Article 21(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2007/2004 of 26 October 2004 establishing a European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union(1)provides for countries associated with the implementation, application and development of the Schengenacquisto participate in the Agency. The modalities of their participation are to be specified in further arrangements to be concluded between the Union and those countries.

16.9.2010 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | L 243/2 ---|---|---|--- * * * COUNCIL DECISION of 26 July 2010 on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Arrangement between the European Community, of the one part, and the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein, of the other part, on the modalities of the participation by those States in the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (2010/490/EU) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 77(2)(b) and Article 74 in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a)(v) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament, Whereas: (1) | Article 21(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2007/2004 of 26 October 2004 establishing a European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (1) provides for countries associated with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis to participate in the Agency. The modalities of their participation are to be specified in further arrangements to be concluded between the Union and those countries. ---|--- (2) | Following the authorisation given to the Commission on 11 March 2008, negotiations with the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein for an Arrangement on the modalities of the participation by those States in the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union have been concluded. ---|--- (3) | As consequence of the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon on 1 December 2009, the European Union has replaced and succeeded the European Community. ---|--- (4) | In accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of the Protocol on the Position of Denmark, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Denmark is not taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its application. Given that this Decision builds upon the Schengen acquis, Denmark shall, in accordance with Article 4 of the Protocol, decide within a period of six months after the Council has decided on this Decision whether it will implement it in its national law. ---|--- (5) | This Decision constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in which the United Kingdom does not take part, in accordance with Council Decision 2000/365/EC of 29 May 2000 concerning the request of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis (2). The United Kingdom is therefore not taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its application. ---|--- (6) | This Decision constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in which Ireland does not take part, in accordance with Council Decision 2002/192/EC of 28 February 2002 concerning Ireland’s request to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis (3). Ireland is therefore not taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its application. ---|--- (7) | The Arrangement should be concluded, ---|--- HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 The Arrangement between the European Community, of the one part, and the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein, of the other part, on the modalities of the participation by those States in the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (4) (‘the Arrangement’) is hereby approved on behalf of the Union. Article 2 The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to deposit on behalf of the Union the instrument of approval provided for in Article 9(4) of the Arrangement in order to express the consent of the Union to be bound and make the following notification: ‘As a consequence of the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon on 1 December 2009, the European Union has replaced and succeeded the European Community and from that date exercises all rights and assumes all obligations of the European Community. Therefore, references to “European Community” in the text of the Arrangement are, where appropriate, to be read as “European Union”.’ Article 3 This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption. Article 4 This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Done at Brussels, 26 July 2010. For the Council The President S. VANACKERE * * * (1) OJ L 349, 25.11.2004, p. 1. (2) OJ L 131, 1.6.2000, p. 43. (3) OJ L 64, 7.3.2002, p. 20. (4) See page 4 of this Official Journal. * * * ARRANGEMENT between the European Community, of the one part, and the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein, of the other part, on the modalities of the participation by those States in the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY, of the one part, and THE SWISS CONFEDERATION, hereinafter referred to as ‘Switzerland’, and THE PRINCIPALITY OF LIECHTENSTEIN, hereinafter referred to as ‘Liechtenstein’, of the