Uredba o ratifikaciji Sporazuma med Vlado Republike Slovenije in Organizacijo za gospodarsko sodelovanje in razvoj o sodelovanju Republike Slovenije v Odboru za jeklo

OECD
    ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT
    The Secretary-General
    AG/2006.240.amf
    Paris, 29 January 2007
    Dear Minister,
    By virtue of the mandate conferred upon me by the Council of the Organisation, I have the honour to invite Slovenia to take part in the work of the Steel Committee in accordance with the conditions below.
    The Steel Committee functions on the basis of the applicable provisions of the Convention on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and of the Decision of the Council Establishing a Steel Committee [C(78)171(Final)], as amended. Slovenia is invited to participate in the Steel Committee on an equal footing with the Member countries of the OECD by:
    i) agreeing to co-operate in the activities of the Steel Committee in fulfilment of its mandate and in particular to keep the other participants informed and provide the Committee with the information it needs to carry out its tasks, and to contribute in an appropriate manner to the funding of the Committee's activities, and
    ii) accepting the multilateral guidelines set out in paragraph 6 of the Annex to the Decision of the Council C(78)171(Final).
    Mr. Andrej Vizjak
    Minister of the Economy
    Kotnikova 5
    1000 Ljubljana
    Republic of Slovenia
    cc:
    His Excellency
    Mr. Janez Sumrada
    Ambassador of Slovenia to France
    Ms. Barbara Žele
    Ministry of the Economy
    Trade Policy Department
    Kotnikova 5, 1000-SI
    Republic of Slovenia
    The amount of Slovenia's contribution to the expenses of the Committee will be calculated in accordance with the rules of the Organisation pursuant to the Resolution of the Council on Fees for Regular Observer Countries and Non-Member Full Participants in OECD Subsidiary Bodies [C(96)223/REV2], as amended.
    If your government agrees with the above, I propose that the text of this letter, together with that of your reply, will constitute an Agreement between the Organisation and the government of Slovenia which will enter into effect on the date on which the Slovenian government informs the Organisation that it has completed the constitutional formalities required for its entry into force. Either party can terminate this Agreement by giving twelve months' notice in writing.
    We look forward to welcoming the Republic of Slovenia to the work of the OECD's Steel Committee.
    Yours sincerely,

The Republic of Slovenia
    Andrej Vizjak, M.Sc.
    Minister of the Economy
    Number: 511-6/2007/11
    Ljubljana, 31 May 2007
    Dear Mr. A. Gurría,
    Thank you for your letter of 29th January inviting Slovenia to participate in the Steel Committee on an equal footing with the Member countries of the OECD. On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia I am expressing our gratitude for being invited to participate as a full member in the OECD Steel Committee.
    Slovenia believes that with the participation in the Steel Committee its steel industry will benefit in respect of its policy orientations. With the well developed steel industry which has a significant national and regional impact Slovenia will endeavour to give an important contribution to the work of the OECD Steel Committee.
    I have the honour, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, to inform you that Slovenia fully agrees with the text of your letter AG/2006.240.amf of 29th January. As soon as all the constitutional formalities required for entry into force of an Agreement between the OECD and the Government of the Republic of Slovenia will be completed, we will notify you.
    It is my firm belief that our cooperation will develop successfully in the future.
    Yours sincerely,

Mr. A. Gurría
    OECD Secretary-General
    2, rue André-Pascal
    F-75775 Paris Cedex 16
    France
    PRILOGA
    ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC
    CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT
    GENERAL DISTRIBUTION
    Paris, 6th November, 1978
    C(78)171(Final)

COUNCIL

DECISION OF THE COUNCIL ESTABLISHING A STEEL COMMITTEE

(Adopted by the Council at its 475th Meeting on 26th October, 1978)

The Council,
    Having regard to the Convention on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development of 14th December, 1960 (hereinafter referred to as the “Convention”) and, in particular, Articles 5(a), 6, 12, 13 and 20 thereof;
    Having regard to the Rules of Procedure of the Organisation;
    Having regard to the Financial Regulations of the Organisation and, in particular, Articles 5 and 14(b) thereof;
    Having regard to the Communiqué approved by the Council meeting at Ministerial Level on 15th June, 1978 and, in particular, Annex II thereof [C(78)96(Final)];
    Considering that the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Steel Industry has reached the conclusion that a Steel Committee should be established within the framework of the Organisation under Part II of the Budget and that a number of Member countries as well as the European Communities have expressed their intention to participate therein;
    Noting that the Member countries participating in the proposed Committee and the European Communities agree as initial commitment to the multilateral guidelines set out in Paragraph 6 of the Annex hereto;
    DECIDES:

ARTICLE 1

In order to seek solutions to the problems experienced by the Steel Industry and achieve the objectives set out in the Annex, a Steel Committee (hereinafter referred to as the “Committee”) is established within the framework of OECD and shall have the functions and the initial work programme set out in the Annex.

