21998A0330(01) 21998A0330(01) Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the ot

Article 24

, the exporting Party shall be informed of the dumping case as soon as the authorities of the importing Party have initiated an investigation. When no end has been put to the dumping within the meaning of Article VI of the GATT or no other satisfactory solution has been reached within 30 days of the matter being referred, the importing Party may adopt the appropriate measures; (b)

Article 25

, the difficulties arising from the situation referred to in that Article shall be referred for examination to the Association Committee, which may take any decision needed to put an end to such difficulties. If the Association Committee or the exporting Party has not taken a decision putting an end to the difficulties or no other satisfactory solution has been reached within 30 days of the matter being referred, the importing Party may adopt the appropriate measures to remedy the problem. These measures shall not exceed the scope of what is necessary to remedy the difficulties which have arisen; (c)

Article 26

, the difficulties arising from the situations referred to in that Article shall be referred for examination to the Association Committee. The Association Committee may take any decision needed to put an end to the difficulties. If it has not taken such a decision within 30 days of the matter being referred to it, the exporting Party may apply appropriate measures to exports of the product concerned; (

1. d)where exceptional circumstances requiring immediate action make prior information or examination, as the case may be, impossible, the Community or Tunisia, whichever is concerned, may, in the situations specified in Articles 24, 25 and 26, apply forthwith the precautionary measures strictly necessary to deal with the situation and shall inform the other Party immediately thereof. Article 28 The Agreement shall not preclude prohibitions or restrictions on imports, exports or goods in transit justified on grounds of public morality, public policy or public security; the protection of health and life of humans, animals or plants; the protection of national treasures of artistic, historic or archaeological value or the protection of intellectual, industrial and commercial property of rules relating to gold and silver. Such prohibitions or restrictions shall not, however, constitute a means of arbitrary discrimination or a disguised restriction on trade between the Parties. Article 29 The concept of 'originating products` for the purposes of implementing this Title and the methods of administrative cooperation relating thereto are laid down in Protocol No 4. Article 30 The Combined Nomenclature of goods shall be applied to the classification of goods in trade between the two Parties. TITLE III RIGHT OF ESTABLISHMENT AND SERVICES Article 31 1. The Parties agree to widen the scope of the Agreement to cover the right of establishment of one Party's firms on the territory of the other and liberalisation of the provision of services by one Party's firms to consumers of services in the other. 2. The Association Council will make recommendations for achieving the objective described in paragraph 1. In making such recommendations, the Association Council will take account of past experience of implementation of reciprocal most-favoured-nation treatment and of the respective obligations of each Party under the General Agreement on Trade in Services annexed to the Agreement establishing the WTO, hereinafter referred to as the 'GATS`, particularly those in Article V of the latter. 3. The Association Council will make a first assessment of the achievement of this objective no later than five years after the Agreement enters into force. Article 32 1. At the outset, each of the Parties shall reaffirm its obligations under the GATS, particularly the obligation to grant reciprocal most-favoured-nation treatment in the service sectors covered by that obligation. 2. In accordance with the GATS, such treatment shall not apply to: (
2. a)advantages granted by either Party under the terms of an agreement of the type defined in Article V of the GATS or to measures taken on the basis of such an agreement; (
3. b)other advantages granted in accordance with the list of exemptions from most-favoured-nation treatment annexed by either Party to the GATS. TITLE IV PAYMENTS, CAPITAL, COMPETITION AND OTHER ECONOMIC PROVISIONS CHAPTER I CURRENT PAYMENTS AND MOVEMENT OF CAPITAL Article 33 Subject to the provisions of Article 35, the Parties undertake to allow all current payments for current transactions to be made in a freely convertible currency. Article 34 1. With regard to transactions on the capital account of balance of payments, the Community and Tunisia shall ensure, from the entry into force of this Agreement, that capital relating to direct investments in Tunisia in companies formed in accordance with current laws can move freely and that the yield from such investments and any profit stemming therefrom can be liquidated and repatriated. 2. The Parties shall consult each other with a view to facilitating, and fully liberalising when the time is right, the movement of capital between the Community and Tunisia. Article 35 Where one or more Member States of the Community, or Tunisia, is in serious balance of payments difficulties, or under threat thereof, the Community or Tunisia, as the case may be, may, in accordance with the conditions established under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and Articles VIII and XIV of the Articles of Agreement of the International Monetary Fund, adopt restrictions on current transactions which shall be of limited duration and may not go beyond what is strictly necessary to remedy the balance of payments situation. The Community or Tunisia, as the case may be, shall inform the other Party forthwith and shall submit to it as soon as possible a timetable for the elimination of the measures concerned. CHAPTER II COMPETITION AND OTHER ECONOMIC PROVISIONS Article 36 1. The following are incompatible with the proper functioning of the Agreement, insofar as they may affect trade between the Community and Tunisia: (
4. a)all agreements between undertakings, decisions by associations of undertakings and concerted practices between undertakings which have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition; (
5. b)abuse by one or more undertakings of a dominant position in the territories of the Community or of Tunisia as a whole or in a substantial part thereof; (
6. c)any official aid which distorts or threatens to distort competition by favouring certain undertakings or the production of certain goods, with the exception of cases in which a derogation is allowed under the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community. 2. Any practices contrary to this Article shall be assessed on the basis of criteria arising from the application of the rules of Articles 85, 86 and 92 of the Treaty establishing the European Community and, in the case of products falling within the scope of the European Coal and Steel Community, the rules of Articles 65 and 66 of the Treaty establishing that Community, and the rules relating to state aid, including secondary legislation. 3. The Association Council shall, within five years of the entry into force of this Agreement, adopt the necessary rules for the implementation of paragraphs 1 and 2. Until these rules are adopted, the provisions of the Agreement on interpretation and application of Articles VI, XVI and XXIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade shall be applied as the rules for the implementation of paragraph 1(
7. c)and related parts of paragraph 2. 4. (
8. a)For the purposes of applying the provisions of paragraph 1(c), the Parties recognize that during the first five years after the entry into force of this Agreement, any State aid granted by Tunisia shall be assessed taking into account the fact that Tunisia shall be regarded as an area identical to those areas of the Community described in Article 92

ECSC steel products, grant State aid for restructuring purposes provided that: - it leads to the viability of the recipient firms under normal market conditions at the end of the restructuring period, - the amount and intensity of such aid are strictly limited to what is absolutely necessary in order to restore such viability and are progressively reduced, - the restructuring programme is linked to a comprehensive plan for rationalising capacity in Tunisia. The Association Council shall, taking into account the economic situation of Tunisia, decide whether the period should be extended every five years. (

1. b)Each Party shall ensure transparency in the area of official aid, inter alia by reporting annually to the other Party on the total amount and the distribution of the aid given and by providing, upon request, information on aid schemes. Upon request by one Party, the other Party shall provide information on particular individual cases of official aid. 5. With regard to products referred to in Chapter II of Title II: - the provisions of paragraph 1(
2. c)do not apply, - any practices contrary to paragraph 1(
3. a)shall be assessed according to the criteria established by the Community on the basis of Articles 42 and 43 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular those established in Council Regulation No 26/62. 6. If the Community or Tunisia considers that a particular practice is incompatible with the terms of paragraph 1, and: - is not adequately dealt with under the implementing rules referred to in paragraph 3, or - in the absence of such rules, and if such practice causes or threatens to cause serious prejudice to the interest of the other Party or material injury to its domestic industry, including its services industry, it may take appropriate measures after consultation within the Association Committee or after 30 working days following referral to that Committee. In the case of practices incompatible with paragraph 1(
4. c)of this Article, such appropriate measures may, where the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade applies thereto, only be adopted in accordance with the procedures and under the conditions laid down by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and any other relevant instrument negotiated under its auspices which is applicable between the Parties. 7. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary adopted in accordance with paragraph 3, the Parties shall exchange information taking into account the limitations imposed by the requirements of professional and business secrecy. Article 37 The Member States and Tunisia shall progressively adjust, without affecting commitments made under the GATT, any state monopolies of a commercial character so as to ensure that, by the end of the fifth year following the entry into force of this Agreement, no discrimination regarding the conditions under which goods are procured and marketed exists between nationals of the Member States and of Tunisia. The Association Committee will be informed about the measures adopted to implement this objective. Article 38 With regard to public enterprises and enterprises which have been granted special or exclusive rights, the Association Council shall ensure, from the fifth year following the entry into force of the Agreement, that no measures which disturbs trade between the Community and Tunisia in a manner which runs counter to the interests of the Parties is adopted or maintained. This provision shall not impede the performance in fact or in law of the specific functions assigned to those enterprises. Article 39 1. The Parties shall provide suitable and effective protection of intellectual, industrial and commercial property rights, in line with the highest international standards. This shall encompass effective means of enforcing such rights. 2. Implementation of this Article and of Annex 7 shall be regularly assessed by the Parties. If difficulties which affect trade arise in connection with intellectual, industrial and commercial property rights, either Party may request urgent consultations to find mutually satisfactory solutions. Article 40 1. The Parties shall take appropriate steps to promote the use by Tunisia of Community technical rules and European standards for industrial and agri-food products and certification procedures. 2. Using the principles set out in paragraph 1 as a basis, the Parties shall, when the circumstances are right, conclude agreements for the mutual recognition of certifications. Article 41 1. The Parties shall set as their objective a reciprocal and gradual liberalisation of public procurement contracts. 2. The Association Council shall take the steps necessary to implement paragraph 1. TITLE V ECONOMIC COOPERATION Article 42 Objectives 1. The Parties undertake to step up economic cooperation in their mutual interest and in the spirit of partnership which is at the root of this Agreement. 2. The objective of economic cooperation shall be to support Tunisia's own efforts to achieve sustainable economic and social development. Article 43 Scope 1. Cooperation will be targeted first and foremost at areas of activity suffering the effects of internal constraints and difficulties or affected by the process of liberalising Tunisia's economy as a whole, and more particularly by the liberalisation of trade between Tunisia and the Community. 2. Similarly, cooperation shall focus on areas likely to bring the economies of the Community and Tunisia closer together, particularly those which will generate growth and employment. 3. Cooperation shall foster economic integration within the Maghreb using any measures likely to further such relations within the region. 4. Preservation of the environment and ecological balances shall constitute a central component of the various fields of economic cooperation. 5. Where appropriate, the Parties shall determine by agreement other fields of economic cooperation. Article 44 Methods Economic cooperation shall involve methods including: (
5. a)regular economic dialogue between the two Parties covering all aspects of macroeconomic policy; (
6. b)communication and exchanges of information; (
7. c)advice, use of the services of experts and training; (
8. d)joint ventures; (
9. e)assistance with technical, administrative and regulatory matters. Article 45 Regional cooperation In order to make the most of this Agreement, the Parties shall foster all activities which have a regional impact or involve third countries, notably: (
10. a)intra-regional trade within the Maghreb; (
11. b)environmental matters; (
12. c)the development of economic infrastructure; (
13. d)research in science and technology; (
14. e)cultural matters; (
15. f)customs matters; (
16. g)regional institutions and the establishment of common or harmonised programmes and policies. Article 46 Education and training The aim of cooperation shall be to: (
17. a)find ways to bring about a significant improvement in education and training, including vocational training; (
18. b)place special emphasis on giving the female population access to education, including technical training, higher education and vocational training; (
19. c)encourage the establishment of lasting links between specialist bodies on the Parties' territories in order to pool and exchange experience and methods. Article 47 Scientific, technical and technological cooperation The aim of cooperation shall be to: (
20. a)encourage the establishment of permanent links between the Parties' scientific communities, notably by means of: - providing Tunisia with access to Community research and technological development programmes in accordance with Community rules governing non-Community countries' involvement in such programmes, - Tunisian participation in networks of decentralised cooperation, - promoting synergy in training and research; (
21. b)improve Tunisia's research capabilities; (
22. c)stimulate technological innovation and the transfer of new technology and know-how; (
23. d)encourage all activities aimed at establishing synergy at regional level. Article 48 Environment The aim of cooperation shall be to prevent deterioration of the environment, to improve the quality of the environment, to protect human health and to achieve rational use of natural resources for sustainable development. The Parties undertake to cooperate in areas including: (
24. a)soil and water quality; (
25. b)the consequences of development, particularly industrial development (especially safety of installations and waste); (
26. c)monitoring and preventing pollution of the sea. Article 49 Industrial cooperation The aim of cooperation shall be to: (
27. a)encourage cooperation between the Parties' economic operators, including cooperation in the context of access for Tunisia to Community business networks and decentralised cooperation networks; (
