Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community and in particular Article 113, in conjunction with Article 228 (2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas the Customs Convention on the Temporary Importation of Commercial Road Vehicles, negotiated under the auspices of the United Nations Organization and signed in Geneva on 18 May 1956, covers temporary import conditions and procedures for commercial road vehicles in the customs territories of the Community and third countries and is a customs agreement which could effectively help expand international trade;

Whereas under Article 33 (2 bis), the Convention is open to accession by regional economic integration organizations;

Whereas moreover, all Member States of the Community are Contracting Parties to the Convention;

Whereas, if the Community is to become a Contracting Party, it must deposit an accession instrument with the Secretary-General of the United Nations Organization;

Whereas the current Community provisions on the temporary importation of road vehicles for commercial use comply with those of the Convention and there is therefore no need to enter any reservations with regard to Article 38 of the Convention;

Whereas it is appropriate to approve the Convention;

Whereas, it would be appropriate to accept at the same time the United Nations' resolution of 2 July 1993 on the applicability of carnets de passage en douane and CPD carnets to commercial road vehicles,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: