The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food of the Republic of Slovenia and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Hellenic Republic (hereinafter referred to as the Contracting Parties),
Desiring to develop and to promote the cooperation in the field of agriculture,
Considering that the Hellenic Republic, being a member state of the European Union, is obliged to observe and to act in conformity with the European Union’s legislation,
Have agreed on the following:
Article 1
Cooperation in the field of agriculture will include, indicatively, the following sectors:
– crop production, including fruit and vegetable production,
– livestock production,
– feedstuff production,
– post-harvest treatment and food processing industry (marketing),
– agricultural research,
– extension and training services,
– storage of agricultural products,
– bio-technology,
– plant phyto sanitary control,
– veterinary services,
– agricultural land management and cartography,
– mechanisation of agriculture,
– land reclamation,
– fisheries and aquaculture,
– forestry.
Article 2
Cooperation in the field of agriculture shall be implemented through:
a. Exchange of technical information and documentation;
b. Exchange of genetic and biological material;
c. Exchange of information on developments in scientific research;
d. Exchange of visits of experts and consultants;
e. Organisation of training programs, seminars, conferences, and meetings in either of the two countries,
f. Trilateral cooperation (with other countries, the European Union, and/or international organisations) to facilitate the economic reform and to develop and to implement regional projects, aiming at the improvement of the production and marketing systems;
g. Encouragement of joint ventures between the cooperative and private sectors of both countries, including ventures in the field of input production, marketing, and external trade;
h. Exchange of data on the state of health of livestock, on the movements of infectious animal diseases, and on the import-export conditions in the field of veterinary medicine.
Article 3
The Contracting Parties have agreed on the establishment of a Joint Slovene-Hellenic Committee for Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture. This Committee will be composed of an equal number of representatives of the Ministries of Agriculture and, if applicable, by delegates of cooperative and private agencies from both countries.
The Joint Committee for Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture shall meet periodically and alternately in Ljubljana and in Athens at dates that will be arranged each time through the diplomatic channels.
Article 4
The Joint Committee will be responsible for:
– facilitating the implementation of the present Agreement;
– reviewing the developments taking place in the interim of two of its sessions,
– examining and approving proposals for cooperation in the specific areas of the sectors of cooperation stated in Article 1;
– setting guidelines and priorities for the development to be attained until the next session.
If deemed necessary, the Joint Committee for Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture may establish Sub-Committees for a more effective implementation of its duties.
Article 5
Any dispute concerning the interpretation or the implementation of the present Agreement shall be settled through negotiations between the Parties.
Article 6
All expenses arising from the exchange of visits of delegations and of experts and consultants will be borne by the sending (home) side. The receiving (host) side has to be informed about the visits one month prior to the arrival.
The Contracting Parties shall explore the possibilities to ensure the availability of financial resources from the European Union and/or international organisations and funding agencies.
The financial funding undertaken by the Contracting Parties will be subject to the availability of the financial resources of both sides.
Article 7
The present Agreement shall enter into force on the date of the latest written notification by which Contracting Party informs the other about the completion of its relevant internal procedures.
It shall remain in force for a period of five years and will be automatically extended for an additional five-year period.
Either Party may terminate it during the initial or the additional period upon a six-month prior written notice.
Notwithstanding the termination of the Agreement, the activities already in progress shall continue until concluded.
Article 8
The present Agreement may be amended by written consent of the Parties. Such amendments shall enter into force according to the procedure described in Article 7.
Article 9
Both Parties shall respect the obligations arising from the membership of the Hellenic Republic to the EU and from the process of approximation of the Republic of Slovenia to the EU.
Done in Ljubljana on 30 November 2001 in two originals, in the Slovene, Greek and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of any divergence in the interpretation, the English text shall prevail.
For the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food of the Republic of Slovenia
Franc But (s)
For the Ministry of Agriculture of the Hellenic Republic
Georgios G. Drys (s)