28. b)back the effort to modernise and restructure Tunisia's public and private sector industry (including the agri-food industry); (
29. c)foster an environment which favours private initiative, with the aim of stimulating and diversifying output for the domestic and export markets; (
30. d)make the most of Tunisia's human resources and industrial potential through better use of policy in the fields of innovation and research and technological development; (
31. e)facilitate access to credit to finance investment. Article 50 Promotion and protection of investment The aim of cooperation shall be to create a favourable climate for flows of investment, and to use the following in particular: (
32. a)the establishment of harmonised and simplified procedures, co-investment machinery (especially to link small and medium-sized enterprises) and methods of identifying and providing information on investment opportunities; (
33. b)the establishment, where appropriate, of a legal framework to promote investment, chiefly through the conclusion by Tunisia and the Member States of investment protection agreements and agreements preventing double taxation. Article 51 Cooperation in standardisation and conformity assessment The Parties shall cooperate in developing: (
34. a)the use of Community rules in standardisation, metrology, quality control and conformity assessment; (
35. b)the updating of Tunisian laboratories, leading eventually to the conclusion of mutual recognition agreements for conformity assessment; (
36. c)the bodies responsible for intellectual, industrial and commercial property and for standardisation and quality in Tunisia. Article 52 Approximation of legislation Cooperation shall be aimed at helping Tunisia to bring its legislation closer to that of the Community in the areas covered by this Agreement. Article 53 Financial services The aim of cooperation shall be to achieve closer common rules and standards in areas including the following: (
37. a)bolstering and restructuring Tunisia's financial sectors; (
38. b)improving accounting, auditing, supervision and regulation of financial services and financial monitoring in Tunisia. Article 54 Agriculture and fisheries The aim of cooperation shall be to: (
39. a)modernise and restructure agriculture and fisheries through methods including the modernisation of infrastructure and equipment, the development of packaging and storage techniques and the improvement of private distribution and marketing chains; (
40. b)diversify output and external markets; (
41. c)achieve cooperation in health, plant health and growing techniques. Article 55 Transport The aim of cooperation shall be to: (
42. a)achieve the restructuring and modernisation of road, rail, port and airport infrastructure of common interest, in correlation with major trans-European communication routes; (
43. b)define and apply operating standards comparable to those found in the Community; (
44. c)bring equipment up to Community standards, particularly where multimodal transport, containerisation and transhipment are concerned; (
45. d)gradually improve road transit and the management of airports, air traffic and railways. Article 56 Telecommunications and information technology Cooperation shall focus on: (
46. a)telecommunications in general; (
47. b)standardisation, conformity testing and certification for information technology and telecommunications; (
48. c)dissemination of new information technologies, particularly in relation to networks and the interconnection of networks (ISDN - integrated services digital networks - and EDI - electronic data interchange); (
49. d)stimulating research on and development of new communication and information technology facilities to develop the market in equipment, services and applications related to information technology and to communications, services and installations. Article 57 Energy Cooperation shall focus on: (
50. a)renewable energy; (
51. b)promoting the saving of energy; (
52. c)applied research relating to networks of databases linking the two Parties' economic and social operators; (
53. d)backing efforts to modernise and develop energy networks and the interconnection of such networks with Community networks. Article 58 Tourism The aim of cooperation shall be to develop tourism, particularly with regard to: (
54. a)catering management and quality of service in the various fields connected with catering; (
55. b)development of marketing; (
56. c)promotion of tourism for young people. Article 59 Cooperation in customs matters 1. The aim of cooperation shall be to ensure fair trade and compliance with trade rules. It shall focus on: (
57. a)simplifying customs checks and procedures; (
58. b)the use of the Single Administrative Document and creating a link between the Community and Tunisian transit systems. 2. Without prejudice to other forms of cooperation provided for in this Agreement, and particularly those provided for in Articles 61 and 62, the Contracting Parties' administrative authorities shall provide mutual assistance in accordance with the terms of Protocol No 5. Article 60 Cooperation in statistics The aim of cooperation shall be to bring the methods used by the Parties closer together and to put to use data on all areas covered by this Agreement for which statistics can be collected. Article 61 Money laundering 1. The Parties agree on the need to work towards and cooperate on preventing the use of their financial systems to launder the proceeds of criminal activities in general and drug trafficking in particular. 2. Cooperation in this area shall include administrative and technical assistance with the purpose of establishing suitable standards against money laundering equivalent to those adopted by the Community and international fora in this field, including the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Article 62 Combating drug use and trafficking 1. The aim of cooperation shall be to: (
