PURPOSE: to authorise Member States to accede to the Convention relating to international exhibitions signed at Paris on 22 November 1928 and supplemented by the Protocols of 10 May 1948, 16 November 1966, 30 November 1972 and the Amendments of 24 June 1982 and 31 May 1988.
PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.
LEGAL BASES: Article 207(4), in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
BACKGROUND: the Convention relating to international exhibitions signed at Paris on 22 November 1928 and supplemented by the Protocols of 10 May 1948, 16 November 1966, 30 November 1972 and the Amendments of 24 June 1982 and 31 May 1988 (the "Paris Convention") established the International Exhibitions Bureau. Its function is to regulate the frequency, quality and procedures of international exhibitions falling within its remit.
Article 16 and the Annex on "Customs Regulations for the importation of articles by the participants in international exhibitions" of the Paris Convention require countries organising exhibitions to allow for temporary admission of objects by the participants in international exhibitions.
The provisions of the Paris Convention for temporary admission of objects by the participants in international exhibitions fall within the Union’s exclusive competence as regards the common commercial policy. In fact, granting temporary admission is regulated in Articles 137 to 144 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code, implemented with regard to exhibitions by Article 576 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 Temporary admission, as set out in Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92, is compatible with Article 16 and the Annex on "Customs Regulations for the importation of articles by the participants in international exhibitions" of the Paris Convention.
CONTENT: this proposal authorises Member States to accede, for the parts falling under European Union competence, to the Paris Convention.
The Paris Convention entered into force on 17 January 1931. Not all Member States are parties to the Paris Convention. The EU itself cannot accede to the Paris Convention, as only sovereign states can be parties thereto. The Member States which wish to accede to the Paris Convention should be authorised to do so under the conditions laid down in this Decision.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: the proposal has no implication for the Community budget.