COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/1067

of 13 July 2020

on the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation in the context of negotiations under Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 on the modification of Switzerland’s WTO concessions with regard to seasoned meat

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 207(4), in conjunction with point (a)(v) of the second subparagraph of Article 218(6) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament (1),

Whereas:

(1) In accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2019/1864 (2), the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation in the context of negotiations under Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 on the modification of Switzerland’s WTO concessions with regard to seasoned meat (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’) was signed on 9 December 2019, subject to its conclusion at a later date.

(2) This Decision relates exclusively to Union trade policy and implements an agreement following negotiations in the framework of the Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994, a Union right under the Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization.

(3) The Agreement should be approved,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation in the context of negotiations under Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 on the modification of Switzerland’s WTO concessions with regard to seasoned meat is hereby approved on behalf of the Union.

The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The President of the Council shall, on behalf of the Union, give the notification provided for in the Agreement. (3)

Article 3

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

Done at Brussels, 13 July 2020,

For the Council

The President

J. BORRELL FONTELLES

(1)  Consent of 17 June 2020 (not yet published in the Official Journal).

(2)  Council Decision (EU) 2019/1864 of 24 October 2019 on the signing, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation in the context of negotiations under Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 on the modification of Switzerland’s WTO concessions with regard to seasoned meat (

OJ L 289, 8.11.2019, p. 1

).).

(3)  The date of entry into force of the Agreement will be published in the

Official Journal of the European Union

by the General Secretariat of the Council.