59. a)improve the effectiveness of policies and measures to prevent and combat the production and supply of and trafficking in narcotics and psychotropic substances; (
60. b)eliminate illicit consumption of such products. 2. The Parties shall together set out appropriate strategies and methods of cooperation, in accordance with their own legislation, to attain those objectives. For any action which is not conducted jointly, there shall be consultations and close coordination. Such action may involve the appropriate public and private sector institutions and international organisations, in collaboration with the government of the Republic of Tunisia and the relevant authorities in the Community and the Member States. 3. Cooperation shall take the following forms in particular: (
61. a)the establishment or expansion of clinics/hostels and information centres for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts; (
62. b)the implementation of prevention, information, training and epidemiological research projects; (
63. c)the establishment of standards for preventing diversion of precursors and other essential ingredients for the illicit manufacture of narcotics and psychotropic substances, which are equivalent to those adopted by the Community and the appropriate international authorities, particularly the Chemicals Action Task Force (CATF). Article 63 The two Parties shall together establish the procedures needed to achieve cooperation in the fields covered by this Title. TITLE VI COOPERATION IN SOCIAL AND CULTURAL MATTERS CHAPTER I WORKERS Article 64 1. The treatment accorded by each Member State to workers of Tunisian nationality employed in its territory shall be free from any discrimination based on nationality,

working conditions, remuneration and dismissal, relative to its own nationals. 2. All Tunisian workers allowed to undertake paid employment in the territory of a Member State on a temporary basis shall be covered by the provisions of paragraph 1 with regard to working conditions and remuneration. 3. Tunisia shall accord the same treatment to workers who are nationals of a Member State and employed in its territory. Article 65 1. Subject to the provisions of the following paragraphs, workers of Tunisian nationality and any members of their families living with them shall enjoy, in the field of social security, treatment free from any discrimination based on nationality relative to nationals of the Member States in which they are employed. The concept of social security shall cover the branches of social security dealing with sickness and maternity benefits, invalidity, old-age and survivors' benefits, industrial accident and occupational disease benefits and death, unemployment and family benefits. These provisions shall not, however, cause the other coordination rules provided for in Community legislation based on Article 51 of the EC Treaty to apply, except under the conditions set out in Article 67 of this Agreement. 2. All periods of insurance, employment or residence completed by such workers in the various Member States shall be added together for the purpose of pensions and annuities in respect of old age, invalidity and survivors' benefits and family, sickness and maternity benefits and also for that of medical care for the workers and for members of their families resident in the Community. 3. The workers in question shall receive family allowances for members of their families who are resident in the Community. 4. The workers in question shall be able to transfer freely to Tunisia, at the rates applied by virtue of the legislation of the debtor Member State or States, any pensions or annuities in respect of old age, survivor status, industrial accident or occupational disease, or of invalidity resulting from industrial accident or occupational disease, except in the case of special non-contributory benefits. 5. Tunisia shall accord to workers who are nationals of a Member State and employed in its territory, and to the members of their families, treatment similar to that specified in paragraphs 1, 3 and 4. Article 66 The provisions of this Chapter shall not apply to nationals of the Parties residing or working illegally in the territory of their host countries. Article 67 1. Before the end of the first year following the entry into force of this Agreement, the Association Council shall adopt provisions to implement the principles set out in Article 65. 2. The Association Council shall adopt detailed rules for administrative cooperation providing the necessary management and monitoring guarantees for the application of the provisions referred to in paragraph 1. Article 68 The provisions adopted by the Association Council in accordance with Article 67 shall not affect any rights or obligations arising from bilateral agreements linking Tunisia and the Member States where those agreements provide for more favourable treatment of nationals of Tunisia or of the Member States. CHAPTER II DIALOGUE IN SOCIAL MATTERS Article 69 1. The Parties shall conduct regular dialogue on any social matter which is of interest to them. 2. Such dialogue shall be used to find ways to achieve progress in the field of movement of workers and equal treatment and social integration for Tunisian and Community nationals residing legally in the territories of their host countries. 3. Dialogue shall cover in particular all issues connected with: (

