COUNCIL DECISION of 20 July 1998 on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Russian Federation on trade in textile products initialled on 28 March 1998 (98/491/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 113 in conjunction with Article 228(2), first sentence, thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas, the Commission has negotiated on behalf of the Community a bilateral Agreement with the Russian Federation on trade in textile products covered by Chapters 50 to 63 of the Combined Nomenclature initialled in Brussels on 28 March 1998;

Whereas, Council Decision 98/379/EC (1), provided for provisional application of the initialled Agreement subject to reciprocal provisional application by the Russian Federation;

Whereas the Russian Federation was not in a position to apply the initialled Agreement on a provisional basis;

Whereas it was agreed with the Russian Federation that the Agreement would be applied on a provisional basis as from the date of its signature;

Whereas this bilateral Agreement should be approved and signed on behalf of the European Community,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Agreement between the European Community and the Russian Federation on trade in textile products shall be approved on behalf of the Community.

In accordance with Article 6(1) of the Agreement, the Agreement shall be applied on a provisional basis as from the date of its signature by both Parties.

The text of this Agreement is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person empowered to sign the Agreement referred to in Article 1 in order to bind the Community.

The Commission shall, on behalf of the Community, give the notification provided for in Article 6(1) of the Agreement.

Done at Brussels, 20 July 1998.

For the Council

The President

W. MOLTERER

(1) OJ L 169, 15.6.1998, p. 1.