TRAC T A TENBLAD
80 (2005) Nr. 1
TRAC T A TENBLAD
VAN HET
K O N I N K R I J K D E R N E D E R L A N D E N
JAARGANG 2005 Nr. 275
A. TITEL
Verdrag tussen het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden en de Republiek Turkije inzake wederzijdse administratieve bijstand ten behoeve van de juiste toepassing van de douanewetgeving en de voorkoming, opsporing en bestrijding van inbreuken op de douanewetgeving; Ankara, 18 augustus 2005
B. TEKST
Agreement between the Republic of Turkey and the Kingdom of the Netherlands on mutual administrative assistance for the proper application of customs law and for the prevention, investigation and combating of customs offences
The Republic of Turkey
and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, hereafter referred to as the Con- tracting Parties,
Considering the importance of accurate assessment of customs duties and other taxes collected at importation or exportation and of ensuring proper enforcement of measures of prohibition, restriction and control;
Considering that offences against customs law are prejudicial to their economic, fiscal, social, cultural, public health and commercial interests;
Considering that cross-frontier trafficking in narcotic drugs and psy- chotropic substances, hazardous goods, endangered species and toxic waste constitutes a danger to society;
Recognizing the need for international co-operation in matters related to the application and enforcement of their customs laws;
Convinced that action against customs offences can be made more effective by close co-operation between their customs administrations based on clear legal provisions;
Having regard to the relevant instruments of the Customs Co-operation Council, now known as the World Customs Organization, in particular the Recommendation on mutual administrative assistance of 5 Decem- ber 1953;
Having regard also to international conventions containing prohibi- tions, restrictions and special measures of control in respect of specific goods;
have agreed as follows:
CHAPTER I
Definitions
Article 1 For the purpose of this Agreement,
1. the term ‘‘customs administration’’ shall mean:
for the Republic of Turkey: Prime Ministry, Undersecretariat of Cus- toms;
for the Kingdom of the Netherlands: the central administration re- sponsible for the implementation of customs law;
2. the term ‘‘customs law’’ shall mean: any legal and administrative provisions applicable or enforceable by the customs administrations in connection with the importation, exportation, transshipment, transit, stor- age and circulation of goods, including legal and administrative provi- sions relating to measures of prohibition, restriction and control;
3. the term ‘‘customs offence’’ shall mean: any breach of customs law as defined by the legislation of each Contracting Party as well as any such attempted breach;
4. the term ‘‘customs claim’’ shall mean: any amount of duties and taxes to which this Agreement applies and of increases, surcharges, over- due payments, interests and costs pertaining to the said duties and taxes that cannot be collected in one of the Contracting Parties;
5. the term ‘‘person’’ shall mean: any natural or legal person, as well as any other legal entity;
6. the term ‘‘personal data’’ shall mean: any data concerning an iden- tified or identifiable natural person;
7. the term ‘‘information’’ shall mean: any data, documents, reports, certified or authenticated copies thereof or other communications in any format, including electronic;
8. the term ‘‘requesting administration’’ shall mean: the customs administration which requests assistance;
9. the term ‘‘requested administration’’ shall mean: the customs ad- ministration from which assistance is requested.
CHAPTER II
Scope of the Agreement
Article 2
1. The Contracting Parties shall through their customs administra- tions afford each other administrative assistance under the terms set out in this Agreement, for the proper application of customs law and for the prevention, investigation and combating of customs offences, as well as for the recovery of customs claims.
2. All assistance under this Agreement by either Contracting Party shall be performed in accordance with its legal and administrative pro- visions and within the limits of its customs administration’s competence and available resources.
3. This Agreement is without prejudice to the obligations of xxx Xxxx- dom of the Netherlands under the legislation of the European Union con- cerning its present and future obligations as a Member State of the Euro- pean Union and any legislation enacted to implement those obligations, as well as its present and future obligations resulting from international agreements between the Member States of the European Union.
4. This Agreement is intended solely for the mutual administrative assistance between the Contracting Parties; the provisions of this Agree- ment shall not give rise to a right on the part of any third party to obtain, suppress or exclude any evidence or to impede the execution of a request.