1. a)the living and working conditions of the migrant communities; (
2. b)migration; (
3. c)illegal immigration and the conditions governing the return of individuals who are in breach of the legislation dealing with the right to stay and the right of establishment in their host countries; (
4. d)schemes and programmes to encourage equal treatment between Tunisian and Community nationals, mutual knowledge of cultures and civilizations, the furthering of tolerance and the removal of discrimination. Article 70 Dialogue on social matters shall be conducted at the same levels and in accordance with the same procedures as provided for in Title I of this Agreement, which can itself provide a framework for that dialogue. CHAPTER III COOPERATION IN THE SOCIAL FIELD Article 71 With a view to consolidating cooperation between the Parties in the social field, projects and programmes shall be carried out in any area of interest to them. Priority will be afforded to: (
5. a)reducing migratory pressure, in particular by creating jobs and developing training in areas from which emigrants come; (
6. b)resettling those repatriated because of their illegal status under the legislation of the state in question; (
7. c)promoting the role of women in the economic and social development process through education and the media in step with Tunisian policy on the matter; (
8. d)bolstering and developing Tunisia's family planning and mother and child protection programmes; (
9. e)improving the social protection system; (
10. f)enhancing the health cover system; (
11. g)improving living conditions in poor, densely populated areas; (
12. h)implementing and financing exchange and leisure programmes for mixed groups of Tunisian and European young people residing in the Member States, with a view to promoting mutual knowledge of their respective cultures and fostering tolerance. Article 72 Cooperation schemes may be carried out in coordination with Member States and relevant international organisations. Article 73 A working party shall be set up by the Association Council by the end of the first year following the entry into force of this Agreement. It shall be responsible for the continuous and regular evaluation of the implementation of Chapters 1 to 3. CHAPTER IV COOPERATION ON CULTURAL MATTERS Article 74 1. In order to boost mutual knowledge and understanding, taking account of activities already carried out, the Parties shall undertake - while respecting each other's culture - to provide a firmer footing for lasting cultural dialogue and to promote continuous cultural cooperation between them, without ruling out a priori any field of activity. 2. In putting together cooperation projects and programmes and carrying out joint activities, the Parties shall place special emphasis on young people, on written and audio-visual means of expression and communication, and on the protection of their heritage and the dissemination of culture. 3. The Parties agree that cultural cooperation programmes already under way in the Community or in one or more of its Member States may be extended to Tunisia. TITLE VII FINANCIAL COOPERATION Article 75 With a view to full attainment of the Agreement's objectives, financial cooperation shall be implemented for Tunisia in line with the appropriate financial procedures and resources. These procedures shall be adopted by mutual agreement between the Parties by means of the most suitable instruments once the Agreement enters into force. In addition to the areas covered by the Titles V and VI of this Agreement, cooperation shall entail: - facilitating reforms aimed at modernizing the economy, - updating economic infrastructure, - promoting private investment and job creation activities, - taking into account the effects on the Tunisian economy of the progressive introduction of a free trade area, in particular where the updating and restructuring of industry is concerned, - flanking measures for policies implemented in the social sectors. Article 76 Within the framework of Community instruments intended to buttress structural adjustment programmes in the Mediterranean countries - and in close coordination with the Tunisian authorities and other contributors, in particular the international financial institutions - the Community will examine suitable ways of supporting structural policies carried out by Tunisia to restore financial equilibrium in all its key aspects and create an economic environment conducive to boosting growth, while at the same time enhancing social welfare. Article 77 In order to ensure a coordinated approach to dealing with exceptional macroeconomic and financial problems which could stem from the progressive implementation of the Agreement, the Parties shall closely monitor the development of trade and financial relations between the Community and Tunisia as part of the regular economic dialogue established under Title V. TITLE VIII INSTITUTIONAL, GENERAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS Article 78 An Association Council is hereby established which shall meet at ministerial level once a year and when circumstances require, on the initiative of its Chairman and in accordance with the conditions laid down in its rules of procedure. It shall examine any major issues arising within the framework of this Agreement and any other bilateral or international issues of mutual interest. Article 79 1. The Association Council shall consist of the members of the Council of the European Union and members of the Commission of the European Communities, on the one hand, and of members of the Government of the Republic of Tunisia, on the other. 