COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2024/2586
of 23 September 2024
on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union at the 16th General Assembly of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF)
Article 1
Article 2
ANNEX
1.
INTRODUCTION
2.
POSITION OF THE UNION ON CERTAIN AGENDA ITEMS
Agenda item 5 – Status if the Convention and OTIF membership
Document(s): |
SG-24055-AG16/5 |
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Exercise of voting rights: |
Union |
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Position: |
Regarding China’s application to become an Associate Member of OTIF:
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Comments: |
In line with Article 37 paragraphs 2 to 5 of COTIF, by the deadline of 26 July 2024, the European Commission lodged an objection to China’s application to become an Associate Member of OTIF, on behalf of the Union, with the number of votes equal to those of its Members which are also Member States of OTIF. On 28 August 2024, OTIF’s Secretary-General submitted to the General Assembly a proposal regarding China’s application for accession as an Associate Member for decision, according to Article 37 paragraph 4 of COTIF. |
Agenda item 7 – OTIF long-term strategy
Document(s): |
SG-24024-AG 16/7 |
Exercise of voting rights: |
Union |
Position: |
Reiterate support for the Secretary-General’s initiative to develop a long-term strategy for OTIF, and support the adoption of the long-term strategy as submitted by the Secretary-General in document SG-24024-AG 16/7. |
Comments: |
The revised long-term strategy for OTIF submitted to the 16th General Assembly adequately addresses the comments made by the European Union at the 6th session of the OTIF ad hoc Committee on Legal Affairs and International Cooperation (Vienna, 16-18 April 2024). |
Agenda item 13 – Report of the ad hoc Committee on Legal Affairs and International Cooperation
Document(s): |
SG-24028-AG 16/13 – Restricted distribution |
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Exercise of voting rights: |
Member States |
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Position: |
Support the adoption of the following proposals for decision annexed to document SG-24029-AG16/13:
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Comments: |
The above proposals submitted to the 16th General Assembly for decision, as laid out in the report of the ad hoc Committee and annexed to document SG-24029-AG16/13, have been discussed, amended and agreed in the relevant sessions of the ad hoc Committee, in line with the Union positions that have been established on those occasions. |
Agenda item 14 – Modification of the General Assembly’s Rules of Procedure and accompanying notes
Document(s): |
SG-24029-AG 16/14 |
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Exercise of voting rights: |
Member States |
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Position: |
Support the adoption of the proposals for decision annexed to document SG-24029-AG16/14, namely:
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Comments: |
The revised versions of the ‘General Assembly’s Rules of Procedure’ and the ‘Explanatory Notes on the Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly (Articles 4 to 7, 10 and 22)’ are adapted in accordance with the ‘Guidelines on the use of gender-neutral language’. The explanatory notes also incorporate the ad hoc Committee’s proposal in the ‘Recommendation on the use of electronic signatures in official communications between OTIF and its members’. The proposals also include some purely editorial corrections. The proposals submitted to the 16th General Assembly for decision have been discussed, amended and agreed in the relevant sessions of the ad hoc Committee, in line with the Union positions that have been established on those occasions. |
Agenda item 15 – Revision of rules on the election and conditions of service of the Secretary-General
Document(s): |
SG-24032-AG 16/15 |
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Exercise of voting rights: |
Member States |
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Position: |
Support the adoption of the proposals for decision annexed to document SG-24029-AG16/15, namely:
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Comments: |
The revised versions of the ‘Regulation on the election and conditions of service of the Secretary-General’ and the ‘Explanatory Notes on the regulation on the election and conditions of service of the Secretary-General’ are adapted in accordance with the ‘Guidelines on the use of gender-neutral language’. The explanatory notes also incorporate the ad hoc Committee’s proposal in the ‘Recommendation on the use of electronic signatures in official communications between OTIF and its members’. The proposals also include some purely editorial corrections. The proposals submitted to the 16th General Assembly for decision have been discussed, amended and agreed in the relevant sessions of the ad hoc Committee, in line with the Union positions that have been established on those occasions. |
Agenda item 20 – Adoption of decisions, mandates, recommendations and other General Assembly documents (final document)
Document(s): |
None |
Exercise of voting rights: |
Member States |
Position: |
As specified under the relevant agenda items. |