Following Decision 2002/595/EC of the representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council (see below), with effect from 24 July 2002, the European Community succeeds to the rights and obligations flowing from the international agreements concluded by the ECSC with third countries. The Commission will inform the third countries concerned of the succession of the European Community to the ECSC's rights and obligations flowing from the agreements concerned. It will also undertake all necessary technical amendments in order to make the agreements compatible with European Community rules and will, where appropriate, negotiate amendments to the agreements.

Decision of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, of 19 July 2002 on the consequences of the expiry of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) Treaty on international agreements concluded by the ECSC

As the ECSC had concluded a number of international agreements with third countries that do not provide for the eventuality of the expiry of the ECSC Treaty and as it is in the interest of the ECSC and the sectors concerned that the international agreements in question should remain in force after expiry of the ECSC Treaty and that they should therefore be transferred to the European Community, the representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, decided that, as from 24 July 2002, the rights and obligations flowing from the international agreements concluded by the ECSC would be taken over by the European Community.