PURPOSE: to allow Croatia to accede to the Convention of 18 December 1997, drawn up on the basis of Article K.3 of the Treaty of the European Union, on mutual assistance and cooperation between customs administrations.
PROPOSED ACT: Council recommendation.
ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the Council adopts the act after consulting the European Parliament but without being obliged to follow its opinion.
BACKGROUND: the Act of Accession of the Republic of Croatia contains a simplified system for accession of Croatia to the conventions and protocols concluded by the Member States on the basis of Article 34 TEU (previously Article K.3 TEU) or Article 293 EC. In fact, Article 3(4) of the Act of Accession simply provides that Croatia accedes to the conventions and protocols by virtue of the Act.
Annex I to the Act of Accession gives the list of conventions and protocols concerned in the Justice and Home Affairs area. This list includes the Convention of 18 December 1997, drawn up on the basis of Article K.3 of the Treaty on European Union, on mutual assistance and cooperation between customs administrations.
CONTENT: the Commission recommends to the Council that the Convention of 18 December 1997, drawn up on the basis of Article K.3 of the Treaty of the European Union, on mutual assistance and cooperation between customs administrations, shall enter into force in relation to Croatia on the date on which this Decision shall take effect.
The accession of Croatia to the aforementioned Convention does not require adjustments thereto. Hence this Commission Recommendation for a Council Decision is intended to only determine the date on which the Convention of 18 December 1997 shall enter into force for Croatia.