21999A0728(03)

21999A0728(03) 21999A0728(03) Partnership and Cooperation Agreement establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Kyrgyz Republic, of the other part - Protocol on mutual assistance between authorities in customs matters - Final Act - Joint Declarations - Exchange of Letters in relation to the establishment of companies - Declaration of the French Government Official Journal L 196 , 28/07/1999 p. 0048 - 0089  Dates: OF DOCUMENT:   09/02/1995 OF EFFECT:   01/07/1999; ENTRY INTO FORCE SEE ART 98.2 AND OJ L 248/99 P. 35 OF SIGNATURE:   09/02/1995; BRUSSELS OF END OF VALIDITY:   99/99/9999 Authentic language: THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES ; GERMAN ; SPANISH ; ENGLISH ; DANISH ; FRENCH ; FINNISH ; SWEDISH ; ITALIAN ; GREEK ; DUTCH ; PORTUGUESE ; OTHER THAN COMMUNITY LANGUAGE ; KYRGYZ Author: EUROPEAN COMMUNITY ; EUROPEAN COAL AND STEEL COMMUNITY ; EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMUNITY ; THE 15 MEMBER STATES ; BELGIUM ; DENMARK ; FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY ; GREECE ; SPAIN ; FRANCE ; IRELAND ; ITALY ; AUSTRIA ; FINLAND ; SWEDEN ; LUXEMBOURG ; NETHERLANDS ; PORTUGAL ; UNITED KINGDOM ; KYRGYZSTAN Subject matter: EXTERNAL RELATIONS ; COOPERATION ; PROVISIONS IMPLEMENTING ARTICLE 95 - ECSC ; PROVISIONS UNDER ARTICLE 235 EEC Directory code: 11406000 EUROVOC descriptor: EC cooperation agreement ; Kyrgyzstan ; ECSC ; EAEC ; EC trade agreement ; customs duties Legal basis: 192E054-P2................ ADOPTION 192E057-P2................ ADOPTION 192E066................... ADOPTION 192E073C-P2............... ADOPTION 192E075................... ADOPTION 192E084-P2................ ADOPTION 192E099................... ADOPTION 192E100................... ADOPTION 192E113................... ADOPTION 192E235................... ADOPTION 192E228-P2F2.............. ADOPTION 192E228-P3L2.............. ADOPTION 151K095................... ADOPTION 157A101-L2................ ADOPTION Instruments cited: 294A1231(52).............. 294A1223(03).............. 294A1223(16).............. 185I244................... 185I081................... 185I244................... 185I249................... 185I280................... 396R1279.................. 185I077................... Amendment to: 290A0315(01)......AMENDMENT..... PARTIAL REPLACEMENT FR 1/7/99 Amended by: ADOPTED-BY.... 399D0491.......... PARTNERSHIP AND COOPERATION AGREEMENT establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Kyrgyz Republic, of the other part THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM, THE KINGDOM OF DENMARK, THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC, THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN, THE FRENCH REPUBLIC, IRELAND, THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC, THE GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG, THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS, THE REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA, THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC, THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND, THE KINGDOM OF SWEDEN, THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND, Contracting Parties to the Treaty establishing the European Community, the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, and the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, hereinafter referred to as "Member States", and the EUROPEAN COMMUNITY, the EUROPEAN COAL AND STEEL COMMUNITY, and the EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMUNITY, hereinafter referred to as "the Community", of the one part, and THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC, of the other part, CONSIDERING the links between the Community, its Member States and the Kyrgyz Republic and the common values that they share, RECOGNICING that the Community and the Kyrgyz Republic wish to strengthen these links and to establish partnership and cooperation which would strengthen and widen the relations established in the past in particular by the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on Trade and Commercial and Economic Cooperation, signed on 18 December 1989, CONSIDERING the commitment of the Community and its Member States and of the Kyrgyz Republic to strengthening the political and economic freedoms which constitute the very basis of the partnership, CONSIDERING the commitment of the Parties to promote international peace and security as well as the peaceful settlement of disputes and to cooperate to this end in the framework of the United Nations and the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, CONSIDERING the firm commitment of the Community and its Member States and of the Kyrgyz Republic to the full implementation of all principles and provisions contained in the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), the Concluding Documents of the Madrid and Vienna Follow Up Meetings, the Document of the CSCE Bonn Conference on Economic Cooperation, the Charter of Paris for a New Europe and the CSCE Helsinki Document 1992 "The Challenges of Change", CONFIRMING the attachment of the Community and its Member States and of the Kyrgyz Republic to the European Energy Charter, CONVINCED of the paramount importance of the rule of law and respect for human rights, particularly those of minorities, the establishment of a multi-party system with free and democratic elections and economic liberalisation aimed at setting up a market economy, BELIEVING that full implementation of this Partnership and Cooperation Agreement will both depend on and contribute to continuation and accomplishment of the political, economic and legal reforms in the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as the introduction of the factors necessary for cooperation, notably in the light of the conclusions of the CSCE Bonn Conference, DESIROUS of encouraging the process of regional cooperation in the areas covered by this agreement with the neighbouring countries in order to promote the prosperity and stability of the region, DESIROUS of establishing and developing regular political dialogue on bilateral and international issues of mutual interest, TAKING ACCOUNT of the Community's willingness to provide for economic cooperation and technical assistance as appropriate, BEARING IN MIND the economic and social disparities between the Community and the Kyrgyz Republic and in particular the fact that the Kyrgyz Republic is a developing and landlocked country, RECOGNISING that one of the major aims of the Agreement should be to facilitate the elimination of these disparities through Community assistance to the development and restructuring of the Kyrgyz economy, BEARING IN MIND the utility of the Agreement in favouring a gradual rapprochement between the Kyrgyz Republic and a wider area of cooperation in Europe and neighbouring regions and its progressive integration into the open international system, CONSIDERING the commitment of the Parties to liberalise trade, based on the principles contained in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), CONSCIOUS of the need to improve conditions affecting business and investment, and conditions in areas such as establishment of companies, labour, provision