5. This Agreement is without prejudice to rules governing mutual assistance in criminal matters. If mutual assistance should be afforded in accordance with another agreement in force between the Contracting Parties, the requested administration shall indicate which relevant auth- orities are concerned.
CHAPTER III
Scope of Assistance
Article 3
1. The customs administrations shall provide each other, either on request or on their own initiative, with information which helps to ensure proper application of the customs law and the prevention, inves- tigation and combating of customs offences, as well as the recovery of customs claims.
2. Either customs administration shall, in making inquiries on behalf of the other customs administration, act as if the inquiries were being made on its own account or at the request of another authority of its own state.
Article 4
1. On request, the requested administration shall provide all informa- tion about the customs law and procedures applicable in that Contract- ing Party and relevant to inquiries relating to a customs offence.
2. Either customs administration shall communicate, on its own in- itiative and without delay, any available information relating to:
a) new customs law enforcement techniques having proved their effectiveness;
b) new trends, means or methods of committing customs offences.
CHAPTER IV
Special Instances of Assistance
Article 5
On request, the requested administration shall in particular provide the requesting administration with the following information:
a) whether goods which are imported into the customs territory of the requesting Contracting Party have been lawfully exported from the customs territory of the requested Contracting Party;
b) whether goods which are exported from the customs territory of the requesting Contracting Party have been lawfully imported into the customs territory of the requested Contracting Party and about the cus- toms procedure, if any, under which the goods have been placed.
Article 6
1. On request, the requested administration shall maintain special sur- veillance over:
a) persons known to the requesting administration to have commit- ted a customs offence or suspected of doing so, particularly those mov- ing into and out of the customs territory of the requested Contracting Party;
b) goods either in transport or in storage notified by the requesting administration as giving rise to suspected illicit traffic towards the cus- toms territory of the requesting Contracting Party;
c) means of transport suspected by the requesting administration of being used to commit customs offences in the customs territory of the requesting Contracting Party.
2. The customs administrations may permit, according to their na- tional legislation, by mutual agreement and arrangement, under their control, the importation into, exportation from or transit via the customs
territory of their respective states of goods involved in illicit traffic in order to suppress such illicit traffic. When such permission is not within the competence of the customs administration, it shall endeavour to in- itiate co-operation with national authorities with such competence or shall transfer the case to such an authority.
Article 7
1. The customs administrations shall provide each other, either on request or on their own initiative, with information on transactions, com- pleted or planned, which constitute or appear to constitute a customs offence.
2. In serious cases that could involve substantial damage to the economy, public health, public security or any other vital interest of one Contracting Party, the customs administration of the other Contracting Party shall, wherever possible, supply information without delay on its own initiative.
Article 8
1. As soon as the necessary national legal and administrative provi- sions of both Contracting Parties will have entered into force, their cus- toms administrations shall assist each other in the recovery of customs claims in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article.
2. The customs administrations shall by common agreement prescribe rules concerning the application of this Article in accordance with para- graph 2 of Article 18 of this Agreement. Those rules may include terms and conditions under which the application by the requested customs administration of its national legal and administrative provisions as meant in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be at the discretion of that administration.
CHAPTER V
Information
Article 9
1. Original information shall only be requested in cases where certi- fied or authenticated copies would be insufficient, and shall be returned as soon as possible; rights of the requested administration or of third par- ties relating thereto shall remain unaffected.
2. Any information to be exchanged under this Agreement shall be accompanied by all relevant information for interpreting or utilizing it.
CHAPTER VI
Experts and Witnesses
Article 10
On request, the requested administration may authorize its officials to appear before a court or tribunal in the other Contracting Party as experts or witnesses in the matter of a customs offence.
CHAPTER VII
Communication of Requests
Article 11
1. Requests for assistance under this Agreement shall be addressed directly to the customs administration of the other Contracting Party, shall be made in writing and shall be accompanied by any documents deemed useful. When the circumstances so require, requests may also be made verbally. Such requests shall be promptly confirmed in writing.