other part, HAVING REGARD TO the Agreement signed on 26 October 2004 between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation’s association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’, HAVING REGARD TO the Protocol signed on 28 February 2008 between the European Union, the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein on the accession of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation’s association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Protocol’, HAVING REGARD TO the Joint Declaration by the European Union, the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein on the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union attached to the Protocol, HAVING REGARD TO the Arrangement between the European Community and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway on the modalities of the participation by those States in the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (1), Whereas: (1) | By Council Regulation (EC) No 2007/2004 (2), hereinafter referred to as ‘the Regulation’, the European Community established the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union, hereinafter referred to as the ‘Agency’. ---|--- (2) | The Regulation constitutes a development of the Schengen acquis within the meaning of the Agreement and the Protocol. ---|--- (3) | The Regulation confirms that countries associated with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis should participate fully in activities of the Agency, albeit with limited voting rights. ---|--- (4) | Liechtenstein does not have external borders to which the Schengen Borders Code applies. ---|--- (5) | The Agreement and the Protocol do not address the modalities of the association of Switzerland and Liechtenstein with the activities of new bodies set up by the European Union in the framework of the further development of the Schengen acquis, and certain aspects of the association with the Agency should be settled in an additional arrangement between the Parties to the Agreement and the Protocol, ---|--- HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 The Management Board 1\. Switzerland and Liechtenstein shall be represented on the Management Board of the Agency, as laid down in Article 21(3) of the Regulation. 2\. Switzerland shall have voting rights: (a) | as regards decisions on specific activities to be carried out at its external borders. Proposals for such decisions shall require a vote in favour of their adoption by its representative on the Management Board; ---|--- (b) | as regards decisions on specific activities under Article 3 (joint operations and pilot projects at external borders), Article 7 (management of technical equipment), Article 8 (support for Member States in circumstances requiring increased technical and operational assistance at external borders) and Article 9(1), first sentence (joint return operations) to be carried out with human resources and/or equipment made available by Switzerland; ---|--- (c) | as regards decisions on risk analysis (development of the common integrated risk analysis, general and specific risk analysis), directly affecting Switzerland, under Article 4; ---|--- (d) | as regards decisions on training activities under Article 5, except on establishment of the common core curriculum. ---|--- 3\. Liechtenstein shall have voting rights: (a) | as regards decisions on specific activities under Article 3 (joint operations and pilot projects at external borders), Article 7 (management of technical equipment), Article 8 (support for Member States in circumstances requiring increased technical and operational assistance at external borders) and Article 9(1), first sentence (joint return operations) to be carried out with human resources and/or equipment made available by Liechtenstein; ---|--- (b) | as regards decisions on risk analysis (development of the common integrated risk analysis, general and specific risk analysis), directly affecting Liechtenstein, under Article 4; ---|--- (c) | as regards decisions on training activities under Article 5, except on establishment of the common core curriculum. ---|--- Article 2 Financial contribution Switzerland shall contribute to the budget of the Agency in accordance with the percentage laid down in Article 11(3) of the Agreement. Liechtenstein shall contribute to the budget of the Agency in accordance with Article 3 of the Protocol which refers to the contribution method laid down in Article 11(3) of the Agreement. Article 3 Protection and confidentiality of data 1\. Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (3) shall apply where personal data are forwarded by the Agency to the authorities of Switzerland and Liechtenstein. 2\. Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data (4) shall apply to data forwarded by the authorities of Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the Agency. 