of services and capital movements, CONVINCED that this Agreement will create a new climate for economic relations between the Parties and in particular for the development of trade and investment, which are essential to economic restructuring and technological modernisation, DESIROUS of establishing close cooperation in the area of environment protection taking into account the interdependence existing between the Parties in this field, BEARING IN MIND the intention of the Parties to develop their cooperation in the field of space research in view of the complementarity of their activities in this area, DESIROUS of establishing cultural cooperation and improving the flow of information, HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 A Partnership is hereby established between the Community and its Member States of the one part, and the Kyrgyz Republic of the other part. The objectives of this partnership are: - to provide an appropriate framework for the political dialogue between the Parties allowing the development of political relations, - to support Kyrgyz efforts to consolidate its democracy and to develop its economy and to complete the transition into a market economy, - to promote trade and investment and harmonious economic relations between the Parties and so to foster their sustainable economic development, - to provide a basis for legislative, economic, social, financial, civil scientific, technological and cultural cooperation. TITLE I GENERAL PRINCIPLES Article 2 Respect for democracy, principles of international law and human rights as defined in particular in the United Nations Charter, the Helsinki Final Act and the Charter of Paris for a New Europe, as well as the principles of market economy, including those enunciated in the documents of the CSCE Bonn Conference, underpin the internal and external policies of the Parties and constitute an essential element of partnership and of this Agreement. Article 3 The Parties consider that it is essential for the future prosperity and stability of the region of the former Soviet Union that the newly independent states which have emerged from the dissolution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, hereinafter called "Independent States", should maintain and develop cooperation among themselves in compliance with the principles of the Helsinki Final Act and with international law and spirit of good neighbourly relations and will make every effort to encourage this process. TITLE II POLITICAL DIALOGUE Article 4 A regular political dialogue shall be established between the Parties which they intend to develop and intensify. It shall accompany and consolidate the rapprochement between the Community and the Kyrgyz Republic, support the political and economic changes underway in that country and contribute to the establishment of new forms of cooperation. The political dialogue: - will strengthen the links of the Kyrgyz Republic with the Community and its Member States, and thus with the community of democratic nations as a whole. The economic convergence achieved through this Agreement will lead to more intense political relations, - will bring about an increasing convergence of positions on international issues of mutual concern thus increasing security and stability. Such dialogue may take place on a regional basis. Article 5 At ministerial level, political dialogue shall take place within the Cooperation Council established in Article 75 and on other occasions by mutual agreement. Article 6 Other procedures and mechanisms for political dialogue shall be set up by the Parties, and in particular in the following forms: - regular meetings at senior official level between representatives of the Community and its Member States on the one hand, and representatives of the Kyrgyz Republic on the other hand, - taking full advantage of diplomatic channels between the Parties including appropriate contacts in the bilateral as well as the multilateral field, such as the United Nations, CSCE meetings and elsewhere, - any other means, including the possibility of expert meetings which would contribute to consolidating and developing this dialogue. Article 7 Political dialogue at parliamentary level shall take place within the framework of the Parliamentary Cooperation Committee established in Article 80. TITLE III TRADE IN GOODS Article 8 1. The Parties shall accord to one another most-favoured-nation treatment in all areas in respect of: - customs duties and charges applied to imports and exports, including the method of collecting such duties and charges, - provisions relating to customs clearance, transit, warehouses and transhipment, - taxes and other internal charges of any kind applied directly or indirectly to imported goods, - methods of payment and the transfer of such payments, - the rules relating to the sale, purchase, transport, distribution and use of goods on the domestic market. 2. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply to: (a) advantages granted with the aim of creating a customs union or a free-trade area or pursuant to the creation of such a union or area; (b) advantages granted to particular countries in accordance with the GATT and with other international arrangements in favour of developing countries; (c) advantages accorded to adjacent countries in order to facilitate frontier traffic. 3. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply, during a transitional period expiring on the date of the Kyrgyz Republic acceding to the GATT or on 31 December 1998, whichever is earlier, to advantages defined in Annex I granted by the Kyrgyz Republic to other states which have emerged from the dissolution of the USSR. Article 9 1. The Parties agree that the principle of free transit is an essential condition of attaining the objectives of this Agreement. In this connection each Party shall secure unrestricted transit via or through its territory of goods originating in the customs territory or destined for the customs territory of the other Party. 2. The rules described in the Article V, paragraphs 2, 3, 4 and 5, of the GATT are applicable between the two Parties. 3. The rules contained in this Article are without prejudice to any special rules relating to specific sectors, in particular such as transport, or products agreed between the Parties. Article 10 Without prejudice to the rights and obligations stemming from international conventions on the temporary admission of goods which bind both Parties, each Party shall furthermore grant the other Party exemption from import charges and duties on goods admitted temporarily, in the instances and according to the procedures stipulated by any other international convention on this matter binding upon it, in conformity with its legislation. Account shall be taken of the conditions under which the obligations stemming from such a convention have been accepted by the Party in question. Article 11 1. Goods originating in the Kyrgyz Republic shall be imported into the Community free of quantitative restrictions without prejudice to the provisions of Articles 13, 16 and 17 of this Agreement and to the provisions of Articles 77, 81, 244, 249 and 280 of the Act of Accession of Spain and Portugal to the European Community. 