Council Decision
of 28 January 2008
on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation's association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis
(2008/146/EC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 62, point 3 of the first subparagraph of Article 63, and Articles 66 and 95, in conjunction with the second sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2) and the first subparagraph of Article 300(3) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard the opinion of the European Parliament1,
Whereas:
Following the authorisation given to the Commission on 17 June 2002, negotiations with the Swiss Authorities, regarding the association of Switzerland with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis have been concluded.
In accordance with Council Decision 2004/860/EC2, and subject to its conclusion at a later date, the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation's association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis has been signed on behalf of the European Community on 26 October 2004.
The Agreement should now be approved.
As far as the development of the Schengen acquis, which falls under the Treaty establishing the European Community, is concerned the provisions of Council Decision 1999/437/EC of 17 May 1999 on certain arrangements for the application of the Agreement concluded by the Council of the European Union and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the association of those two States with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis3, apply mutatis mutandis to relations with Switzerland.
This Decision does not prejudice the position of the United Kingdom, under the Protocol integrating the Schengen acquis into the framework of the European Union annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty establishing the European Community and Council Decision 2000/365/EC of 29 May 2000 concerning the request of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis4.
This Decision does not prejudice the position of Ireland, under the Protocol integrating the Schengen acquis into the framework of the European Union annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty establishing the European Community and Council Decision 2002/192/EC of 28 February 2002 concerning Ireland's request to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis5
This Decision does not prejudice the position of Denmark, under the Protocol on the position of Denmark annexed to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community,
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: