Brussels, 14 Jul 2003
Full text of Document 11260/03
Suite of documents 11260/03
Subject: Adoption of a Council Decision concerning the conclusion of the Protocol of Amendment to the European Convention for the protection of vertebrate animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes
1. The Commission submitted the above proposal to the Council on 28 November 2001.
2. The European Parliament delivered its Opinion on 22 March 2002.
3. At its meeting on 24 June 2003, the Working Party on the Environment agreed upon a draft text for this Decision.
4. The legal/linguistic experts of the Council have since edited and finalised the draft text of this Decision.
5. It is suggested that the Permanent Representatives Committee invite Council, as an A-item on the agenda of one of its forthcoming meetings, to:
- adopt the Decision, as given in 11208/03 ENV 388 AGRI 231;
- take note of and enter in its minutes the statement by the Commission, as contained in Addendum 1 to this Note.
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Addendum to the I/A item note: Statement for the Council Minutes
Full text of Document 11260/03 Addendum 01
STATEMENT TO BE ENTERED IN THE COUNCIL'S MINUTES
"The European Commission stresses the need for the Member States to deposit their act of ratification to the Protocol of Amendment by April 2004. The European Commission notes that lack of ratification by any Member State, Party to the Convention, would prevent the entering into force of the Protocol and halt the progress on animal welfare in the international arena. The Commission also notes that, according to long-standing case law of the Court of Justice, the Commission and the Member States are under an obligation to co-operate in respect of mixed agreements, including the matter of their ratification.
In addition, the Commission notes that, on 13 March 1998, the Council made a declaration urging the Member States that had not yet ratified or acceded to the Convention for the protection of vertebrate animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes to deposit, together with the Community, the instruments for ratification, as far as possible simultaneously, and by 1 January 2000 at the latest. Five Member States have not yet done so."
Council Register