2. Goods originating in the Community shall be imported into the Kyrgyz Republic free of all quantitative restrictions and measures of equivalent effect. Article 12 Goods shall be traded between the Parties at market-related prices. Article 13 1. Where any product is being imported into the territory of one of the Parties in such increased quantities or under such conditions as to cause or threaten to cause injury to domestic producers of like or direct competitive products, the Community or the Kyrgyz Republic, whichever is concerned, may take appropriate measures in accordance with the following procedures and conditions. 2. Before taking any measures, or in cases to which paragraph 4 applies as soon as possible thereafter, the Community or the Kyrgyz Republic as the case may be shall supply the Cooperation Council with all relevant information with a view to seeking a solution acceptable to both Parties as provided for in Title IX. 3. If, as a result of the consultations, the Parties do not reach agreement within 30 days of referral to the Cooperation Council on actions to avoid the situation, the Party which requested consultations shall be free to restrict imports of the products concerned to the extent and for such time as is necessary to prevent or remedy the injury, or to adopt other appropriate measures. 4. In critical circumstances where delay would cause damage difficult to repair, the Parties may take the measures before the consultations, on the condition that consultations shall be offered immediately after taking such action. 5. In the selection of measures under this Article, the Contracting Parties shall give priority to those which cause least disturbance to the achievement of the aims of this Agreement. 6. Nothing in this Article shall prejudice or affect in any way the taking, by either Party, of anti-dumping or countervailing measures in accordance with Article VI of the GATT, the Agreement on implementation of Article VI of the GATT, the Agreement on interpretation and application of Articles VI, XVI and XXIII of the GATT or related internal legislation. Article 14 The Parties undertake to consider development of the provisions in this Agreement on trade in goods between them, as circumstances allow, including the situation arising from the accession of the Kyrgyz Republic to the GATT. The Cooperation Council may make recommendations on such developments to the Parties which could be put into effect, where accepted, by virtue of agreement between the Parties in accordance with their respective procedures. Article 15 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 natural resources; the protection of national treasures of artistic, historic or archaeological value or the protection of intellectual, industrial and commercial property or 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 16 This Title shall not apply to trade in textile products falling under Chapters 50 to 63 of the Combined Nomenclature. Trade in these products shall be governed by a separate agreement, initialled on 15 October 1993 and applied provisionally since 1 January 1994. Article 17 1. Trade in products covered by the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community shall be governed by the provisions of this Title, with the exception of Article 11. 2. A contact group on coal and steel matters shall be set up, comprising representatives of the Community on the one hand, and representatives of the Kyrgyz Republic on the other. The contact group shall exchange, on a regular basis, information on all coal and steel matters of interest to the Parties. Article 18 Trade in nuclear materials shall be subject to the provisions of a specific Agreement to be concluded between the European Atomic Energy Community and the Kyrgyz Republic. TITLE IV PROVISIONS AFFECTING BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT CHAPTER I LABOUR CONDITIONS Article 19 1. Subject to the laws, conditions and procedures applicable in each Member State, the Community and the Member States shall endeavour to ensure that the treatment accorded to Kyrgyz nationals, legally employed in the territory of a Member State shall be free from any discrimination based on nationality, as regards working conditions, remuneration or dismissal, as compared to its own nationals. 2. Subject to the laws, conditions and procedures applicable in the Kyrgyz Republic, the Kyrgyz Republic shall ensure that the treatment accorded to nationals of a Member State, legally employed in the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic shall be free from any discrimination based on nationality, as regards working conditions, remuneration or dismissal, as compared to its own nationals. Article 20 The Cooperation Council shall examine which joint efforts can be made to control illegal immigration, taking into account the principle and practice of readmission. Article 21 The Cooperation Council shall examine which improvements can be made in working conditions for business people consistent with the international commitments of the Parties, including those set out in the document of the CSCE Bonn Conference. Article 22 The Cooperation Council shall make recommendations for the implementation of Articles 19, 20 and 21. CHAPTER II CONDITIONS AFFECTING THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF COMPANIES Article 23 1. The Community and its Member States shall grant treatment no less favourable than that accorded to any third country for the establishment of Kyrgyz companies as defined in Article 25 by means of the setting up of subsidiaries and branches and shall grant to subsidiaries and branches of Kyrgyz companies established in their territory treatment no less favourable than that accorded to any third country company or branch respectively, in respect of their operations, and this in conformity with their legislation and regulations. 2. Without prejudice to the provisions of Articles 35 and 84, the Kyrgyz Republic shall grant to Community companies and their branches treatment no less favourable than that accorded to Kyrgyz companies and their branches or to any third country companies and their branches whichever is the better, in respect of their establishment and operations, as defined in Article 25, on its territory, and this in conformity with its legislation and regulations. Article 24 The provisions of Article 23 shall not apply to air transport, inland waterways and maritime transport. Article 25 For the purpose of this Agreement: (a) a "Community company" or a "Kyrgyz company" respectively shall mean a company set up in accordance with the laws of a Member State or of the Kyrgyz Republic respectively and having its registered office or central administration, or principal place of business in the territory of the Community or the Kyrgyz Republic respectively. However, should the company, set up in accordance with the laws of a Member State or the Kyrgyz Republic respectively, the company shall be considered a Community or Kyrgyz company respectively if its operations possess a real and continuous link with the economy of one of the Member States or the Kyrgyz Republic respectively; (b) "subsidiary" of a company shall mean a company which is effectively