COUNCIL DECISION

of 7 November 2006

regarding the position to be taken by the Community within the International Tropical Timber Council on the extension of the International Agreement on Tropical Timber, 1994

(2006/C 298/01)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 133 in conjunction with Article 300(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission(1),

Whereas:

(1) The International Agreement on Tropical Timber of 1994 has been signed and provisionally applied by the Community by Council Decision 96/493/EC(2).

(2) The successor Agreement to the International Tropical Timber Agreement of 1994 was successfully concluded within UNCTAD in January 2006.

(3) The International Tropical Timber Agreement of 1994 remains in force until 31 December 2006 unless, in accordance with the provisions of Article 46(3), it is extended beyond that date by decision of the International Tropical Timber Council until such time as the successor Agreement enters into force.

(4) The extension of that Agreement is in the interest of the Community.

(5) The European Community's position in the International Tropical Timber Council should be established,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The European Community's position within the International Tropical Timber Council shall be to vote in favour of extending of the International Agreement on Tropical Timber, 1994, until the provisional or definitive entry into force of the successor Agreement of 2006.

Article 2

The European Community will seek for an International Tropical Timber Council decision aiming at limiting the duration of the extension of the International Agreement on Tropical Timber, 1994 or establishing a review clause.

Done at Brussels, 7 November 2006.

For the Council

The President

HEINÄLUOMA

(1) Doc. 12953/06 — COM(2006)469 final

(2)

OJ L 208, 17.8.1996, p. 1