3\. Switzerland and Liechtenstein shall respect the rules on confidentiality of documents held by the Agency, as set out in the Rules of Procedure of the Management Board. Article 4 Legal status The Agency shall have legal personality under the law of Switzerland and the law of Liechtenstein and shall enjoy in Switzerland and Liechtenstein the most extensive legal capacity accorded to legal persons under the law of Switzerland and the law of Liechtenstein. It may, in particular, acquire or dispose of movable and immovable property and may be party to legal proceedings. Article 5 Liability The liability of the Agency shall be governed as provided for in Article 19(1), (3) and (5) of the Regulation. Article 6 Court of Justice 1\. Switzerland and Liechtenstein shall recognise the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the European Communities over the Agency, as provided for in Article 19(2) and (4) of the Regulation. 2\. Disputes regarding civil liability shall be resolved in accordance with Article 10b(4) of the Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC) No 863/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 July 2007 establishing a mechanism for the creation of Rapid Border Intervention Teams and amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2007/2004 as regards that mechanism and regulating the tasks and powers of guest officers (5). Article 7 Privileges and immunities 1\. Switzerland and Liechtenstein shall apply to the Agency and to its staff the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the European Communities which is set out in the Annex to this Arrangement. 2\. The Annex to this Arrangement, including as regards Switzerland the Appendix on the procedure for application of the Protocol on Privileges and Immunities, shall form an integral part of this Arrangement. Article 8 Staff 1\. Switzerland and Liechtenstein shall apply the rules relating to the Agency’s staff matters adopted pursuant to the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the European Communities. 2\. By way of derogation from Article 12(2)(a) of the Conditions of Employment of other servants of the European Communities, nationals of Switzerland and Liechtenstein enjoying their full rights as citizens may be engaged under contract by the Executive Director of the Agency. 3\. Nationals of Switzerland and Liechtenstein may not, however, be appointed to the posts of Executive Director or Deputy Executive Director of the Agency. 4\. Nationals of Switzerland and Liechtenstein may not be elected as Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson of the Management Board. Article 9 Entry into force 1\. The Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union shall act as depositary of this Arrangement. 2\. The European Community, Switzerland and Liechtenstein shall approve this Arrangement in accordance with their own procedures. 3\. The entry into force of this Arrangement shall require approval by the European Community and by at least one other Party to this Arrangement. 4\. This Arrangement shall enter into force in relation to any Party to this Arrangement on the first day of the first month following the deposit of its instrument of approval with the depositary. 5\. As regards Liechtenstein, this Arrangement shall apply as from the date when the provisions referred to in Article 2 of the Protocol are put into effect in accordance with Article 10 of the Protocol. Article 10 Validity and termination 1\. This Arrangement shall be concluded for an unlimited period. 2\. This Arrangement shall cease to be in force six months after the Agreement is denounced by Switzerland or by decision of the Council of the European Union, or is otherwise terminated in accordance with the procedures described in Articles 7(4), 10 or 17 of the Agreement. 3\. This Arrangement shall cease to be in force six months after the Protocol is denounced by Liechtenstein or by decision of the Council of the European Union or is otherwise terminated in accordance with the procedure described in Articles 3, 5(4), 11(1) or 11(3) of the Protocol. This Arrangement, as well as the Joint Declarations annexed thereto, shall be drawn up in one single original in the Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish and Swedish languages, each of those texts being equally authentic. Съставено в Брюксел на тридесети септември две хиляди и девета година. Hecho en Bruselas el treinta de septiembre de dos mil nueve. V Bruselu dne třicátého září dva tisíce devět. Udfærdiget i Bruxelles den tredivte september to tusind og ni. Geschehen zu Brüssel am dreißigsten September zweitausendneun. Kahe tuhande üheksanda aasta septembrikuu kolmekümnendal päeval Brüsselis. ’Εγινε στις Βρυξέλλες, στις τριάντα Σεπτεμβρίου δύο χιλιάδες εννιά. Done at Brussels on the thirtieth day of September in the year two thousand and nine. Fait à Bruxelles, le trente septembre deux mille neuf. Fatto a Bruxelles, addì trenta settembre duemilanove. Briselē, divi tūkstoši devītā gada trīsdesmitajā septembrī Priimta du tūkstančiai devintų metų rugsėjo trisdešimtą dieną Briuselyje. Kelt Brüsszelben, a kétezer-kilencedik év szeptember harmincadik napján. Magħmul fi Brussell, it-tletin jum ta’ Settembru tas-sena elfejn u disgħa. Gedaan te Brussel, de dertigste september tweeduizend negen. Sporządzono w Brukseli dnia trzydziestego września dwa tysiące dziewiątego roku. Feito em Bruxelas, em trinta de Setembro de dois mil e nove. Încheiat la Bruxelles, la treizeci septembrie două mii nouă. V Bruseli dňa tridsiateho