controlled by the first company; (c) "branch" of a company shall mean a place of business not having legal personality which has the appearance of permanency, such as the extension of a parent body, has a management and is materially equipped to negotiate business with third parties so that the latter, although knowing that there will if necessary be a legal link with the parent body, the head office of which is abroad, do not have to deal directly with such parent body but may transact business at the place of business constituting the extension; (d) "establishment" shall mean the right of Community or Kyrgyz companies as referred to in point (a), to take up economic activities by means of the setting up and management of subsidiaries and branches in the Kyrgyz Republic or in the Community respectively; (e) "operation" shall mean the pursuit of economic activities; (f) "economic activities" shall mean activities of an industrial, commercial and professional character. With regard to international maritime transport, including intermodal operations involving a sea leg, nationals of the Member States or of the Kyrgyz Republic established outside the Community or the Kyrgyz Republic respectively, and shipping companies established outside the Community or the Kyrgyz Republic and controlled by nationals of a Member State or Kyrgyz nationals respectively, shall also be beneficiaries of the provisions of this Chapter and Chapter III if their vessels are registered in that Member State or in the Kyrgyz Republic respectively in accordance with their respective legislation. Article 26 1. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Agreement, a Party shall not be prevented from taking measures for prudential reasons, including for the protection of investors, depositors, policy holders or persons to whom a fiduciary duty is owed by a financial service supplier, or to ensure the integrity and stability of the financial system. Where such measures do not conform with the provisions of the Agreement, they shall not be used as a means of avoiding the obligations of a Party under the Agreement. 2. Nothing in the Agreement shall be construed to require a Party to disclose information relating to the affairs and accounts of individual customers or any confidential or proprietary information in the possession of public entities. Article 27 The provisions of this Agreement shall not prejudice the application by each Party of any measure necessary to prevent the circumvention of its measures concerning third-country access to its market, through the provisions of this Agreement. Article 28 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Chapter I of this Title, a Community company or a Kyrgyz company established in the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic or the Community respectively shall be entitled to employ, or have employed by one of its subsidiaries or branches, in accordance with the legislation in force in the host country of establishment, in the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Community respectively, employees who are nationals of Community Member States and the Kyrgyz Republic respectively, provided that such employees are key personnel as defined in paragraph 2, and that they are employed exclusively by companies, or branches. The residence and work permits of such employees shall only cover the period of such employment. 2. Key personnel of the abovementioned companies herein referred to as "organisations" are "intra-corporate transferees" as defined in (c) in the following categories, provided that the organisation is a legal person and that the persons concerned have been employed by it or have been partners in it (other than majority shareholders), for at least the year immediately preceding such movement: (a) persons working in a senior position with an organisation, who primarily direct the management of the establishment, receiving general supervision or direction principally from the board of directors or stockholders of the business or their equivalent, including: - directing the establishment or a department or subdivision of the establishment, - supervising and controlling the work of other supervisory, professional or managerial employees, - having the authority personally to hire and fire or recommend hiring, firing or other personnel actions; (b) persons working within an organisation who possess uncommon knowledge essential to the establishment's service, research equipment, techniques or management. The assessment of such knowledge may reflect, apart from knowledge specific to the establishment, a high level of qualification referring to a type of work or trade requiring specific technical knowledge, including membership of an accredited profession; (c) an "intra-corporate transferee" is defined as a natural person working within an organisation in the territory of a Party, and being temporarily transferred in the context of pursuit of economic activities in the territory of the other Party; the organisation concerned must have its principal place of business in the territory of a Party and the transfer be to an establishment (branch, subsidiary) of that organisation, effectively pursuing like economic activities in the territory of the other Party. Article 29 The Parties recognise the importance of granting each other national treatment with regard to the establishment and operation of each other's companies in their territories and agree to consider the possibility of movement towards this end on a mutually satisfactory basis, and in the light of any recommendations by the Cooperation Council. Article 30 1. The Parties shall use their best endeavours to avoid taking any measures or actions which render the conditions for the establishment and operation of each other's companies more restrictive than the situation existing on the day preceding the date of signature of the Agreement. 2. The provisions of this Article are without prejudice to those of Article 38: the situations covered by such Article 38 shall be solely governed by its provisions to the exclusion of any other. 3. Acting in the spirit of partnership and cooperation and in the light of the provisions of Article 44 the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic shall inform the Community of its intentions to submit new legislation or adopt new regulations which may render the conditions for the establishment or operation in the Kyrgyz Republic of subsidiaries and branches of Community companies more restrictive than the situation existing on the day preceding the date of signature of the Agreement. The Community may request the Kyrgyz Republic to communicate the drafts of such legislation or regulations and to enter into consultations about those drafts. 