EC/Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia FYROM agreement: ecopoints to be applied to transit traffic through Austria

PURPOSE : to conclude the agreement between the EU and FYROM concerning the system of ecopoints to be applied to be applied to regulate the transit of heavy goods traffic of FYROM through Austria. COMMUNITY MEASURE : Council Decision 2003/278/EC concerning the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia concerning the system of ecopoints to be applied to transit traffic of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia through Austria. CONTENT : the Agreement between the EC and FYROM in the field of transport (refer to AVC/1996/0260) establishes that a system of ecopoints, equivalent to that applicable to EC heavy goods vehicles in transit through Austria, will apply to transit traffic of FYROM though Austria, with effect from 1 January 1999. In accordance with the provisions of this agreement, the method of calculation and the detailed rules and procedures for the management and control of the ecopoints are to be agreed by means of an exchange of letters between the Contracting Parties, and will be in line with the provisions of Protocol 9 to the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden to the European Union regulating the ecopoints system applying in the Community. Consequently, the Council has adopted an agreement under the form of an exchange of letters establishing the number of ecopoints allocated to trucks of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia for the period 1999-2003 on the basis of the "no less favourable treatment for Community heavy goods vehicles" principle. It also provides for appropriate documents, rules of procedure and methods of control for managing the system. The Agreement stipulates that the system of ecopoints shall be applied from 1 January 2002.