Considerations on COM(2023)536 - EU position in the Association Council EU-Georgia with regard to the amendment of Annex XXII of the Association Agreement

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dossier COM(2023)536 - EU position in the Association Council EU-Georgia with regard to the amendment of Annex XXII of the Association Agreement.
document COM(2023)536 EN
date November  9, 2023
 
table>(1)The Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part (1) (the ‘Agreement’) was concluded by the Union by Council Decision (EU) 2016/838 (2) and entered into force on 1 July 2016.
(2)Pursuant to Article 406(3) of the Agreement, the Association Council established by the Agreement (the ‘Association Council’) has the power to update or amend the Annexes to the Agreement.

(3)Pursuant to Article 283 of the Agreement, the Parties are to develop their cooperation and harmonise policies in counteracting and fighting fraud and smuggling of excisable products. That cooperation is to include, inter alia, the gradual approximation of excise rates on tobacco products, as far as possible, taking into account the constraints of the regional context, and in line with the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. To that end, the Parties are to look to strengthen their cooperation within the regional context.

(4)Pursuant to Article 285 of the Agreement, Georgia is to carry out approximation of its legislation to the Union acts and international instruments referred to in Annex XXII to the Agreement in accordance with the provisions of that Annex.

(5)The Association Council is to adopt a decision regarding the amendment of Annex XXII to the Agreement.

(6)It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf within the Association Council, as the envisaged decision will be binding on the Union.

(7)The position of the Union within the Association Council should therefore be based on the attached draft decision,