4. Where new legislation or regulations introduced in the Kyrgyz Republic would result in rendering the conditions for operation of subsidiaries and branches of Community companies established in the Kyrgyz Republic more restrictive than the situation existing on the day of signature of the Agreement, such respective legislation or regulations shall not apply during three years following the entry into force of the relevant act to those subsidiaries and branches already established in the Kyrgyz Republic at the time of entry into force of the relevant act. CHAPTER III CROSS-BORDER SUPPLY OF SERVICES BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC Article 31 1. The Parties undertake in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter to take the necessary steps to allow progressively the supply of services by Community or Kyrgyz companies which are established in a Party other than that of the person for whom the services are intended taking into account the development of the service sectors in the Parties. 2. The Cooperation Council shall make recommendations for the implementation of paragraph 1. Article 32 The Parties shall cooperate with the aim of developing a market-oriented service sector in the Kyrgyz Republic. Article 33 1. The Parties undertake to apply effectively the principle of unrestricted access to the international maritime market and traffic on a commercial basis: (a) the above provision does not prejudice the rights and obligations arising from the United Nations Convention on a Code of Conduct for Liner Conferences, as applicable to one or other Contracting Party to this Agreement. Non-conference lines will be free to operate in competition with a conference as long as they adhere to the principle of fair competition on a commercial basis; (b) the Parties affirm their commitment to a freely competitive environment as being an essential feature of the dry and liquid bulk trade. 2. In applying the principles of paragraph 1, the Parties shall: (a) not apply, as from entry into force of this agreement, any cargo-sharing provisions of bilateral agreements between any Member States of the Community and the former Soviet Union; (b) not introduce cargo-sharing clauses into future bilateral agreements with third countries, other than in those exceptional circumstances where liner shipping companies from one or other Party to this Agreement would not otherwise have an effective opportunity to ply for trade to and from the third country concerned; (c) prohibit cargo sharing arrangements in future bilateral agreements concerning dry and liquid bulk trade; (d) abolish upon entry into force of this Agreement, all unilateral measures, administrative, technical and other obstacles which could have restrictive or discriminatory effects on the free supply of services in international maritime transport. Article 34 With a view to assuring a coordinated development of transport between the Parties, adapted to their commercial needs, the conditions of mutual market access and provision of services in transport by road, rail and inland waterways and, if applicable, in air transport may be dealt with by specific agreements where appropriate negotiated between the Parties after entry into force of this Agreement. CHAPTER IV GENERAL PROVISIONS Article 35 1. The provisions of this Title shall be applied subject to limitations justified on grounds of public policy, public security or public health. 2. They shall not apply to activities which in the territory of either Party are connected, even occasionally, with the exercise of official authority. Article 36 For the purpose of this Title, nothing in the Agreement shall prevent the Parties from applying their laws and regulations regarding entry and stay, work, labour conditions and establishment of natural persons and supply of services, provided that, in so doing, they do not apply them in a manner as to nullify or impair the benefits accruing to any Party under the terms of a specific provision of the Agreement. The above provision does not prejudice the application of Article 35. Article 37 Companies which are controlled and exclusively owned by Kyrgyz companies and Community companies jointly shall also be beneficiaries of the provisions of Chapters II, III and IV. Article 38 Treatment granted by either Party to the other thereunder shall, as from the day one month prior to the date of entry into force of the relevant obligations of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), in respect of sectors or measures covered by the GATS, in no case be more favourable than that accorded by such first Party under the provisions of GATS and this in respect of each service sector, sub-sector and mode of supply. Article 39 For the purposes of Chapters II, III and IV, no account shall be taken of treatment accorded by the Community, its Member States or the Kyrgyz Republic pursuant to commitments entered into in economic integration agreements in accordance with the principles of Article V of the GATS. Article 40 1. The most-favoured-nation treatment granted in accordance with the provisions of this Title shall not apply to the tax advantages which the Parties are providing or will provide in the future on the basis of agreements to avoid double taxation, or other tax arrangements. 2. Nothing in this Title shall be construed to prevent the adoption or enforcement by the Parties of any measure aimed at preventing the avoidance or evasion of taxes pursuant to the tax provisions of agreements to avoid double taxation and other tax arrangements, or domestic fiscal legislation. 3. Nothing in this Title shall be construed to prevent Member States or the Kyrgyz Republic from distinguishing, in the application of the relevant provisions of their fiscal legislation, between tax payers who are not in identical situtations, in particular as regards their place of residence. Article 41 Without prejudice to Article 28, no provision of Chapters II, III and IV shall be interpreted as giving the right to: - nationals of the Member States or of the Kyrgyz Republic respectively to enter, or stay in, the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic or the Community respectively in any capacity whatsoever, and in particular as a shareholder or partner in a company or manager or employee thereof or supplier or recipient of services, - Community subsidiaries or branches of Kyrgyz companies to employ or have employed in the territory of the Community nationals of the Kyrgyz Republic, - Kyrgyz subsidiaries or branches of Community companies to employ or have employed in the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic nationals of the Member States, - Kyrgyz companies or Community subsidiaries or branches of Kyrgyz companies to supply Kyrgyz persons to act for and under the control of other persons by temporary employment contracts, - Community companies or Kyrgyz subsidiaries or branches of Community companies to supply workers who are nationals of the Member States by temporary employment contracts. CHAPTER V CURRENT PAYMENTS AND CAPITAL Article 42 1. The Parties undertake to authorise in freely convertible currency, any payments on the current account of balance of payments between residents of the Community and of the Kyrgyz Republic connected with the movement of goods, services or persons made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. 2. With regard to transactions on the capital account of balance of payments, from entry into force of the Agreement, the free movement of capital relating to direct investments made in companies formed in accordance with the laws of the host country and investments made in accordance with the provisions of Chapter II, and the liquidation or repatriation of these investments and of any profit stemming therefrom shall be ensured. 