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Taxation and Customs Union
  • News article
  • 16 December 2020
  • Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union
  • 3 min read

EU to enhance preferential trade with Pan-Euro-Mediterranean countries

On 7 December 2020, a package of 21 decisions was adopted by the Council of the EU to increase trade between the European Union and neighbouring countries in the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean region. These decisions mean that the EU and 20 trading partners in the region will update their free trade agreement by modernising the rules of origin, to make them more flexible and business-friendly. The target date for the adoption of these amendments and their entry into force is 1 September 2021.

On 7 December 2020, a package of 21 decisions was adopted by the Council of the EU to increase trade between the European Union and neighbouring countries in the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean region. These decisions mean that the EU and 20 trading partners in the region will update their free trade agreement by modernising the rules of origin, to make them more flexible and business-friendly. The target date for the adoption of these amendments and their entry into force is 1 September 2021.

The new rules, which are the result of ten years of negotiations, will apply alongside those of the Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin (PEM Convention), pending the review of the Convention, which is currently under way.

In 2021, the European Commission will promote the new rules, which should contribute to the recovery of the regional economies of the participating countries. Online seminars and detailed guidance will be available for the business community, of customs authorities and other interested stakeholders.

For more information

MEMO

Transitional rules of origin in the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Area

Council Decisions per Country:

EFTA States
États de l’AELE

CH (+ LI)

Decision: COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/2054 of 7 December 2020

Annex: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-10245-2020-INIT/en/pdf

IS

Decision: COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/2057 of 7 December 2020

Annex: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-10292-2020-INIT/en/pdf

NO

Decision: COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/2056 of 7 December 2020

Annex: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-10281-2020-INIT/en/pdf

FO

Decision: COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/2055 of 7 December 2020

Annex: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-10257-2020-INIT/en/pdf

EEA

Decision: COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/2058 of 7 December 2020
Annex: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-10297-2020-INIT/en/pdf

TR

Agri

ECSC

Decision: COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/2073 of 7 December 2020

Annex: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-11128-2020-INIT/en/pdf

Decision: COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/2074 of 7 December 2020

Annex: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-11130-2020-INIT/en/pdf

Participants in the Barcelona Process
Participants au processus de Barcelone

EG

Decision: COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/2064 of 7 December 2020

Annex: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-11075-2020-INIT/en/pdf

IL

Decision: COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/2066 of 7 December 2020

Annex: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-11081-2020-INIT/en/pdf

JO

Decision: COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/2067 of 7 December 2020

Annex: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-11085-2020-INIT/en/pdf

LB

Decision: COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/2069 of 7 December 2020
Annex: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-11104-2020-INIT/en/pdf

PS

Decision: COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/2029 of 7 December 2020

Annex: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-11125-2020-INIT/en/pdf

Participants in the EU’s SAP
Participants au PAS de l’UE

AL

Decision: COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/2062 of 7 December 2020

Annex: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-11141-2020-INIT/en/pdf

BA

Decision: COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/2063 of 7 December 2020

Annex: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-11065-2020-INIT/en/pdf

KO

Decision: COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/2068 of 7 December 2020

Annex: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-11096-2020-INIT/en/pdf

ME

Decision: COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/2028 of 7 December 2020
Annex: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-11124-2020-INIT/en/pdf

MK

Decision: COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/2070 of 7 December 2020

Annex: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-11113-2020-INIT/en/pdf

RS

Decision: COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/2072 of 7 December 2020

Annex: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-11126-2020-INIT/en/pdf

MD

Decision: COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/2071 of 7 December 2020

Annex: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-11115-2020-INIT/en/pdf

GE

Decision: COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/2065 of 7 December 2020

Annex: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-11080-2020-INIT/en/pdf

UA

Decision: COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/2075 of 7 December 2020

Annex: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-11131-2020-INIT/en/pdf

Details

Publication date
16 December 2020
Author
Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union