Considerations on COM(2017)609 - EU position as regards the proposals for amendments to the Convention of 20 May 1987 on a common transit procedure

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dossier COM(2017)609 - EU position as regards the proposals for amendments to the Convention of 20 May 1987 on a common transit procedure.
document COM(2017)609 EN
date October 20, 2017
 
(1) The Convention on a common transit procedure ("the Convention") was concluded by the European Union by Council Decision 2 and entered into force on 1 January 1988.

(2) Pursuant to Article 15(3)(a) of the Convention, the EU-EFTA Joint Committee on common transit set up by that Convention ("the Joint Committee") may adopt by decision amendments to the Appendices to the Convention.

(3) On 5 December 2017, during its 30th meeting, the Joint Committee is expected to adopt a Decision amending the Appendices to the Convention.

(4) It is appropriate to establish the position to be adopted on behalf of the Union in the Joint Committee, as its Decision will be binding upon the Union.

(5) Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the Union Customs Code 3 and its Delegated and Implementing acts introduced the possibility to use the electronic transport document (ETD) as a transit declaration for air transport. Those provisions will be fully applicable as of 1 May 2018 at the latest. Moreover, certain provisions on transit and on the customs status of Union goods will only become applicable when the relevant electronic systems have been upgraded or deployed, on the dates indicated in the Annex to Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/578 of 11 April 2016 establishing the Work Programme relating to the development and deployment of the electronic systems provided for in the Union Customs Code 4 .

(6) To ensure the smooth and efficient functioning of trade between the Union and the Contracting Parties to the Convention, the provisions on the use of the ETD as a transit declaration and on the implementation of the relevant electronic systems should be included in the Appendices to the Convention. Those amendments are indispensable for the further alignment of the Convention with Union legislation.

(7) All Member States of the Union expressed their positive opinion as regards the proposed amendments in the EU-EFTA Working Group on common transit.

(8) As the Joint Committee Decision will amend the Convention, it is appropriate to publish it in the Official Journal of the European Union after its adoption.

(9) In the Joint Committee, the Union is to be represented by the Commission in accordance with Article 17(1) of the Treaty on European Union (TEU). The position of the Union concerning the proposed amendment should therefore be based on the attached draft Decision,