regulatory approximation.

(3)

In accordance with Article 75 of the Agreement, Georgia undertook a commitment to gradually approximate to the Union's customs legislation as set out in Annex XIII (Approximation of customs legislation) to the Agreement.

(4)

Considering that the Union acquis listed in Annex XIII (Approximation of customs legislation) to the Agreement substantially evolved since the conclusion of the negotiations on the Agreement, that evolution should be reflected in that Annex,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Annex XIII (Approximation of customs legislation) to the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part, is replaced by the text appearing in the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2

This Decision has been established in Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish and Georgian languages, each of them being equally authentic.

Article 3

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 17 June 2021.

 

ANNEX

‘ANNEX XIII

APPROXIMATION OF CUSTOMS LEGISLATION

Customs Code

Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 October 2013 laying down the Union Customs Code  ( 1 )

Timetable: the approximation with the provisions of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013, with the exception of Article 1, Article 4, point (b) of Article 27(1), Article 53, Article 81, Article 82, Article 87(4), point (a) of Article 89(2), Articles 155 to 157, point (b) of Article 211(4), Article 227, point (c) of Article 233(1) and Articles 284 to 288, shall be carried out within four years following the entry into force of this Agreement.

The Parties shall revisit the approximation of Article 210 of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 before the expiry of the four-year period following the entry into force of this Agreement referred to in the first paragraph.

Approximation with Article 247 of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 shall take place on a best endeavor basis.

Common Transit and Single Administrative Document (SAD)

Convention of 20 May 1987 on the Simplification of Formalities in Trade in Goods

Convention of 20 May 1987 on a common transit procedure

Timetable: the approximation with the provisions of the Conventions referred to in the first and second paragraphs, including through a possible accession to those Conventions by Georgia, shall be carried out within four years following the entry into force of this Agreement.

Reliefs from customs duty

Council Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009 of 16 November 2009 setting-up a Community system of reliefs from customs duty

Timetable: the approximation with Titles I and II of Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009 shall be carried out within four years following the entry into force of this Agreement.

Intellectual property rights protection

Regulation (EU) No 608/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013 concerning customs enforcement of intellectual property rights

Timetable: the approximation with the provisions of Regulation (EU) No 608/2013, with the exception of Article 26, shall be carried out within three years following the entry into force of this Agreement. The obligation of approximation to Regulation (EU) No 608/2013 in itself does not create any obligation on Georgia to apply measures where a right in intellectual property is not protected under its substantive intellectual property laws and regulations. ’

( 1 )    OJ L 269, 10.10.2013, p. 1 .