The Commission has today approved the proposal for a Council and Commission Decision - in which each institution is responsible for matters within its jurisdiction - on the conclusion of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Belarus, of the other part. Following the adoption by the Council on 5 October 1992 of negotiating directives, talks with Belarus took place in 1993 and 1994. After three negotiating sessions the agreement was initialled on 22 December 1994. It is a "mixed" agreement (i.e. combining matters coming under Community jurisdiction and matters coming under national jurisdiction) and will be concluded for an initial period of ten years. The agreeement establishes a political dialogue and also comprises provisions on trade, conditions relating to employment, the establishment and activity of companies, cross-border services, payments and capital, competition, protection of intellectual, industrial and commercial property and legislative, economic, cultural and financial cooperation. The agreement includes a human rights conditionality clause enabling the agreement to be suspended, even unilaterally, in the event of violation of essential components of the agreement, i.e. those upholding democratic principles and human rights and the principles of a market economy. The agreement creates an institutional structure comprising a Cooperation Council, a Cooperation Committee and a Parliamentary Cooperation Committee. The agreement holds out the prospect of the future creation of a free trade zone. In 1998, the situation will be evaluated to determine whether negotiations for such a zone can get under way. Once these procedures on the conclusion of the agreement are finalized, the agreement could be signed and ratified by the parties (Member States, European Communities and Belarus) and then enter into force. * * *
