Entrada em vigor
O presente Acordo entrará em vigor trinta dias após a recepção da última notificação, por escrito e por via diplomática, de que foram cumpridos os requisitos de Direito interno das Partes necessários para o efeito.
Em fé do que, os abaixo assinados, com os devidos poderes para o efeito, apuseram as suas assinaturas no final do presente Acordo.
Assinado em Abu Dhabi, a de novembro de 2012, em dois originais, nas línguas portuguesa, árabe e inglesa, fazendo todos os textos igualmente fé. Em caso de divergência na interpretação do presente Acordo, prevalecerá a versão na língua inglesa.
Pela República Portuguesa:
Paulo Sacadura Cabral Portas, Ministro de Estado e dos Negócios Estrangeiros.
Pelos Emirados Árabes Unidos:
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ministro dos Negócios Estrangeiros.
(ver documento original)
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES ON ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION
The Portuguese Republic and the United Arab Emirates, hereinafter referred to as "Parties",
Conscious of the importance of economic co-operation for the development and diversification of the relations between both States;
With a view to strengthen the existing economic relations between the two countries on a basis of equity and reciprocity of advantages;
Taking into account the internal legislation and the international obligations of the two States,
Agreed as follows:
Article 1
Object
The Parties shall endeavour to develop and strengthen economic co-operation between the two countries aiming at intensifying and diversifying their bilateral relations.
Article 2
Areas of Co-operation
1. The co-operation between the Parties shall include, but not be limited to, the following areas:
a) Industry;
b) Infrastructure;
c) Information and Communication Technology (ICT);
d) Transport;
e) Environment;
f) Trade and Investment;
g) Tourism;
h) Energy;
i) Small and Medium size Enterprises.
2. The Parties may decide to co-operate in other areas that appear to be more advantageous taking into account the regular development of bilateral relations and the priorities of the economic policy of the two States.
Article 3
Co-operation Mechanisms
Without prejudice to other beneficial measures for the implementation of bilateral co-operation and with a view to reinforce the bilateral economic relationship, the Parties shall:
a) Encourage the participation in initiatives such as fairs, exhibitions, symposia and other meetings intended to promote and develop co-operation between the two countries and mainly between their economic agents and representative organisations;
b) Provide information to economic agents about the economic situation of the two countries, regulations and economic programs, concrete opportunities of co-operation and development of bilateral economic relations, and other economic information of mutual interest;
c) Encourage the exchange of the visits of commercial delegations;
d) Encourage relevant specialized entities and private sector to explore the possibilities of executing projects in areas of various economic co-operation.
Article 4
Co-operation between SME
The Parties, committed to promote and support co-operation between Small and Medium size Enterprises (SME) in all areas shall explore possible industrial investments and co-operation opportunities including SME and, furthermore, shall take effective steps to make such co-operation materialize between the two countries.
Article 5
Co-operation on energy
Specifically to enhance cooperation in the energy sector, in particular concerning renewable energy and energy efficiency, the Parties shall:
a) Support the development of appropriate policy frameworks to create favourable conditions for investment and a level playing field for renewable energy and energy efficiency;
b) Exchange information about the legal and regulatory framework in the area of renewable energy and energy efficiency;
c) Strength the links between professional associations, industrials and investors in the energy sector of both countries;
d) Promote the dialogue between public institutions and private companies from both countries for mutual understanding of skills and capacities in matters under this area of cooperation;
e) Encourage the exchange of information on plans and energy projects from economic agents, aiming to create opportunities for investment in both States;
f) Foster the transfer of technology aimed at sustainable energy production and use;
g) Promote the organization of conferences, workshops and other activities with the aim of experience exchange on renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Article 6
Establishment Facilitation
The parties shall facilitate in their own countries and subject to their internal legislation; the establishment of offices representing economic organisations and enterprises of the other country.
Article 7
Intellectual Property
Both Parties shall ensure and reinforce the protection of industrial and intellectual property rights, within their domestic law and international obligations.
Article 8
Joint Commission
1. With a view to ensuring the implementation of the present Agreement and co-ordination of the economic co-operation between the two countries, the Parties shall establish a Joint Commission, composed of representatives from both countries in charge of economic bilateral relations.
2. The joint Commission shall identify problems which hinder bilateral trade, technical and economic cooperation and propose measures for resolving the problems.
3. The joint Commission shall identify areas of co-operation of mutual interest, recommend measures to reinforce the economic bilateral relations and contribute to the resolution of any arisen difficulties which hinder bilateral trade and economic co-operation.
4. The Joint Committee will meet, by mutual agreement, at the request of one of the Parties, alternately in Portugal and in the United Arab Emirates.
5. If deemed necessary, the Joint Commission may decide the setting up, under its aegis, of Working Groups on sectors of mutual interest and, where necessary, include representatives of other public or private sector institutions.
6. The Joint Commission shall approve its own rules of procedure.
Article 9
Other instruments
The parties shall endeavour to create an appropriate environment for the conclusion of other agreements or protocols in the economic sector.
Article 10
Relation with other international or regional conventions
1. The provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the rights and obligations derived from international conventions to which both Parties are Party to.
2. Those international or regional conventions include, among others, the GCC Economic Agreement or the Agreement between the UAE and the GCC, as well as the Treaty on the European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
Article 11
Settlement of disputes
Any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of the present Agreement shall be settled through negotiation, through the diplomatic channels.
Article 12
Amendments
1. The present Agreement may be amended by mutual consent at the request of one of the Parties.
2. Such additions and amendments shall be made in a form of separate Protocols being an internal part of this Agreement and shall enter into force after approval had been given by the Parties.
3. The amendments shall enter into force in accordance with the terms specified in Article 14 of the present Agreement.
Article 13
Duration and termination
1. This Agreement shall be valid for a period of five years and shall be automatically renewed for a similar period unless either Party notifies the other Party in writing, through diplomatic channels, within at least six months prior to its expiry of its desire to terminate it.
2. The notice of termination shall become effective one year after the other Party has receive it.
3. In case of notification to terminate this Agreement, unless the Parties have agreed otherwise, commitments resulting from the contracts concluded under its provisions and not yet implemented shall be valid until such contracts are fully implemented.
Article 14
Entry into force
The present Agreement shall enter into force thirty days after the date of receipt of the later of notifications, in writing through diplomatic channels, conveying the completion of the internal procedures of each Party required for that purpose.
In witness whereof the undersigned being duly authorized thereto by the respective Governments have signed this Agreement.
Signed in Abu Dhabi on this day of of November of 2012, in two original copies each in Portuguese, Arabic and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of divergence of interpretation of this Agreement, the English version shall prevail.
For the Portuguese Republic:
Paulo Sacadura Cabral Portas, Minister of State and Foreign Affairs.
For the United Arab Emirates:
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs.