Considerations on COM(2008)24 - EC position within the General Council of the World Trade Organization on the accession of Ukraine to the World Trade Organization

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dossier COM(2008)24 - EC position within the General Council of the World Trade Organization on the accession of Ukraine to the World Trade ...
document COM(2008)24 EN
date January 23, 2008
 
(1) On 20 November 1993 the Government of the Republic of Ukraine applied for accession to the Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization (WTO), pursuant to Article XII of that Agreement.

(2) A Working Party on Ukraine’s accession was established on 17 December 1993 in order to reach agreement on terms of accession acceptable to the Republic of Ukraine and all WTO Members.

(3) The Commission, on behalf of the Community, negotiated a comprehensive series of market opening commitments on the part of the Republic of Ukraine which are of particular importance to the Community, as set out in a memorandum agreed between the negotiators of the Republic of Ukraine and the Commission on 17 March 2003.

(4) These commitments are now embodied in the Protocol of Accession of the Republic of Ukraine to the WTO.

(5) Accession to the WTO is expected to make a positive and lasting contribution to the process of economic reform and sustainable development in the Republic of Ukraine.

(6) The Protocol of Accession should therefore be approved.

(7) Article XII of the Agreement establishing the WTO provides that the terms of accession are to be agreed between the acceding Member and the WTO, and that the Ministerial Conference of the WTO approves the terms of accession on the WTO side. Article IV.2 of the Agreement establishing the WTO provides that in the intervals between meetings of the Ministerial Conference, its functions shall be conducted by the General Council.

(8) Accordingly, it is necessary to establish the position to be taken by the Community within the General Council,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Sole Article

1. The position to be taken by the Community within the General Council of the WTO on the accession of the Republic of Ukraine to the WTO, is to approve the accession.

2. This position shall be expressed by the Commission on behalf of the Community.

Done at Brussels, […]

For the Council

The President

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