2. Requests made pursuant to paragraph 1 of this Article, shall in- clude the following details:
a) the administration making the request;
b) the subject of and reason for the request;
c) a brief description of the matter, the legal elements and the nature of the proceeding;
d) the names and addresses of the parties concerned with the pro- ceeding, if known.
3. A request by either customs administration that a certain procedure be followed shall be complied with, subject to the legal and administra- tive provisions of the requested Contracting Party.
4. The information referred to in this Agreement shall be communi- cated only to officials who are designated for this purpose by each cus- toms administration. A list of officials so designated shall be furnished to the customs administration of the other Contracting Party in accord- ance with paragraph 2 of Article 18 of this Agreement.
CHAPTER VIII
Execution of Requests
Article 12
If the requested administration does not have the information re- quested, it shall initiate inquiries to obtain that information. These inquiries shall include the taking of statements from persons from whom information is sought in connection with a customs offence and from witnesses and experts.
Article 13
1. On written request, officials designated by the requesting adminis- tration may, with the authorization of the requested administration and subject to conditions the latter may impose, for the purpose of investi- gating a customs offence:
a) consult in the offices of the requested administration the docu- ments, registers and other relevant data to extract any information in respect of that customs offence;
b) take copies of the documents, registers and other data relevant in respect of that customs offence;
c) be present during an inquiry conducted by the requested adminis- tration in the customs territory of the requested Contracting Party and relevant to the requesting administration.
2. Officials of the requesting administration present in the territory of the requested Contracting Party pursuant to paragraph 1 of this Article shall act in an advisory capacity only and shall under no circumstances take part in any investigation or meet with people being questioned.
3. When officials of the requesting administration are present in the territory of the requested Contracting Party in the circumstances provid- ed for in Article 10 or in paragraph 1 of this Article, they must at all times be able to furnish proof of their official capacity.
4. They shall, while there, enjoy the same protection as that accorded to customs officials of the other Contracting Party, in accordance with the laws in force there, and be responsible for any offence they might commit.
CHAPTER IX
Confidentiality of Information
Article 14
1. Any information received under this Agreement shall be used solely for the purpose of this Agreement –including in judicial proceed- ings– and by the customs administrations, except in cases in which the customs administration which furnished such information expressly ap- proves its use for other purposes or by other authorities. Such use shall then be subject to any restrictions laid down by the customs administra- tion which furnished the information. Any such information may, if the national law of the furnishing Contracting Party so prescribes, only be used in criminal prosecutions after the public prosecution or judicial authorities in the furnishing Contracting Party have agreed to such use.
2. Any information received under this Agreement shall at least be subject to the same protection and confidentiality as the same kind of information is subject to under the national law of the Contracting Party where it is received.
Article 15
1. Personal data exchanged under this Agreement shall be subject to a level of protection equivalent to the level of protection maintained by the Contracting Party providing the data.
2. Contracting Parties shall provide each other with all legislation rel- evant to this Article, concerning personal data protection of their respec- tive states.
3. Personal data exchange shall not begin until the Contracting Par- ties have agreed in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 18 of this Agreement that the level of protection is equivalent in either Contract- ing Party.
CHAPTER X
Exemptions
Article 16
1. The requested administration shall not be required to give the assistance provided for by this Agreement if it is likely to jeopardize public order or any other essential interest of the requested Contracting Party or would involve the violation of an industrial, commercial or pro- fessional secret.
2. If the requesting administration would be unable to comply if a similar request were made by the requested administration, it shall draw attention to that fact in its request. Compliance with such a request shall be at the discretion of the requested administration.
3. Assistance may be postponed by the requested administration on the ground that it will interfere with an ongoing investigation, prosecu- tion or proceeding. In such a case the requested administration shall con- sult with the requesting administration to determine if assistance can be given subject to such terms or conditions as the requested administration may require.