2. Members of the Association Council may arrange to be represented, in accordance with the provisions laid down in its rules of procedure. 3. The Association Council shall establish its rules of procedure. 4. The Association Council shall be chaired in turn by a member of the Council of the European Union and a member of the Government of the Republic of Tunisia in accordance with the provisions laid down in its rules of procedure. Article 80 The Association Council shall, for the purpose of attaining the objectives of the Agreement, have the power to take decisions in the cases provided for therein. The decisions taken shall be binding on the Parties, which shall take the measures necessary to implement the decisions taken. The Association Council may also make appropriate recommendations. It shall draw up its decisions and recommendations by agreement between the Parties. Article 81 1. Subject to the powers of the Council, an Association Committee is hereby established which shall be responsible for the implementation of the Agreement. 2. The Association Council may delegate to the Association Committee, in full or in part, any of its powers. Article 82 1. The Association Committee, which shall meet at the level of officials, shall consist of representatives of members of the Council of the European Union and of members of the Commission of the European Communities, on the one hand, and of representatives of the Government of the Republic of Tunisia, on the other. 2. The Association Committee shall establish its rules of procedure. 3. The Association Committee shall be chaired in turn by a representative of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union and by a representative of the Government of the Republic of Tunisia. The Association Committee shall normally meet alternately in the Community and in Tunisia. Article 83 The Association Committee shall have the power to take decisions for the management of the Agreement as well as in those areas in which the Council has delegated its powers to it. It shall draw up its decisions by agreement between the Parties. These decisions shall be binding on the Parties, which shall take the measures necessary to implement the decisions taken. Article 84 The Association Council may decide to set up any working group or body necessary for the implementation of the Agreement. Article 85 The Association Council shall take all appropriate measures to facilitate cooperation and contacts between the European Parliament and the Chamber of Deputies of the Republic of Tunisia, and between the Economic and Social Committee of the Community and the Economic and Social Council of the Republic of Tunisia. Article 86 1. Either Party may refer to the Association Council any dispute relating to the application or interpretation of this Agreement. 2. The Association Council may settle the dispute by means of a decision. 3. Each Party shall be bound to take the measures involved in carrying out the decision referred to in paragraph 2. 4. In the event of it not being possible to settle the dispute in accordance with paragraph 2, either Party may notify the other of the appointment of an arbitrator; the other Party must then appoint a second arbitrator within two months. For the application of this procedure, the Community and the Member States shall be deemed to be one Party to the dispute. The Association Council shall appoint a third arbitrator. The arbitrators' decisions shall be taken by majority vote. Each party to the dispute shall take the steps required to implement the decision of the arbitrators. Article 87 Nothing in the Agreement shall prevent a Contracting Party from taking any measures: (
13. a)which it considers necessary to prevent the disclosure of information contrary to its essential security interests; (
14. b)which relate to the production of, or trade in, arms, munitions or war materials or to research, development or production indispensable for defence purposes, provided that such measures do not impair the conditions of competition in respect of products not intended for specifically military purposes; (
15. c)which it considers essential to its own security in the event of serious internal disturbances affecting the maintenance of law and order, in time of war or serious international tension constituting threat of war or in order to carry out obligations it has accepted for the purpose of maintaining peace and international security. Article 88 1. In the fields covered by this Agreement, and without prejudice to any special provisions contained therein: - the arrangements applied by the Republic of Tunisia in respect of the Community shall not give rise to any discrimination between the Member States, their nationals, or their companies or firms, - the arrangements applied by the Community in respect of the Republic of Tunisia shall not give rise to any discrimination between Tunisian nationals or its companies or firms. Article 89 Nothing in the Agreement shall have the effect of: - extending the fiscal advantages granted by either Party in any international agreement or arrangement by which it is bound, - preventing the adoption or application by either Party of any measure aimed at preventing fraud or the evasion of taxes, - opposing the right of either Party to apply the relevant provisions of its tax legislation to taxpayers who are not in an identical situation

their place of residence. Article 90

1. The Parties shall take any general or specific measures required to fulfil their obligations under the Agreement. They shall see to it that the objectives set out in the Agreement are attained.
