Legal provisions of COM(2010)209 - Signature and provisional application of the Protocol to Amend the Air Transport Agreement with the USA

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dossier COM(2010)209 - Signature and provisional application of the Protocol to Amend the Air Transport Agreement with the USA.
document COM(2010)209 EN
date June 24, 2010

Contents

Article 1 - Signing and provisional application

1. The signing of the Protocol to Amend the Air Transport Agreement between the United States of America, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part (hereinafter the ‘Protocol’) is hereby approved on behalf of the Union, subject to the conclusion of the said Protocol.

The text of the Protocol is attached to this Decision.

2. The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the Protocol on behalf of the Union, subject to its conclusion.

3. Pending its entry into force, the Protocol shall be applied on a provisional basis by the Union and its Member States, to the extent permitted under domestic law, from the date of signing.

4. A decision to discontinue the provisional application of the Protocol and to give notice thereof to the United States of America in accordance with Article 9(2) of the Protocol, and a decision to withdraw such notice, shall be taken by the Council, on behalf of the Union and of the Member States, acting unanimously in accordance with the relevant Treaty provisions.

Article 2 - Suspension of reciprocal recognition

A decision to suspend the reciprocal recognition of regulatory determinations with regard to airline fitness and citizenship and to inform the United States of America thereof in accordance with Article 6 bis(2) of the Agreement as amended by the Protocol shall be taken by the Council, on behalf of the Union and of the Member States, acting unanimously in accordance with the relevant Treaty provisions.

Article 3 - Joint Committee

1. The Union and the Member States shall be represented in the Joint Committee established pursuant to Article 18 of the Agreement as amended by the Protocol by representatives of the Commission and of the Member States.

2. For matters that fall within the exclusive competence of the Union and do not require the adoption of a decision having legal effect, the position to be taken by the Union and its Member States within the Joint Committee shall be adopted by the Commission and shall be notified in advance to the Council and the Member States.

3. For decisions concerning matters that fall within the competence of the Union, the position to be taken by the Union and its Member States within the Joint Committee shall be adopted by the Council, acting by qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission, unless the applicable voting procedures set down in the Treaty provide otherwise.

4. For decisions concerning matters that fall within the competence of the Member States, the position to be taken by the Union and its Member States within the Joint Committee shall be adopted by the Council, acting by unanimity on a proposal from the Commission or from any Member State, unless a Member State has informed the General Secretariat of the Council within one month of the adoption of that position that it can only consent to the decision to be taken by the Joint Committee with the agreement of its legislative bodies, notably due to a parliamentary scrutiny reserve.

5. The position of the Union and of the Member States within the Joint Committee shall be presented by the Commission, except in matters that fall within the exclusive competence of the Member States, in which case it shall be presented by the Presidency of the Council or, if the Council so decides, by the Commission.

Article 4 - Decisions in accordance with Article 21(5) of the Agreement

A decision not to allow airlines of the other Party to operate additional frequencies or enter new markets under the Agreement and give notice thereof to the United States of America, or to agree to lift any such decision, taken in accordance with Article 21(5) of the Agreement as amended by the Protocol, shall be adopted by the Council, on behalf of the Union and of the Member States, acting unanimously in accordance with the relevant Treaty provisions.

Article 5 - Information to the Commission

Member States shall inform the Commission immediately of any requests or notifications made or received by them pursuant to Article 15 of the Agreement as amended by the Protocol.