ARTICLE 2

(a) Participants in the Committee shall be:
    (i) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Communities,
    (ii) Any other Member country of the Organisation which decides to participate in the Committee at a later stage, and
    (iii) Any non-Member country which becomes a participant in the Committee in conformity with the provisions of paragraph (b).
    (b) The Committee shall, if the OECD Member countries participating therein so decide, propose to the Council that a non-Member country with substantial steel interests should be invited to become a participant in the Committee. In making such a proposal the Committee must be satisfied that the non-Member country has agreed and is able to undertake the same commitments, as appropriate, with regard to the Committee's work as the OECD Member countries which participate therein and that its participation in the Committee would contribute to achieving the objectives of the Committee. Such proposal shall specify the relevant provisions in respect of the non-Member country's participation in the Committee's work.

ARTICLE 3

Expenditure required for the functioning of the Committee shall be defrayed from the appropriations authorised for that purpose under Part II of the Budget of the Organisation. The Committee shall prepare each year a Programme of Work and this with the corresponding budgetary proposals shall be submitted by the Secretary-General to the Council.

ARTICLE 4

The Committee may make proposals to the Council on any matter within its terms of reference and, at the request of the Council or on its own initiative, the Committee may submit other communications to the Council. The Committee shall also make an annual report to the Council on its activities.

ARTICLE 5

(a) The provisions of the Rules of Procedure of the Organisation shall apply to the Committee to the extent that this Decision does not derogate therefrom.
    (b) The Committee may make recommendations to participants within the scope of its terms of reference.
    (c) The Annex to the Rules of Procedure is amended by the insertion of a new paragraph as follows:

“26. Steel Committee. Its terms of reference are defined in the Decision of the Council establishing a Steel Committee [C(78)171(Final)]”.

ARTICLE 6

This Decision and the Annex shall take effect on 26th October, 1978.
    C(78)171(Final)

ANNEX

PROBLEMS
    1. The world's steel industry is experiencing serious difficulties of both a cyclical and structural nature. These difficulties are widespread and are characterised by:
    – persistent excess capacity;
    – an exceptionally low level of demand;
    – unjustifiably low prices on world markets;
    – marked changes in traditional trade patterns;
    – major dislocations of labour, frequently in areas already experiencing high unemployment;
    – depressed financial performance among producers, which holds down investments needed for modernisation and rationalisation of plants;
    – increasing governmental intervention in steel supply and demand, especially with foreign trade.
    2. In virtually all major steel-producing nations, steel occupies a central place in the national economy. In a number of major areas, the magnitude of structural problems confronting the steel sector and resultant social and economic implications of the necessary structural adjustments are substantial.
    3. The interrelationship of developments in the steel sectors from country to country and the potential that unilateral actions and policies can aggravate the problems of others have become clear. The convergence of cyclical problems among many nations serves to intensify the problems faced by each. There is general recognition that there may well be recurring cyclical difficulties.
    OBJECTIVES
    4. In view of these difficulties, governments need to work closely together in order to:
    – ensure that trade in steel will remain as unrestricted and free of distortion as possible. Restrictive actions should be avoided and, where necessary, strictly limited in scope and time, and in conformity with GATT rules(1);
    – encourage reduction of barriers to trade;
    – enable governments to act promptly to cope with crisis situations in close consultation with interested trading partners and in conformity with agreed principles;
    – facilitate needed structural adaptations that will diminish pressures for trade actions and promote rational allocation of productive resources with the aim of achieving fully competitive enterprises;
    – ensure that measures affecting the steel industry are consistent to the extent possible with general economic policies and take into account implications for related industries, including steel-consuming industries;
    – avoid encouraging economically unjustified investments while recognising legitimate development needs;
    – facilitate multilateral co-operation consistent with the need to maintain competition, to anticipate and, to the extent possible, prevent problems.
    COMMITTEE FUNCTIONS
    5. The Steel Committee will meet regularly and additionally as required to:
    (1) continuously follow national, regional and world supply and demand conditions in steel and closely related industries, including steel-consuming industries, with a view to identifying potential problems and implications and making assessments and forecasts available to all interested parties;
    (2) continuously follow the evolution of national, regional and world steel industries with regard to employment, profits, investments, capacity, input costs, productivity, and other aspects of viability and competitiveness;
    (3) develop common perspectives regarding emerging problems or concerns in the steel sector and establish, where appropriate, multilateral objectives or guidelines for government policies;
    (4) regularly review and assess government policies and actions in the steel sector in the light of the current situation, agreed multilateral objectives and guidelines and the GATT and other relevant international agreements;
    (5) identify deficiencies and gaps in existing data needed by the Committee with a view to improving national inputs to the Committee and cross-national comparability of data.
    INITIAL COMMITMENTS
    6. Participants in the Steel Committee agree to the following multilateral guidelines:
    A. With respect to steel crisis trade actions:
    1. No actions should be inconsistent with GATT provisions.
    2. When actions are necessary they should be as limited and temporary as practicable and appropriate to the causes which led to their introduction.
    3. All actions(2) taken by participants should be reported promptly to the Steel Committee and, in conformity with GATT rules, to the GATT. The status and rationale for maintaining such actions should be reported periodically to the Steel Committee. Participants agree to consult on any trade action of interest to another participant.
    4. When taking action under domestic law and procedures to deal with serious difficulties of its industry, a participant shall take into account the concerns of trading partners that traditional trade flows established under normal conditions of competition not be severely disrupted.
    5. Price guidelines should be in conformity with the international Anti-Dumping Code and are appropriate only during crisis periods of substantial excess capacity in exporting countries, widespread price-cutting by many exporters over many products in the importing market or on world markets, and depressed domestic industry conditions such as low capacity utilisation, profits, sales, investments and employment. Such actions should be expeditiously removed or liberalised as conditions improve.
    6. Such price guidelines should neither exceed the lowest normal prices in the supplying country or countries where normal conditions of competition are prevailing, nor exceed the sums of the full costs of production (including overheads) and profit, as determined over a reasonable period of recent time, in the supplying country or countries; delivery costs to the importing market and import duties may be included in the event that price guidelines are established on a delivered basis.
    B. Participants in the Steel Committee recall their determination to abstain from destructive competition in official support of export credit; they agree that their policies in the field of export credits for steel plant and equipment will be fully consistent with the Arrangement on Guidelines for Officially Supported Export Credits and contribute to the avoidance of competitive subsidisation of such exports.
    C. Participants, recalling the general orientations for adjustment policies adopted as part of the Communiqué of the June 1978 Meeting of the Council at Ministerial Level, agree that domestic policies to sustain steel firms during crisis periods should not shift the burden of adjustment to other countries and thus increase the likelihood of restrictive trade actions by other countries (e.g. by artificially stimulating exports or by artificially displacing imports). Further, as a general rule, domestic measures should not prevent marginal facilities from closing in those instances where the facilities cannot become commercially viable within a reasonable period of time.
    D. Participants in the Steel Committee agree to make every effort to provide effective programmes for steel worker re-adaptation away from facilities affected by structural adjustments into alternative employment. To this end, they will periodically exchange information on the effectiveness of policies and programmes to assist steel workers and communities.
    E. Any action to restrict trade in steel-making materials should be reported promptly to the Steel Committee and be subject to consultation with affected parties.
    INITIAL WORK PROGRAMME
    7. With respect to the commitments agreed in this resolution the Steel Committee should promptly undertake an examination of government policies affecting the steel sector in the following areas:
    (1) evolution of trade flows and the impact on them of government measures;
    (2) guidelines for steel trade actions;
    (3) adaptation of production structure through modernisation, closures and reconversions;
    (4) re-adaptation of labour;
    (5) domestic policies to sustain steel production and stimulate steel demand in times of crisis;
    (6) domestic pricing and supply;
    (7) government export credits for steel plant and equipment.
    The Committee will continue the work initiated in the Ad Hoc Steel Group and may undertake examinations in other areas as deemed appropriate by the participants.
    Unclassified
    Organisation for Economic
     Co-operation and Development
    COUNCIL
    C(1996)223/REV2
    19-May-2006
    English – Or. English

