STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS

S.I. No. 568 OF 2006

European Communications Office (ECO) (Status and Privileges) Order 2006

WHEREAS under section 4 2A (inserted by the section 4 of the Diplomatic Relations and Immunities (Amendment) Act 2006 (No.10 of 2006)) of the Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Act 1967 (No. 8 of 1967), the Government may by order make provision to enable international organisations, communities or bodies, their institutions or organs and their property, and persons to have and enjoy in the State any inviolability, exemptions, facilities, immunities, privileges or rights provided for in relation to them by an international agreement to which the State is or intends to become a party:

AND WHEREAS the European Communications Office is an international organisation, community or body, and the Convention for the Establishment of the European Radiocommunications Office (ERO) of 23 June 1993, as amended by the Convention for the establishment of the European Communications Office (ECO) of 9 April 2002 and the instrument Amending the Convention for the Establishment of the European Radiocommunications Office (ERO) of 17 December 2002, is such an agreement;

NOW, the Government, in exercise of the powers conferred on them by the said section 42A, hereby order as follows:

1.        This Order may be cited as the European Communications Office (ECO) (Status and Privileges) Order 2006.

2.        In this Order -

-�Amended Convention-� means the Convention as amended by the Convention for the establishment of the European Communications Office (ECO) of 9 April 2002 and the instrument amending the Convention for the Establishment of the European Radiocommunications Office (ERO) of 17 December 2002;

-�Convention-� means the Convention for the Establishment of the European Radiocommunications Office (ERO) of 23 June 1993;

-�ECO-� means the European Communications Office established by the Amended Convention;

3.        The provisions of Article 4 (1) of the Amended Convention, set out in the Schedule to this Order, concerning the legal status and privileges granted to ECO shall apply in relation to ECO.

Schedule

Article 4

Legal Status and Privileges

(1)       The ECO shall have legal personality. The ECO shall enjoy full capacity necessary for the exercise of its functions and the achievement of its purposes, and may in particular:

1.         enter into contracts;

2.         acquire, lease, hold and dispose of movable and immovable property;

3.         be a party to legal proceedings;

and

4.         conclude agreements with States or international organisations.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation)

This instrument provides that the legal status and privileges of Article 4(1) of the Amended Convention as set out in the schedule to this instrument are afforded to the European Communications Office (ECO).