2. If either Party considers that the other Party has failed to fulfil an obligation under the Agreement, it may take appropriate measures. Before so doing, except in cases of special urgency, it shall supply the Association Council with all the relevant information required for a thorough examination of the situation with a view to seeking a solution acceptable to the Parties. In the selection of measures, priority must be given to those which least disturb the functioning of the Agreement. These measures shall be notified immediately to the Association Council and shall be the subject of consultations within the Association Council if the other Party so requests. Article 91 Protocols Nos 1 to 5, Annexes 1 to 7 and the declarations shall form an integral part of the Agreement. Article 92 For the purposes of this Agreement, 'Parties` shall mean, on the one hand, the Community or the Member States, or the Community and its Member States, in accordance with their respective powers, and, on the other hand, Tunisia. Article 93 This Agreement shall be concluded for an unlimited period. Either Party may denounce this Agreement by notifying the other Party. The Agreement shall cease to apply six months after the date of such notification. Article 94 This Agreement shall apply, on the one hand, to the territories in which the Treaties establishing the European Community and the European Coal And Steel Community are applied and under the conditions laid down in those Treaties and, on the other hand to the territory of the Republic of Tunisia. Article 95 This Agreement is drawn up in duplicate in the Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish and Arabic languages, each of these texts being equally authentic. Article 96
3. The Agreement shall be approved by the Contracting Parties in accordance with their own procedures. It shall enter into force on the first day of the second month following the date on which the Contracting Parties notify each other that the procedures referred to in the first paragraph have been completed.
4. Upon its entry into force, the Agreement shall replace the Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Tunisia and the Agreement between the Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community and the Republic of Tunisia, signed in Tunis on 25 April
5. Hecho en Bruselas, el diecisiete de julio de mil novecientos noventa y cinco. Udfördiget i Bruxelles den syttende juli nitten hundrede og fem og halvfems. Geschehen zu BrŽssel am siebzehnten Juli neunzehnhundertfŽnfundneunzig. øółżõ ėĮłĖ ĀęįžąūūõĖ, ėĮłĖ ōąśń õŠĮĄ É˙įūč˙į ščūłń õżżłńśŽėłń õżõżČżĮń ĘążĮõ. Done at Brussels on the seventeenth day of July in the year one thousand nine hundred and ninety-five. Fait š Bruxelles, le dix-sept juillet mil neuf cent quatre-vingt-quinze. Fatto a Bruxelles, addü diciassette luglio millenovecentonovantacinque. Gedaan te Brussel, de zeventiende juli negentienhonderd vijfennegentig. Feito em Bruxelas, em dezassete de Julho de mil novecentos e noventa e cinco. Tehty Brysselissō seitsemōntenōtoista pōivōnō heinōkuuta vuonna tuhatyhdeksōnsataayhdeksōnkymmentōviisi. Som skedde i Bryssel den sjuttonde juli nittonhundranittiofem. >REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC> Pour le Royaume de Belgique Voor het Koninkrijk Belgiū FŽr das KŠnigreich Belgien >REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC> Cette signature engage łgalement la Communautł fran÷aise, la Communautł flamande, la Communautł germanophone, la Rłgion wallonne, la Rłgion flamande et la Rłgion de Bruxelles-Capitale. Deze handtekening verbindt eveneens de Vlaamse Gemeenschap, de Franse Gemeenschap, de Duitstalige Gemeenschap, het Vlaamse Gewest, het Waalse Gewest en het Brusselse Hoofdstedelijke Gewest. Diese Unterschrift verbindet zugleich die Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft, die Flōmische Gemeinschaft, die FranzŠsische Gemeinschaft, die Wallonische Region, die Flōmische Region und die Region BrŽssel-Hauptstadt. Põ Kongeriget Danmarks vegne >REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC> FŽr die Bundesrepublik Deutschland >REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC> Ćłń Į÷ż Åūū÷żłśČ Ä÷ü˙śęńĮčń >REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC> Por el Reino de Espaęa >REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC> Pour la Rłpublique fran÷aise >REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC> Thar ceann na hÉireann For Ireland >REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC> Per la Repubblica italiana >REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC> Pour le Grand-Duchł de Luxembourg >REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC> Voor het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden >REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC> FŽr die Republik Österreich >REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC> Pela RepŪblica Portuguesa >REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC> Suomen tasavallan puolesta >REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC> FŠr Konungariket Sverige >REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC> For the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland >REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC> Por las Comunidades Europeas For De Europöiske Föllesskaber FŽr die Europōischen Gemeinschaften Ćłń ĮłĖ ÅįęųĘńŪśąĖ Ź˙łżŽĮ÷ĮõĖ For the European Communities Pour les Communautłs europłennes Per le Comunitš europee Voor de Europese Gemeenschappen Pelas Comunidades Europeias Euroopan yhteisŠjen puolesta Põ Europeiska gemenskapernas vōgnar >REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC> >REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC> ANNEX 1 >TABLE POSITION> ANNEX 2 PRODUCTS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 10