COUNCIL

RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL

CONCERNING FEES FOR REGULAR OBSERVER COUNTRIES AND NON-MEMBER FULL PARTICIPANTS IN OECD SUBSIDIARY BODIES

Adopted by the Council at its 1135th Session on 11 May 2006 [C/M(2006)9]

JT03209208
    Complete document available on OLIS in its original format
    THE COUNCIL
    Having regard to the Resolution of the Council concerning the participation of non-Members in the work of the subsidiary bodies of the Organisation [C(2004)132/FINAL] in particular paragraphs 5 c) and 6 a) of its Annex II;
    Having regard to the Resolution of the Council C(96)223/FINAL, concerning fees for non-Member participation in subsidiary bodies of the Organisation;
    Noting the wish to revise the Resolution C(96)223/FINAL, in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in documents C(2004)185; C(2004)185/REV1; and C(2006)50;
    DECIDED that the following fees shall be applicable to non-Member participants:
    1. Regular observers
    i) an annual fee of 5,000 EUR shall be applicable to a non-Member participant for a committee reporting directly to Council (“main committee”), including its subordinate bodies covered by the invitation;
    ii) an annual fee of 1,700 EUR per subordinate body shall be applicable to a non-Member participant when the non-Member is not an observer in the parent main committee, up to a maximum of 5,000 EUR for more than three subordinate bodies of the same committee;
    iii) the significant marginal costs of the observer’s initial integration and of subsequent special activity related to the observer, to the extent those costs exceed its annual fees for the body concerned;
    iv) the fees will be subject to an automatic annual increase equal to the official French inflation rate of the previous calendar year. The resulting figures will be rounded to the nearest hundred;
    2. Full participants
    i) an annual percentage share, calculated on the basis used for Member state assessments, of the estimated costs of the subsidiary body concerned, including a 10 percent overhead charge, or a fee of 1.5 times the relevant observer fee, whichever is higher;
    ii) any significant marginal costs of the participant’s initial integration;
    3. Ceiling
    In no case shall the total fees of a non-Member participant exceed the minimum total budget contribution of a Member country;
    AGREED that these fees would be treated analogously to voluntary contributions as additions to the Organisation’s resource base for budget purposes and that the related cost to the Organisation of non-Member participation will be financed by them;
    INVITED the Secretary-General to propose modifications and waivers as appropriate.