3. Without prejudice to paragraph 2 or to paragraph 5, as from entry into force of this Agreement, no new foreign exchange restrictions on the movement of capital and current payments connected therewith between residents of the Community and the Kyrgyz Republic shall be introduced and the existing arrangements shall not become more restrictive. 4. The Parties shall consult each other with a view to facilitating the movement of forms of capital other than those referred to in paragraph 2 above between the Community and the Kyrgyz Republic in order to promote the objectives of this Agreement. 5. With reference to the provisions of this Article, until a full convertibility of the Kyrgyz currency within the meaning of Article VIII of the Articles of Agreement of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is introduced, the Kyrgyz Republic may in exceptional circumstances apply exchange restrictions connected with the granting or taking up of short and medium-term financial credits to the extent that such restrictions are imposed on the Kyrgyz Republic for the granting of such credits and are permitted according to the Kyrgyz Republic's status under the IMF. The Kyrgyz Republic shall apply these restrictions in a non-discriminatory manner. They shall be applied in such a manner as to cause the least possible disruption to this Agreement. The Kyrgyz Republic shall inform the Cooperation Council promptly of the introduction of such measures and of any changes therein. 6. Without prejudice to paragraphs 1 and 2, where, in exceptional circumstances, movement of capital between the Community and the Kyrgyz Republic causes, or threaten to cause, serious difficulties for the operation of exchange rate policy or monetary policy in the Community or the Kyrgyz Republic, the Community and the Kyrgyz Republic, respectively, may take safeguard measures with regard to movements of capital between the Community and the Kyrgyz Republic for a period not exceeding six months if such measures are strictly necessary. CHAPTER VI INTELLECTUAL, INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTY PROTECTION Article 43 1. Pursuant to the provisions of this Article and of Annex II, the Kyrgyz Republic shall continue to improve the protection of intellectual, industrial and commercial property rights in order to provide, by the end of the fifth year after the entry into force of the Agreement, for a level of protection similar to that existing in the Community, including effective means of enforcing such rights. The Cooperation Council may decide to extend the above period, in the light of particular circumstances prevailing in the Kyrgyz Republic. 2. By the end of the fifth year after entry into force of the Agreement, the Kyrgyz Republic shall accede to the multilateral conventions on intellectual, industrial and commercial property rights referred to in paragraph 1 of Annex II to which Member States are parties or which are de facto applied by Member States, according to the relevant provisions contained in these conventions. TITLE V LEGISLATIVE COOPERATION Article 44 1. The Parties recognise that an important condition for strengthening the economic links between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Community is the approximation of Kyrgyz Republic's existing and future legislation to that of the Community. The Kyrgyz Republic shall endeavour to ensure that its legislation will be gradually made compatible with that of the Community. 2. The approximation of laws shall extend to the following areas in particular: customs law, company law, banking law, company accounts and taxes, intellectual property, protection of workers at the workplace, financial services, rules on competition, public procurement, protection of health and life of humans, animals and plants, the environment, consumer protection, indirect taxation, technical rules and standards, nuclear laws and regulations and transport. 3. The Community shall provide the Kyrgyz Republic with technical assistance for the implementation of these measures, which may include, inter alia: - the exchange of experts, - the provision of early information especially on relevant legislation, - organisation of seminars, - training activities, - aid for translation of Community legislation in the relevant sectors. 4. The Parties agree to examine ways to apply their respective competition laws on a concerted basis in such cases where trade between them is affected. TITLE VI ECONOMIC COOPERATION Article 45 1. The Community and the Kyrgyz Republic shall establish economic cooperation aimed at contributing to the process of economic reform and recovery and sustainable development of the Kyrgyz Republic. Such cooperation shall strengthen existing economic links, to the benefit of both parties. 2. Policies and other measures will be designed to bring about economic and social reforms and restructuring of the economic system in the Kyrgyz Republic and will be guided by the requirements of sustainability and harmonious social development; they will also fully incorporate environmental considerations. 3. To this end the cooperation will concentrate, in particular, on economic and social development, human resources development, support for enterprises (including privatisation, investment and development of financial services), agriculture and food, energy and civil nuclear safety, transport, tourism, environmental protection and regional cooperation. 4. Special attention shall be devoted to measures capable of fostering cooperation between the Independent States with a view to stimulating a harmonious development of the region. 5. Where appropriate, economic cooperation and other forms of cooperation provided for in this Agreement may be supported by technical assistance from the Community, taking into account the Community's relevant Council regulation applicable to technical assistance in the Independent States, the priorities agreed upon in the indicative programme related to Community technical assistance to the Kyrgyz Republic and its established coordination and implementation procedures. Article 46 Industrial cooperation 1. Cooperation shall aim at promoting the following in particular: - the development of business links between economic operators of both sides, - Community participation in Kyrgyzstan's efforts to restructure its industry, - the improvement of management, - the development of appropriate commercial rules and practices, - environmental protection. 2. The provisions of this Article shall not affect the enforcement of Community competition rules applicable to undertakings. Article 47 Investment promotion and protection 1. Bearing in mind the respective powers and competences of the Community and the Member States, cooperation shall aim to establish a favourable climate for private investment, both domestic and foreign, especially through better conditions for investment protection, the transfer of capital and the exchange of information on investment opportunities. 