TITLE IV - ASSOCIATION OF THE OVERSEAS COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES
ARTICLE III-286
1. The non-European countries and territories which have special relations with
Denmark, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom shall be associated
with the Union. These countries and territories, hereinafter called the "countries
and territories", are listed in Annex II.
This title shall apply to Greenland, subject to the specific provisions of the Protocol on special arrangements for Greenland.
2. The purpose of association shall be to promote the economic and social development
of the countries and territories and to establish close economic relations between
them and the Union.
Association shall serve primarily to further the interests and prosperity of the inhabitants of these countries and territories in order to lead them to the economic, social and cultural development to which they aspire.
ARTICLE III-287
Association shall have the following objectives:
(a) Member States shall apply to their trade with the countries and territories the same treatment as they accord each other pursuant to the Constitution;
(b) each country or territory shall apply to its trade with Member States and with the other countries and territories the same treatment as that which it applies to the European State with which it has special relations;
(c) Member States shall contribute to the investments required for the progressive
development of these countries and territories;
(d) for investments financed by the Union, participation in tenders and supplies
shall be open on equal terms to all natural and legal persons who are nationals
of a Member State or of one of the countries and territories;
(e) in relations between Member States and the countries and territories, the
right of establishment of nationals and companies or firms shall be regulated
in accordance with the provisions of Subsection 2 of Section 2 of Chapter I
of Title III relating to the freedom of establishment and under the procedures
laid down in that Subsection, and on a non-discriminatory basis, subject to
any acts adopted pursuant to Article III-291.
ARTICLE III-288
1. Customs duties on imports into the Member States of goods originating in
the countries and territories shall be prohibited in conformity with the prohibition
of customs duties between Member States provided for in the Constitution.
2. Customs duties on imports into each country or territory from Member States
or from the other countries or territories shall be prohibited in accordance
with Article III-151(4).
3. The countries and territories may, however, levy customs duties which meet
the needs of their development and industrialisation or produce revenue for
their budgets.
The duties referred to in the first subparagraph shall not exceed the level
of those imposed on imports of products from the Member State with which each
country or territory has special relations.
4. Paragraph 2 shall not apply to countries and territories which, by reason
of the particular international obligations by which they are bound, already
apply a non-discriminatory customs tariff.
5. The introduction of or any change in customs duties imposed on goods imported
into the countries and territories shall not, either in law or in fact, give
rise to any direct or indirect discrimination between imports from the various
Member States.
ARTICLE III-289
If the level of the duties applicable to goods from a third country on entry into a country or territory is liable, when Article III-288(1) has been applied, to cause deflections of trade to the detriment of any Member State, the latter may request the Commission to propose to the other Member States that they take the necessary measures to remedy the situation.
ARTICLE III-290
Subject to the provisions relating to public health, public security or public
policy, freedom of movement within Member States for workers from the countries
and territories, and within the countries and territories for workers from Member
States, shall be regulated by acts adopted in accordance with Article III-291.
ARTICLE III-291
The Council, on a proposal from the Commission, shall adopt unanimously, on the basis of the experience acquired under the association of the countries and territories with the Union, European laws, framework laws, regulations and decisions as regards the detailed rules and the procedure for the association of the countries and territories with the Union. These laws and framework laws shall be adopted after consultation of the European Parliament.