EC/Vietnam agreement: cooperation agreement

OBJECTIVE: conclusion of trade and cooperation framework agreement between the Community and Vietnam. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Decision 96/351/EC concerning the conclusion of the cooperation agreement between the European Community and Vietnam. CONTENT: the agreement, which is based on respect for human rights and democratic principles, covers the following areas of cooperation: - trade: granting most-favoured-nation treatment for products not covered by the generalised system of preferences in force and to which Vietnam has regular access; eliminating non-tariff barriers whilst protecting security, public health and morals, and the environment; customs cooperation; encouraging investment; protecting intellectual, industrial and commercial property rights including copyright (particularly computer software), trade marks, industrial designs and models, patents, the layout designs of integrated circuits, etc.; - the economy in three main areas: access to Community know-how and technology, improving contacts between economic operators, and enhancing mutual understanding of the respective economic, social and cultural environments; - science and technology, particularly as regards standardisation and quality control; - development: Community assistance for specific projects and programmes to help the poorer sections of the Vietnamese population and areas receiving returning citizens; actions to enhance the development of social, economic and rural infrastructures (including the promotion of employment, agriculture and the role of women); - regional cooperation: promoting inter-regional trade with other South-East Asian countries, supporting regional projects and promoting regional communications; - environment: protecting natural forests, the urban environment, preventing industrial pollution and pollution of the air, soil and water, protecting the marine environment, and promoting sustainable management of natural resources; - information and communication, particularly as regards strengthening regional relations; - combating drugs: training and information on drug abuse (including projects for the reintegration of addicts), measures to reintegrate addicts, and the exchange of all relevant bilateral information. The agreement establishes a joint committee made up of members of the Commission and representatives of the Member States and Vietnam, which will meet every two years to establish the key objectives among the possible actions under the agreement and to ensure that the agreement is properly implemented. The agreement includes a clause concerning future developments. DURATION OF AGREEMENT: initial duration of five years which can then be tacitly renewed. ENTRY INTO FORCE: 1 June 1996. �