EC/San Marino agreement: customs union and cooperation agreement following the 1995 enlargement

OBJECTIVE: To enable the Agreement on Customs Union and Cooperation between the European Economic Community and the Republic of San Marino to be definitively approved on behalf of the Community and to ensure that Austria, Sweden and Finland are parties to this agreement. SUBSTANCE: On 16 December 1991 the European Economic Community of 12 and the Republic of San Marino concluded an Agreement on Customs Union and Cooperation. Pending entry into force of that Agreement, which had to be ratified by the 12 Member States at that time, an Interim Agreement on Trade and Customs Union was concluded and entered into force on 1 December 1992. During the long process of ratification (concluded by the Twelve on 26 March 1996), the Community became a Union of 15 Member States. Austria, Sweden and Finland should now accede to this agreement. The present proposal therefore aims to: - enable the Council to approve without delay the cooperation agreement with the Twelve, - approve a Protocol to the Agreement on Customs Union and Cooperation consequent on the accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden. The two texts will come into force as soon as notification is received that the necessary procedures have been completed. �