Council and Commission Decision

of 30 October 1997

on the conclusion of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Russian Federation, of the other part1

(97/800/ECSC, EC, Euratom)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 54 (2), the last sentence of Article 57 (2), and Articles 66, 73c (2), 75, 84 (2), 99, 100, 113 and 235, in conjunction with the second sentence of Article 228 (2) and the second subparagraph of Article 228 (3) thereof,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, and in particular Article 95 thereof,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular the second paragraph of Article 101 thereof,

Having regard to the assent of the European Parliament2,

Having consulted ECSC Consultative Committee and with the assent of the Council,

Having regard to the approval of the Council given in accordance with Article 101 of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community,

Whereas conclusion of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Russian Federation, of the other, signed on 24 June 1994 in Corfu, will contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the European Communities;

Whereas the purpose of that Agreement is to strengthen the links established 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 and approved by Decision 90/116/EEC3;

Whereas certain obligations, provided for by the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement outside the scope of Community trade policy, affect or are likely to affect the arrangements laid down by Community acts adopted in the areas of the right of establishment, transport and the treatment of enterprises;

Whereas the said Agreement imposes on the European Community certain obligations regarding capital movements and payments between the Community and Russia;

Whereas, in addition, insofar as the said Agreement affects Council Directive 90/434/EEC of 23 July 1990 on the common system of taxation applicable to mergers, divisions, transfers of assets and exchanges of shares concerning companies of different Member States4, and Council Directive 90/435/EEC of 23 July 1990 on the common system of taxation applicable in the case of parent companies and subsidiaries of different Member States5, which are based on Article 100 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, that Article should be used as a legal basis;

Whereas certain provisions of the said Agreement impose on the Community obligations in the field of the provision of services which go beyond the crossborder framework;

Whereas certain provisions of the said Agreement which are to be implemented by the Community, the Treaty establishing the European Community makes no provision for specific powers; whereas it is therefore necessary to resort to Article 235 of the Treaty,

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: