18.10.2007 Official Journal of the European Union L 27411 II (Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is not obligatory) DECISIONS COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 25 June 2007 on the exercise of rights and obligations akin to membership ad interim by the European Community in the World Customs Organisation (2007/668[EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Customs Organisation examined the possibility for the European Community to exercise the rights and obli- gations akin to those of Members of the World Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Customs Organisation pending the ratification of the Community, and in particular Article 133 thereof, in amended Convention establishing a Customs Coop- conjunction with the second subparagraph of Article 300(2) eration Council by all Members of the World Customs thereof, Organisation. Whereas: (5)  The European Community is expected to be in a position to assume these rights and obligations in the framework (1)  The Council decided on 19 March 2001 to authorise the of the. Cpnvention establishing A Customs Cooperation Commission to negotiate on behalf of the European Council in matters of Community competence. Community, the accession of the European Community to the World Customs Organisation (!). (6)  The Members States of the European Community maintain their status in the World Customs Organisation. (2)  The Convention establishing a Customs Cooperation Council is expected to be amended by the Council of the World Customs Organisation at its 109th/110th session in June 2007 to allow customs or economic unions, including the European Community to acquire membership of the World Customs Organisation. (7 Both the European Community and its Member States have competence in the areas covered by the Convention establishing a Customs Cooperation Council. (3)  The Member States of the European Community should (8)  For matters falling under European Community support that draft amendment which, after its adoption competence a European Community position must be by the Council of the World Customs Organisation, established. For matters falling partly  within would allow the Community’s accession to the Community competence, Member States of the amended Convention. European Community should strive to adopt a common position to ensure the unity of external repre- sentation of the European Community and its Member (4)  Following exploratory talks with the World Customs States. Organisation, the European Community and the World (') The World Customs Organisation was established by Convention 9) In view of the above the Council should provide for the establishing a Customs Cooperation Council (signed on 15 exercise of rights and obligations akin to membership December 1950). The Convention came into force in 1952. In d interim by th itv in th 1d 1994 the Customs Cooperation Council adopted the working ad interim by the European Community in the Wor name ‘World Customs Organisation’, to more clearly reflect its Customs Organisation, including the payment of an scope. Presently the World Customs Organisation has 171 members. annual contribution,