Zakon o ratifikaciji Sporazuma o spremembah Srednjeevropskega sporazuma o prosti trgovini (MSSSOPT)

The Republic of Bulgaria, the Republic of Croatia, the Czech Republic, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Poland, Romania, the Slovak Republic and the Republic of Slovenia (hereinafter referred to as ”the Parties”)
    Reaffirming the significant contribution of the Central European Free Trade Agreement to the strengthening of economic and trade relations between the Parties, and to European integration,
    Having regard to the aim of the Parties to become European Union members,
    Firmly convinced that Central European Free Trade Agreement has improved the readiness of the Parties for European Union membership,

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1

Article 41 of Central European Free Trade Agreement shall read as follows:

“Article 41

Validity and withdrawal

1. (a) Each Party to this Agreement may withdraw therefrom, including from the provisional application by means of a written notification to the Depositary. The withdrawal shall take effect six months after the date on which the notification was received by the Depositary.
    (b) On the date a Party to this Agreement accedes to the European Union this Agreement shall automatically cease to be valid for this Party. The Party concerned shall inform the other Parties about this as soon as possible.
    2. The Agreement remains in force for the other Parties.”

Article 2

A new paragraph shall be added in the Article 42 of the Central European Free Trade Agreement, which shall read as follows:

“On 1 April 2004 the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria shall take over the obligations of the Depositary of this Agreement.”

Article 3

This Agreement shall constitute an integral part of the Central European Free Trade Agreement.

Article 4

This Agreement shall enter into force on the day of receiving by the Depositary of the last notification of Parties to the Central European Free Trade Agreement on the completion of procedures necessary for that purpose, but not later than on 1 April 2004.
    The Depositary shall notify all Parties of the completion of procedures necessary for entry into force of this Agreement.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned plenipotentiaries, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Agreement.
    Done at Bled this 4 day of July 2003 in a single authentic copy in the English language which shall be deposited with the Depositary who shall transmit certified copies of this Agreement to all Parties to the Central European Free Trade Agreement.