2. The aims of cooperation shall be in particular: - the conclusion, where appropriate, between the Member States and the Kyrgyz Republic of agreements for the promotion and protection of investment, - the conclusion, where appropriate, between the Member States and the Kyrgyz Republic of agreements to avoid double taxation, - the creation of favourable conditions for attracting foreign investments into the Kyrgyz economy, - to establish stable and adequate business law and conditions, and to exchange information on laws, regulations and administrative practices in the field of investment, - to exchange information on investment opportunities in the form of, inter alia, trade fairs, exhibitions, trade weeks and other events. Article 48 Public procurement The Parties shall cooperate to develop conditions for open and competitive award of contracts for goods and services in particular through calls for tenders. Article 49 Cooperation in the field of standards and conformity assessment 1. Cooperation between the Parties shall promote alignment with internationally agreed criteria, principles and guidelines followed in the field of quality. The required actions will facilitate progress towards mutual recognition in the field of conformity assessment, as well as the improvement of Kyrgyz product quality. 2. To this end they shall seek to cooperate in technical assistance projects which will: - promote appropriate cooperation with organisations and institutions specialised in these fields, - promote the use of Community technical regulations and the application of European standards and conformity assessment procedures, - permit the sharing of experience and technical information in the field of quality management. Article 50 Mining and raw materials 1. The Parties shall aim at increasing investment and trade in mining and raw materials. 2. The cooperation shall focus in particular on the following areas: - exchange of information on the prospects of the mining and non-ferrous metals sectors, - the establishment of a legal framework for cooperation, - trade matters, - the adoption and implementation of environmental legislation, - training, - safety in the mining industry. Article 51 Cooperation in science and technology 1. The Parties shall promote cooperation in civil scientific research and technological development (RTD) on the basis of mutual benefit and, taking into account the availability of resources, adequate access to their respective programmes and subject to appropriate levels of effective protection of intellectual, industrial and commercial property rights (IPR). 2. Science and technology cooperation shall cover: - the exchange of scientific and technical information, - joint RTD activities, - training activities and mobility programmes for scientists, researchers and technicians engaged in RTD on both sides. Where such cooperation takes the form of activities involving education and/or training, it should be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Article 52. The Parties, on the basis of mutual agreement, can engage in other forms of cooperation in science and technology. In carrying out such cooperation activities, special attention shall be devoted to the redeployment of scientists, engineers, researchers and technicians which are or have been engaged in research and/or production of weapons of mass destruction. 3. The Cooperation covered by this Article shall be implemented according to specific arrangements to be negotiated and concluded in accordance with the procedures adopted by each Party, and which shall set out, inter alia, appropriate IPR provisions. Article 52 Education and training 1. The Parties shall cooperate with the aim of raising the level of general education and professional qualifications in the Kyrgyz Republic, both in the public and private sectors. 2. The cooperation shall focus in particular on the following areas: - updating higher education and training systems in the Kyrgyz Republic including the system of certification of higher educational establishments and diplomas of higher education, - the training of public and private sector executives and civil servants in priority areas to be determined, - cooperation between educational establishments and between educational establishments and firms, - mobility for teachers, graduates, administrators, young scientists and researchers, and young people, - promoting teaching in the field of European studies within the appropriate institutions, - teaching Community languages, - post-graduate training of conference interpreters, - training of journalists, - training of trainers. 3. The possible participation of one Party in the respective programmes in the field of education and training of the other Party could be considered in accordance with their respective procedures and, where appropriate, institutional frameworks and plans of cooperation will then be established building on participation of the Kyrgyz Republic in the Community's Tempus programme. Article 53 Agriculture and the agro-industrial sector The purpose of cooperation in this area shall be the pursuance of agrarian reform, the modernisation, privatisation and restructuring of agriculture, the agro-industrial and service sectors in the Kyrgyz Republic, development of domestic and foreign markets for the Kyrgyz products, in conditions that ensure the protection of the environment, taking into account the necessity to improve security of food supply as well as the development of agri-business, the processing and distribution of agricultural products. The Parties shall also aim at the gradual approximation of Kyrgyz standards to Community technical regulations concerning industrial and agricultural food products including sanitary and phytosanitary standards. Article 54 Energy 1. Cooperation shall take place within the principles of the market economy and the European Energy Charter, against a background of the progressive integration of the energy markets in Europe. 2. The cooperation shall include among others the following areas: - the environmental impact of energy production supply and consumption, in order to prevent or minimise the environmental damage resulting from these activities, - improvement of the quality and security of energy supply, including diversification of supply, in an economic and environmentally sound manner, - formulation of energy policy, - improvement in management and regulation of the energy sector in line with a market economy, - the introduction of the range of institutional, legal, fiscal and other conditions necessary to encourage increased energy trade and investment, - promotion of energy saving and energy effectiveness, - modernisation of energy infrastructure, - improvement of energy technologies in supply and end use across the range of energy types, - management and technical training in the energy sector, - security in energy supply, transportation and transit of energy and energy materials. Article 55 Environment 1. Bearing in mind the European Energy Charter, the Parties shall develop and strengthen their cooperation on environment and human health. 