2000/278/EC: Council Decision of 16 March 2000 on the approval, on behalf of the European Community, of the WIPO Copyright Treaty and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty

• Articles: 3

Article 1

1. The WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT) is hereby approved on behalf of the Community with regard to matters within its competence.

2. The WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT) is hereby approved on behalf of the Community with regard to matters within its competence.

3. The texts of the Treaties are attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to deposit the instruments of conclusion with the Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organisation as from the date by which the Member States will have to bring into force the measures adopted by the European Parliament and the Council necessary to adapt the existing Community legislation to the obligations deriving from the WCT and the WPPT.

Article 3

1. The Commission is hereby authorised to represent the Community at the meetings of the Assemblies referred to in the WCT and WPPT.

2. On all matters within the sphere of competence of the Community, the Commission shall negotiate in the Assemblies of the WCT and the WPPT on behalf of the Community in accordance with the applicable rules of the EC Treaty, in particular Article 300 thereof.

3. The position which the Community may adopt within the Assemblies shall be prepared by the relevant Council working party.

Done at Brussels, 16 March 2000.

For the Council

The President

F. Seixas da Costa

(1) Two statements relating to this Decision are set out in OJ C 103, 11.4.2000, page 1.

(2) OJ C 165, 30.5.1998, p. 8.

(3) Assent of 16 February 2000 (not yet published in the Official Journal).