4. Where assistance is denied or postponed, reasons for the denial or postponement shall be given.
CHAPTER XI
Costs
Article 17
1. The customs administrations shall waive all claims for reimburse- ment of costs incurred in the execution of this Agreement, except for expenses and allowances paid to experts and to witnesses as well as
costs of interpreters other than Government employees, which shall be borne by the requesting administration.
2. Pecuniary consequences of acts of recovery which have been found unjustified in respect of the reality of the customs claim concerned or of the validity of the instrument permitting enforcement in the requesting Contracting Party, shall be borne by the requesting adminis- tration.
3. If expenses of a substantial and extraordinary nature are or will be required to execute the request, the Contracting Parties shall consult to determine the terms and conditions under which the request will be executed as well as the manner in which the costs shall be borne.
CHAPTER XII
Implementation of the Agreement
Article 18
1. The customs administrations shall take measures so that their offi- cials responsible for the investigation or combating of customs offences maintain personal and direct relations with each other.
2. The customs administrations shall decide on further detailed arrange- ments, within the framework of this Agreement, to facilitate the imple- mentation of this Agreement.
3. The customs administrations shall endeavour to resolve by mutual accord any problem or doubt arising from the interpretation or applica- tion of this Agreement.
4. Conflicts for which no solutions are found, shall be settled through diplomatic channels.
CHAPTER XIII
Application
Article 19
1. As far as the Republic of Turkey is concerned, this Agreement shall apply to its territory.
2. As far as the Kingdom of the Netherlands is concerned, this Agree- ment shall apply to its territory in Europe. It may, however, be extended either in its entirety or with any necessary modifications to the Nether- lands Antilles or to Aruba.
3. Such extension shall take effect from such date and be subject to such modifications and conditions, including conditions as to termina- tion, as may be specified and agreed in notes to be exchanged through diplomatic channels.
CHAPTER XIV
Entry into Force and Termination
Article 20
This Agreement shall enter into force on the first day of the second month after the Contracting Parties have notified each other in writing through diplomatic channels that the constitutional or internal require- ments for the entry into force of this Agreement have been complied with.
Article 21
1. This Agreement is intended to be of unlimited duration but either Contracting Party may terminate it at any time by notification through diplomatic channels.
2. The termination shall take effect three months from the date of the notification of denunciation to the other Contracting Party. Ongoing pro- ceedings at the time of termination shall nonetheless be completed in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
3. Unless otherwise agreed the termination of this Agreement shall not also terminate its application to the Netherlands Antilles or to Aruba if it has been extended thereto in conformity with the provisions of para- graph 2 of Article 19.
Article 22
The Contracting Parties shall meet in order to review this Agreement on request or at the end of five years from the date of its entry into force, unless they notify one another in writing that no such review is necess- ary.
IN WITNESS whereof the undersigned, being duly authorized thereto, have signed this Agreement.
DONE at Ankara on the 18th day of August 2005, in duplicate in the English language.
For the Kingdom of the Netherlands,
Xxxxxx X. X. GOSSES Ambassador of the Netherlands
For the Republic of Turkey,
Xxxxx XXXXX
Acting Undersecretary of Customs
D. PARLEMENT
Het Verdrag behoeft ingevolge artikel 91 van de Grondwet de goed- keuring der Staten-Generaal, alvorens het Koninkrijk aan het Verdrag kan worden gebonden.
G. INWERKINGTREDING
De bepalingen van het Verdrag zullen ingevolge zijn artikel 20 in wer- king treden op de eerste dag van de tweede maand nadat de Verdrag- sluitende Partijen elkaar langs diplomatieke weg schriftelijk ervan in kennis hebben gesteld dat aan de grondwettelijke of wettelijke vereisten voor de inwerkingtreding van dit Verdrag is voldaan.
J. VERWIJZINGEN
Titel : Aanbeveling van de Internationale Douaneraad inzake wederzijdse administratieve bijstand;
Xxxxxxx, 0 december 1953
Tekst : Trb. 1985, 63 (Engels)
Uitgegeven de vierde oktober 2005.
De Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken,
B. R. BOT
TRB3936
ISSN 0920 - 2218
Sdu Uitgevers
’s-Gravenhage 2005