This Convention shall be open to accession by any State that becomes a member of the European Union.

The text of this Convention in the language of the acceding State, drawn up by the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union and approved by all the Member States, shall be equally authentic with the other authentic texts. The Secretary-General shall transmit a certified true copy of the text to each Member State.

The instruments of accession shall be deposited with the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union.

This Convention shall enter into force with respect to any State that accedes to it 90 days after the deposit of its instrument of accession or the date of entry into force of the Convention if it has not already entered into force at the time of expiry of the said period of 90 days.

Where this Convention is not yet in force at the time of the deposit of their instrument of accession, Article 16(3) shall apply to acceding Member States.