septembra dvetisícdeväť. V Bruslju, dne tridesetega septembra leta dva tisoč devet. Tehty Brysselissä kolmantenakymmenentenä päivänä syyskuuta vuonna kaksituhattayhdeksän. Som skedde i Bryssel den trettionde september tjugohundranio. За Европейската общност Por la Comunidad Europea Za Evropské společenství For Det Europæiske Fællesskab Für die Europäische Gemeinschaft Euroopa Ühenduse nimel Για την Ευρωπαϊκή Κοινότητα For the European Community Pour la Communauté européenne Per la Comunità europea Eiropas Kopienas vārdā Europos bendrijos vardu az Európai Közösség részéről Għall-Komunità Ewropea Voor de Europese Gemeenschap W imieniu Wspólnoty Europejskiej Pela Comunidade Europeia Pentru Comunitatea Europeană Za Európske spoločenstvo Za Evropsko skupnost Euroopan yhteisön puolesta På Europeiska gemenskapens vägnar За Конфедерация Швейцария Por la Confederación Suiza Za Švýcarskou konfederaci For Det Schweiziske Forbund Für die Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft Šveitsi Konföderatsiooni nimel Για την Ελβετική Συνομοσπονδία For the Swiss Confederation Pour la Confédération suisse Per la Confederazione svizzera Šveices Konfederācijas vārdā Šveicarijos Konfederacijos vardu A Svájci Államszövetség részéről Għall-Konfederazzjoni Svizzera Voor de Zwitserse Bondsstaat W imieniu Konfederacji Szwajcarskiej Pela Confederação Suíça Pentru Confederația Elvețiană Za Švajčiarsku konfederáciu Za Švicarsko konfederacijo Sveitsin valaliiton puolesta För Schweiziska edsförbundet За Княжество Лихтенщайн Por el Principado de Liechtenstein Za Lichtenštejnské knížectví For Fyrstendømmet Liechtenstein Für das Fürstentum Liechtenstein Liechtensteini Vürstiriigi nimel Για το Πριγκιπάτο του Λιχτενστάιν For the Principality of Liechtenstein Pour la Principauté de Liechtenstein Per il Principato del Liechtenstein Lihtenšteinas Firstistes vārdā Lichtenšteino Kunigaikštystės vardu A Liechtensteini Hercegség részéről Għall-Prinċipat ta’ Liechtenstein Voor het Vorstendom Liechtenstein W imieniu Księstwa Liechtensteinu Pelo Principado do Liechtenstein Pentru Principatul Liechtenstein Za Lichtenštajnské kniežatstvo Za Kneževino Lihtenštajn Liechtensleinin ruhtinaskunnan puolesta För Furstendömet Liechtenstein * * * (1) OJ L 188, 20.7.2007, p. 19. (2) OJ L 349, 25.11.2004, p. 1. (3) OJ L 281, 23.11.1995, p. 31. (4) OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1. (5) OJ L 199, 31.7.2007, p. 30. ANNEX Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the European Communities THE HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES, CONSIDERING that, in accordance with Article 28 of the Treaty establishing a Single Council and a Single Commission of the European Communities, these Communities and the European Investment Bank shall enjoy in the territories of the Member States such privileges and immunities as are necessary for the performance of their tasks, HAVE AGREED upon the following provisions, which shall be annexed to this Treaty: CHAPTER I PROPERTY, FUNDS, ASSETS AND OPERATIONS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES Article 1 The premises and buildings of the Communities shall be inviolable. They shall be exempt from search, requisition, confiscation or expropriation. The property and assets of the Communities shall not be the subject of any administrative or legal measure of constraint without the authorisation of the Court of Justice. Article 2 The archives of the Communities shall be inviolable. Article 3 The Communities, their assets, revenues and other property shall be exempt from all direct taxes. The governments of the Member States shall, wherever possible, take the appropriate measures to remit or refund the amount of indirect taxes or sales taxes included in the price of movable or immovable property, where the Communities make, for their official use, substantial purchases the price of which includes taxes of this kind. These provisions shall not be applied, however, so as to have the effect of distorting competition within the Communities. No exemption shall be granted in respect of taxes and dues which amount merely to charges for public utility services. Article 4 The Communities shall be exempt from all customs duties, prohibitions and restrictions on imports and exports in respect of articles intended for their official use; articles so imported shall not be disposed of, whether or not in return for payment, in the territory of the country into which they have been imported, except under conditions approved by the government of that country. The Communities shall also be exempt from any customs duties and any prohibitions and restrictions on import and exports in respect of their publications. Article 5 The European Coal and Steel Community may hold currency of any kind and operate accounts in any currency. CHAPTER II COMMUNICATIONS AND LAISSEZ-PASSER Article 6 For their official communications and the transmission of all their documents, the institutions of the Communities shall enjoy in the territory of each Member State the treatment accorded by that State to diplomatic missions. Official correspondence and other official communications of the institutions of the Communities shall not be subject to censorship. Article 7 1\. Laissez-passer in a form to be prescribed by the Council, which shall be recognised as valid travel documents by the authorities of the Member States, may be issued to members and servants of the institutions of the Communities by the Presidents of these institutions. These laissez-passer shall be issued to officials and other servants under conditions laid down in the Staff Regulations of officials and the Conditions of Employment of other servants of the Communities. The Commission may conclude agreements for these laissez- passer to be recognised as valid travel documents within the territory of third countries. 2\. The provisions of Article 6 of the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the European Coal and Steel Community shall, however, remain applicable to members and servants of the institutions who are at the date of entry into force of this Treaty in possession of the laissez-passer provided for in that Article, until the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article are applied. CHAPTER III MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Article 8 No administrative or other restriction shall be imposed on the free movement of Members of the European Parliament travelling to or from the place of meeting of the European Parliament. Members of the European Parliament shall, in respect of customs and exchange control, be accorded: (a) | by their own government, the same facilities as those accorded to senior officials travelling abroad on temporary official missions; ---|--- (b) | by the government of other Member States, the same facilities as those accorded to representatives of foreign governments on temporary official missions. ---|--- Article 9 Members of the European Parliament shall not be subject to any form of inquiry, detention or legal proceedings in respect of opinions expressed or votes cast by them in the performance of their duties. Article 10 During the sessions of the European Parliament, its Members shall enjoy: (a) | in the territory of their own State, the immunities accorded to members of their parliament; ---|--- (b) | in the territory of any other Member State, immunity from any measure of detention and from legal proceedings. ---|--- Immunity shall likewise apply to Members while they are travelling to and from the place of meeting of the European Parliament. Immunity cannot be claimed when a Member is found in the act of committing an offence and shall not prevent the European Parliament from exercising its right to waive the immunity of one of its Members. CHAPTER IV REPRESENTATIVES OF MEMBER STATES TAKING PART IN THE WORK OF THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES Article 11 Representatives of Member States taking part in the work of the institutions of the Communities, their advisers and technical experts shall, in the performance of their duties and during their travel to and from the place of meeting, enjoy the customary privileges, immunities and facilities. This Article shall also apply to members of the advisory bodies of the Communities. CHAPTER V OFFICIALS AND OTHER SERVANTS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES Article 12 In the territory of each Member State and whatever their nationality, officials and other servants of the Communities shall: (a) | subject to the provisions of the Treaties relating, on the one hand, to the rules on the liability of officials and other servants towards the Communities and, on the other hand, to the jurisdiction of the Court in disputes between the Communities and their officials and other servants, be immune from legal proceedings in respect of acts performed by them in their official capacity, including their words spoken or written. They shall continue to enjoy this immunity after they have ceased to hold office; ---|--- (b) | together with their spouses and dependent members of their families, not be subject to immigration restrictions or to formalities for registration of aliens; ---|--- (c) | in respect of currency or exchange regulations, be accorded the same facilities as are customarily accorded to officials of international organisations; ---|--- (d) | enjoy the right to import free of duty their furniture and effects at the time of first taking up their post in the country concerned, and the right to re-export free of duty their furniture and effects, on termination of their duties in that country, subject in either case to the conditions considered to be necessary by the government of the country in which this right is exercised; ---|--- (e) | have the right to import free of duty a motor car for their personal use, acquired either in the country of their last residence or in the country of which they are nationals on the terms ruling in the home market in that country, and to re-export it free of duty, subject in either case to the conditions considered to be necessary by the government of the country concerned. ---|--- Article 13 Officials and other servants of the Communities shall be liable to a tax for the benefit of the Communities on salaries, wages and emoluments paid to them by the Communities, in accordance with the conditions and procedure laid down by the Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission. They shall be exempt from national taxes on salaries, wages and emoluments paid by the Communities. Article 14 In the application of income tax, wealth tax and death duties and in the application of conventions on the avoidance of double taxation concluded between Member States of the Communities, officials and other servants of the Communities who, solely by reason of the performance of their duties in the service of the Communities, establish their residence in the territory of a Member State other than their country of domicile for tax purposes at the time of entering the service of the Communities, shall be considered, both in the country of their actual residence and in the country of domicile for tax purposes, as having maintained their domicile in the latter country provided that it is a member of the Communities. This provision shall also apply to a spouse, to the extent that the latter is not separately engaged in a gainful occupation, and to children dependent on and in the care of the persons referred to in this Article. Movable property belonging to persons referred to in the preceding paragraph and situated in the territory of the country where they are staying shall be exempt from death duties in that country; such property shall, for the assessment of such duty, be considered as being in the country of domicile for tax purposes, subject to the rights of third countries and to the possible application of provisions of international conventions on double taxation. Any domicile acquired solely by reason of the performance of duties in the service of other international organisations shall not be taken into consideration in applying the provisions of this Article. Article 15 The Council shall, acting unanimously on a proposal from the Commission, lay down the scheme of social security benefits for officials and other servants of the Communities. Article 16 The Council shall, acting on a proposal from the Commission and after consulting the other institutions concerned, determine the categories of officials and other servants of the Communities to whom the provisions of Article 12, the second paragraph of Article 13 and Article 14 shall apply, in whole or in part. The names, grades and addresses of officials and other servants included in such categories shall be communicated periodically to the governments of the Member States. CHAPTER VI PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES OF MISSIONS OF THIRD COUNTRIES ACCREDITED TO THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES Article 17 The Member State in whose territory the Communities have their seat shall accord the customary diplomatic immunities and privileges to missions of third countries accredited to the Communities. CHAPTER VII GENERAL PROVISIONS Article 18 Privileges, immunities and facilities shall be accorded to officials and other servants of the Communities solely in the interests of the Communities. Each institution of the Communities shall be required to waive the immunity accorded to an official or other servant wherever that institution considers that the waiver of such immunity is not contrary to the interests of the Communities. Article 19 The institutions of the Communities shall, for the purpose of applying this Protocol, cooperate with the responsible authorities of the Member States concerned. Article 20 Articles 12 to 15 and Article 18 shall apply to Members of the Commission. Article 21 Articles 12 to 15 and Article 18 shall apply to the Judges, the Advocates- General, the Registrar and the Assistant Rapporteurs of the Court of Justice and to the Members and Registrar of the Court of First Instance, without prejudice to the provisions of Article 3 of the Protocol on the Statute of the Court of Justice relating to immunity from legal proceedings of Judges and Advocates-General. Article 22 This Protocol shall also apply to the European Investment Bank, to the members of its organs, to its staff and to the representatives of the Member States taking part in its activities, without prejudice to the provisions of the Protocol on the Statute of the Bank. The European Investment Bank shall in addition be exempt from any form of taxation or imposition of a like nature on the occasion of any increase in its capital and from the various formalities which may be connected therewith in the State where the Bank has its seat. Similarly, its dissolution or liquidation shall not give rise to any imposition. Finally, the activities of the Bank and of its organs carried on in accordance with its Statute shall not be subject to any turnover tax. Article 23 This Protocol shall also apply to the European Central Bank, to the members of its organs and to its staff, without prejudice to the provisions of the Protocol on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and the European Central Bank. The European Central Bank shall, in addition, be exempt from any form of taxation or imposition of a like nature on the occasion of any increase in its capital and from the various formalities which may be connected therewith in the State where the bank has its seat. The activities of the Bank and of its organs carried on in accordance with the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank shall not be subject to any turnover tax. The above provisions shall also apply to the European Monetary Institute. Its dissolution or liquidation shall not give rise to any imposition. Appendix to the Annex Procedure for application in Switzerland of the Protocol on Privileges and Immunities 1\. Extension of application to Switzerland References in the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the European Communities (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Protocol’) to ‘Member States’ shall be understood to apply equally to Switzerland, unless the following provisions determine otherwise. 2\. Exemption of the Agency from indirect taxation (including VAT) Goods and services exported from Switzerland shall not be subject to Swiss value added tax (VAT). In the case of goods and services provided to the Agency in Switzerland for its official use, in accordance with the second paragraph of Article 3 of the Protocol, exemption from VAT shall be granted by way of refund. Exemption from VAT shall be granted if the actual purchase price of the goods and services mentioned in the invoice or equivalent document totals at least 100 Swiss francs (inclusive of tax). The VAT refund shall be granted on presentation to the Federal Tax Administration’s VAT Main Division of the Swiss forms provided for the purpose. As a rule, refund applications shall be processed within the three months following the date on which they were lodged together with the necessary supporting documents. 3\. Procedure for the application of the rules relating to the Agency’s staff As regards the second paragraph of Article 13 of the Protocol, Switzerland shall exempt, according to the principles of its national law, officials and other servants of the Agency within the meaning of Article 2 of Regulation (Euratom, ECSC, EEC) No 549/69 of the Council of 25 March 1969 (OJ L 74, 27.3.1969, p. 1) from federal, cantonal and communal taxes on salaries, wages and emoluments paid to them by the Community and subject to an internal tax for its own benefit. Switzerland shall not be considered as a Member State within the meaning of point 1 above for the purposes of application of Article 14 of the Protocol. Officials and other servants of the Agency and members of their families who are members of the social insurance system applicable to officials and other servants of the Community shall not be under any obligation to be members of the Swiss social security system. The Court of Justice of the European Communities shall have exclusive jurisdiction in any matters concerning relations between the Agency or the Commission and its staff with regard to application of Regulation (EEC, Euratom, ECSC) No 259/68 of the Council of 29 February 1968 (OJ L 56, 4.3.1968, p. 1) and the other provisions of Community law laying down working conditions. JOINT DECLARATION BY THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SWISS CONFEDERATION AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PRINCIPALITY OF LIECHTENSTEIN CONCERNING THE ARRANGEMENT ON THE MODALITIES OF THE PARTICIPATION BY THE SWISS CONFEDERATION AND THE PRINCIPALITY OF LIECHTENSTEIN IN THE EUROPEAN AGENCY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF OPERATIONAL COOPERATION AT THE EXTERNAL BORDERS OF THE MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION The European Community, the Government of the Swiss Confederation and the Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein, Having concluded the Arrangement on the modalities of the participation by the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein in the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union in accordance with Article 21(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2007/2004, Hereby jointly declare that: The voting rights provided for in the Arrangement are justified by the special relations with Switzerland and Liechtenstein flowing from the association of these States with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis. Those voting rights are of an exceptional nature attributable to the specific nature of the Schengen cooperation and the special position of Switzerland and Liechtenstein. They may therefore not be regarded as a legal or political precedent for any other field of cooperation between the parties to the Arrangement or for the participation of other third countries in other agencies of the Union. In no circumstances may these voting rights be exercised in respect of decisions of a regulatory or legislative nature. JOINT DECLARATION BY THE CONTRACTING PARTIES ON THE APPLICATION OF THE PROVISIONS ON THE CIVIL LIABILITY In case where a rapid border intervention team is deployed within the framework of the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union, Article 10(4) of Regulation (EC) No 863/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 July 2007 establishing a mechanism for the creation of Rapid Border Intervention Teams and amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2007/2004 as regards that mechanism and regulating the tasks and powers of guest officers shall apply as regards civil liability. * * *