(This note is not part of the Order)
The Order declares the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States and the Republic of Belarus, signed on 6th March 1995, to be a Community Treaty as defined in section 1(2) of the European Communities Act 1972. The Agreement establishes a Partnership with the objectives of providing an appropriate framework for political dialogue, promoting trade, investment and economic relations, providing a basis for legislative, economic, social, financial, scientific, technical and cultural co-operation, and supporting the efforts of Belarus to consolidate its democracy, develop its economy and complete the transition into a market economy. The principal effect of declaring this Agreement to be a Community Treaty as so defined is to bring into play, in relation to it, the provisions of section 2 of the European Communities Act 1972 which provides for the implementation of treaties so specified.