COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2023/2761

of 4 December 2023

on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, of the Interim Agreement on Trade between the European Union and the Republic of Chile

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 91(1), Article 100(2), and Article 207(4), first subparagraph, in conjunction with Article 218(5) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) On 13 November 2017, the Council authorised the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to open negotiations with Chile on a modernised agreement with Chile to replace the 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) (the ‘Association Agreement’).

(2) On 9 December 2022, the negotiations between the Union and Chile were successfully concluded.

(3) The modernisation of the Association Agreement envisages two parallel legal instruments. The first instrument is the Advanced Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Chile, of the other part (the ‘Advanced Framework Agreement’), which includes: the Political and Cooperation pillar, and the Trade and Investment pillar, which encompasses investment protection provisions. The second instrument is the Interim Agreement on Trade between the European Union and the Republic of Chile (the ‘Agreement’), which covers trade and investment liberalisation. The Agreement will cease to have effect and be replaced by the Advanced Framework Agreement upon entry into force of the latter.

(4) The Agreement should be signed on behalf of the Union, subject to its conclusion at a later date and the Joint Statement on the Provisions on Trade and Sustainable Development contained in the Interim Agreement on Trade between the European Union and the Republic of Chile (the ‘Joint Statement’), attached to the Agreement should be approved on behalf of the Union,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The signing on behalf of the Union of the Interim Agreement on Trade between the European Union and the Republic of Chile (2) is hereby authorised, subject to the conclusion of the said Agreement.

Article 2

The Joint Statement attached to the Agreement shall be approved on behalf of the Union.

Article 3

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the Agreement on behalf of the Union.

Article 4

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

Done at Brussels, 4 December 2023.

For the Council

The President

F. BOLAÑOS GARCÍA

(1)

OJ L 352, 30.12.2002, p. 3

(2) The text of the Agreement will be published together with the decision on its conclusion.

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2761/oj

ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)