2014/734/EU: Council Decision of 9 October 2014 on the position to be adopted on behalf of the European Union within the Stabilisation and Association Council established by the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, of the other part, as regards the replacement of Protocol 4 to that Agreement, concerning the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ and methods of administrative cooperation, by a new protocol which, as regards the rules of origin, refers to the Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin

Article 1

1.   The position to be adopted on behalf of the European Union within the Stabilisation and Association Council established by the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, of the other part, as regards the replacement of Protocol 4 to that Agreement, concerning the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ and methods of administrative cooperation, by a new protocol which, as regards the rules of origin, refers to the Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin, shall be based on the draft decision of the Stabilisation and Association Council attached to this Decision. 2.   Minor changes to the draft decision of the Stabilisation and Association Council may be agreed to by the representatives of the Union in the Stabilisation and Association Council without further decision of the Council.

Article 1

Protocol 4 to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, of the other part, concerning the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ and methods of administrative cooperation shall be replaced by the text set out in the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2

The decision of the Stabilisation and Association Council shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union .

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption. It shall apply from ….

Article 3

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Protocol 4

ANNEXSupplementary provisions

ANNEX Protocol 4 concerning the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ and methods of administrative cooperation Article 1 Applicable rules of origin 1.   For the purpose of implementing this Agreement, Appendix I and the relevant provisions of Appendix II to the Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin  ( 1 ) (‘the Convention’) shall apply. 2.   All references to the ‘relevant agreement’ in Appendix I and in the relevant provisions of Appendix II to the Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin shall be construed so as to mean this Agreement. Article 2 Dispute settlement 1.   Where disputes arise in relation to the verification procedures of Article 32 of Appendix I to the Convention that cannot be settled between the customs authorities requesting the verification and the customs authorities responsible for carrying out that verification, they shall be submitted to the Stabilisation and Association Council. 2.   In all cases the settlement of disputes between the importer and the customs authorities of the importing country shall take place under the legislation of that country. Article 3 Amendments to the Protocol The Stabilisation and Association Council may decide to amend the provisions of this Protocol. Article 4 Withdrawal from the Convention 1.   Should either the European Union or the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia give notice in writing to the depositary of the Convention of their intention to withdraw from the Convention according to Article 9 thereof, the European Union and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia shall immediately enter into negotiations on rules of origin for the purpose of implementing this Agreement. 2.   Until the entry into force of such newly negotiated rules of origin, the rules of origin contained in Appendix I and, where appropriate, the relevant provisions of Appendix II to the Convention, applicable at the moment of withdrawal, shall continue to apply to this Agreement. However, as of the moment of withdrawal, the rules of origin contained in Appendix I and, where appropriate, the relevant provisions of Appendix II to the Convention shall be construed so as to allow bilateral cumulation between the European Union and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia only. Article 5 Transitional provisions — cumulation 1.   Notwithstanding Article 3 of Appendix I to the Convention, the rules on cumulation provided for in Articles 3 and 4 of this Protocol, as amended by the Protocol to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union  ( 2 ) , shall continue to apply between the European Union and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia until the Convention has entered into application with relation to all Contracting Parties listed in Articles 3 and 4 of this Protocol. 2.   Notwithstanding Articles 16(5) and 21(3) of Appendix I to the Convention, where cumulation involves only EFTA States, the Faroe Islands, the European Union, Turkey and the participants in the Stabilisation and Association Process, the proof of origin may be a movement certificate EUR.1 or an origin declaration. ( 1 )    OJ L 54, 26.2.2013, p. 4 . ( 2 )    OJ L 99, 10.4.2008, p. 2 .