PURPOSE: to allow Croatia to accede to the Convention
of 18 December 1997, drawn up on the basis of Article K.3 of the
Treaty of the European Union, on mutual assistance and cooperation
between customs administrations.
PROPOSED ACT: Council recommendation.
ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the Council adopts
the act after consulting the European Parliament but without being
obliged to follow its opinion.
BACKGROUND: the Act of Accession of the Republic of
Croatia contains a simplified system for accession of Croatia to
the conventions and protocols concluded by the Member States on the
basis of Article 34 TEU (previously Article K.3 TEU) or Article 293
EC. In fact, Article 3(4) of the Act of Accession simply provides
that Croatia accedes to the conventions and protocols by virtue of
the Act.
Annex I to the Act of Accession gives the list of
conventions and protocols concerned in the Justice and Home Affairs
area. This list includes the Convention of 18 December 1997, drawn
up on the basis of Article K.3 of the Treaty on European Union, on
mutual assistance and cooperation between customs
administrations.
CONTENT: the Commission recommends to the Council that
the Convention of 18 December 1997, drawn up on the basis of
Article K.3 of the Treaty of the European Union, on mutual
assistance and cooperation between customs administrations, shall
enter into force in relation to Croatia on the date on which this
Decision shall take effect.
The accession of Croatia to the aforementioned
Convention does not require adjustments thereto. Hence this
Commission Recommendation for a Council Decision is intended to
only determine the date on which the Convention of 18 December 1997
shall enter into force for Croatia.