2. Cooperation shall aim at combating the deterioration of the environment and in particular: - effective monitoring of pollution levels and assessment of environment; system of information on the state of the environment, - combating local, regional and transboundary air and water pollution, - ecological restoration, - sustainable, efficient and environmentally effective production and use of energy, - safety of industrial plants, - classification and safe handling of chemicals, - water quality, - waste reduction, recycling and safe disposal, implementation of the Basle Convention, - the environmental impact of agriculture, soil erosion, and chemical pollution, - the protection of forests, - the conservation of biodiversity, protected areas and sustainable use and management of biological resources, - land-use planning, including construction and urban planning, - use of economic and fiscal instruments, - global climate change, - environmental education and awareness, - technical assistance concerning rehabilitation of zones affected by radioactivity and addressing related health and social problems, - implementation of the Espoo Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a transboundary context. 3. Cooperation shall take place particularly through: - disaster planning and other emergency situations, - exchange of information and experts, including information and experts dealing with the transfer of clean technologies and the safe and environmentally sound use of biotechnologies, - joint research activities, - improvement of laws towards Community standards, - cooperation at regional level, including cooperation within the framework of the European Environment Agency, and at international level, - development of strategies, particularly with regard to global and climatic issues and also in view of achieving sustainable development, - environmental impact studies. Article 56 Transport The Parties shall develop and strengthen their cooperation in the field of transport. This cooperation shall, inter alia, aim at restructuring and modernising transport systems and networks in the Kyrgyz Republic, and developing and ensuring, where appropriate, compatibility of transportation systems in the context of achieving a more global transport system. The cooperation shall include, inter alia: - the modernising of management and operations of road transport, railways, ports and airports, - modernisation and development of railways, waterways, roads, ports, airports and air navigation infrastructure including the modernisation of major routes of common interest and the trans-European links for the above modes, - promotion and development of multi-modal transport, - the promotion of joint research and development programmes, - preparation of the legislative and institutional framework for policy development and implementation including privatisation of the transport sector. Article 57 Postal services and telecommunications Within their respective powers and competences the Parties shall expand and strengthen cooperation in the following areas: - the establishment of policies and guidelines for the development of the telecommunications sector and postal services, - development of principles of a tariff policy and marketing in telecommunications and postal services, - carry out transfer of technology and know-how, including on European technical standards and certification systems, - encouraging the development of projects for telecommunications and postal services and attracting investment, - enhancing efficiency and quality of the provision of telecommunications and postal services, amongst others through liberalisation of activities of sub-sectors, - advanced application of telecommunications, notably in the area of electronic funds transfer, - management of telecommunications networks and their "optimisation", - an appropriate regulatory basis for the provision of telecommunication and postal services and for the use of the radio frequency spectrum, - training in the field of telecommunications and postal services for operations in market conditions. Article 58 Financial services Cooperation shall in particular aim at facilitating the involvement of the Kyrgyz Republic in universally accepted systems of mutual settlements. Technical assistance shall focus on: - the development of banking and financial services, the development of a common market of credit resources, the involvement of the Kyrgyz Republic in a universally accepted system of mutual settlements, - the development of fiscal system and its institutions in the Kyrgyz Republic, exchange of experience and personnel training, - the development of insurance services, which would, inter alia, create a favourable framework for Community companies participation in the establishment of joint ventures in the insurance sector in the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as the development of export credit insurance. This cooperation shall in particular contribute to foster the development of relations between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Member States in the financial services sector. Article 59 Money laundering 1. The Parties agree on the necessity of making efforts and cooperating in order to prevent the use of their financial systems for laundering of proceeds from criminal activities in general and drug offences 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 forums in this field, including the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Article 60 Regional development 1. The Parties shall strengthen cooperation on regional development and land-use planning. 2. To this end, they shall encourage exchange of information by national, regional and local authorities on regional and land-use planning policy and on methods of formulation of regional policies with special emphasis on the development of disadvantaged areas. They shall also encourage direct contacts between the respective regions and public organisations responsible for regional development planning with the aim, inter alia, to exchange methods and ways of fostering regional development. Article 61 Social cooperation 1. With regard to health and safety, the parties shall develop cooperation between them with the aim of improving the level of protection of the health and safety of workers. The cooperation shall include notably: - education and training on health and safety issues with specific attention to high risk sectors of activity, - development and promotion of preventive measures to combat work-related diseases and other work-related ailments, - prevention of major accident hazards and the management of toxic chemicals, - research to develop the knowledge base in relation to working environment and the health and safety of workers. 2. With regard to employment, the cooperation shall include notably technical assistance to: - optimisation of the labour market, - modernisation of the job-finding and consulting services, - planning and management of the restructuring programmes, - encouragement of local employment development,- exchange of information on the programmes of flexible employment, including those stimulating self-employment and promoting entrepreneurship. 3. The Parties shall pay special attention to cooperation in the sphere of social protection which, inter alia, shall include cooperation in planning and implementing social protection reforms in the Kyrgyz Republic. These reforms shall aim to develop …