OBJECTIVE: conclusion of a partnership and cooperation agreement between the European
Communities and their Member States and Turkmenistan.
SUBSTANCE: this is a mixed agreement covering sectors of Community and national competence.
It is concluded for an initial period of ten years and covers the following elements:
. establishment of political dialogue;
. provisions on trading goods, labour conditions, establishment and operation of companies, cross-border supply of services, payments and capital, competition, intellectual, industrial and commercial
property protection, legislative cooperation, economic cooperation, cooperation on human rights and
democracy, cooperation in combating illegal activities and illegal immigration, cultural cooperation
and financial cooperation.;
. a 'human rights conditionality clause 'allowing the agreement to be suspended, even unilaterally,
in the event of violation of the essential elements underlying the agreement such as respect for
democracy, human rights and the principles of the market economy;
. institutional framework: the agreement envisages setting up a Cooperation council, a Cooperation
Committee and a Parliamentary Cooperation Committee;
. provisions on customs cooperation are covered by a separate protocol.
With regard to trade relations between the Community and Turkmenistan, this agreement replaces
the 1989 agreement on trade and economic and commercial cooperation between the Community
and the former USSR.
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