1.  This Order may be cited as the European Union (Definition of Treaties) (Partnership and Cooperation Agreement) (Vietnam) Order 2014.

2.  It comes into force on the date on which the treaty specified in article 3 enters into force for the United Kingdom(2).

3.  The Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, of the other part, signed by the United Kingdom and the European Union at Brussels on 27th June 2012(3), is to be regarded as an EU Treaty as defined in section 1(2) of the European Communities Act 1972(4).

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order declares the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, on the one hand, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on the other (the Agreement), to be an EU Treaty as defined in section 1(2) of the European Communities Act 1972.

This Agreement provides a legal framework for relations between the European Union, its Member States and Vietnam. The Agreement will enhance cooperation across a broad range of areas, including political dialogue, trade, energy, transport, human rights, education and training, science and technology, justice and migration. The Agreement also includes articles on countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, combating illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and terrorism.

The principal effect of declaring the Agreement to be an EU Treaty as so defined is that the provisions of section 2 of the European Communities Act 1972 (which provide for implementation of treaties specified in orders made under section 1(3) of that Act) apply to it.

A Regulatory Impact Assessment has not been carried out for this Order as there is a negligible impact on the costs to UK business, charities and voluntary bodies.