1. This Order may be cited as the European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (Partnership and Co-operation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States and the Republic of Belarus) Order 1996. It shall come into force in respect of the treaty specified in the Schedule to this Order on the date on which the treaty enters into force for the United Kingdom. This date will be notified in the London, Edinburgh and Belfast Gazettes.

2. The treaty specified in the Schedule to this Order is to be regarded as a Community Treaty as defined in section 1(2) of the European Communities Act 1972.

SCHEDULE

The Partnership and Co-operation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States and the Republic of Belarus, signed at Brussels on 6th March 1995(2).

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

The Order declares the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States and the Republic of Belarus, signed on 6th March 1995, to be a Community Treaty as defined in section 1(2) of the European Communities Act 1972. The Agreement establishes a Partnership with the objectives of providing an appropriate framework for political dialogue, promoting trade, investment and economic relations, providing a basis for legislative, economic, social, financial, scientific, technical and cultural co-operation, and supporting the efforts of Belarus to consolidate its democracy, develop its economy and complete the transition into a market economy. The principal effect of declaring this Agreement to be a Community Treaty as so defined is to bring into play, in relation to it, the provisions of section 2 of the European Communities Act 1972 which provides for the implementation of treaties so specified.