Na podlagi druge alinee prvega odstavka 107. člena in prvega odstavka 91. člena Ustave Republike Slovenije izdajam
U K A Z
O RAZGLASITVI ZAKONA O RATIFIKACIJI SPORAZUMA MED VLADO REPUBLIKE SLOVENIJE IN VLADO REPUBLIKE MAKEDONIJE O MEDSEBOJNI POMOČI PRI CARINSKIH ZADEVAH (BMKMPC)
Razglašam Zakon o ratifikaciji Sporazuma med Vlado Republike Slovenije in Vlado Republike Makedonije o medsebojni pomoči pri carinskih zadevah (BMKMPC), ki ga je sprejel Državni zbor Republike Slovenije na seji 31. januarja 2001.
Št. 001-22-13/01
Ljubljana, dne 9. februarja 2001
Predsednik
Republike Slovenije
Milan Kučan l. r.
Z A K O N
O RATIFIKACIJI SPORAZUMA MED VLADO REPUBLIKE SLOVENIJE IN VLADO REPUBLIKE MAKEDONIJE O MEDSEBOJNI POMOČI PRI CARINSKIH ZADEVAH (BMKMPC)
1. člen
Ratificira se Sporazum med Vlado Republike Slovenije in Vlado Republike Makedonije o medsebojni pomoči pri carinskih zadevah, podpisan v Ljubljani 24. maja 2000.
2. člen
Sporazum se v izvirniku v slovenskem in angleškem jeziku glasi:*
S P O R A Z U M
MED VLADO REPUBLIKE SLOVENIJE IN VLADO REPUBLIKE MAKEDONIJE O MEDSEBOJNI POMOČI PRI CARINSKIH ZADEVAH
Vlada Republike Slovenije in Vlada Republike Makedonije, v nadaljevanju “pogodbenici“, sta
glede na to, da je kršenje carinskih zakonov škodljivo za gospodarske, davčne in trgovinske interese njunih držav,
glede na pomembnost zagotavljanja natančne odmere carinskih dajatev in drugih davkov na uvoz in izvoz blaga kot tudi natančnega določanja vrednosti in porekla takega blaga,
ker priznavata potrebo po mednarodnem sodelovanju pri zadevah, ki se nanašajo na izvajanje in uveljavljanje carinske zakonodaje,
ker sta prepričani, da je mogoče s sodelovanjem med njunimi carinskimi organi povečati učinkovitost ukrepov pri carinskih kršitvah,
ob upoštevanju Priporočila Sveta za carinsko sodelovanje o medsebojni upravni pomoči z dne 5. decembra 1953,
ob upoštevanju Konvencije Združenih narodov zoper nezakonit promet mamil in psihotropnih snovi z dne 20. decembra 1988, vključno s tistimi, ki so navedeni v prilogah k tej konvenciji
sklenili naslednje:
1. člen
Opredelitev pojmov
V tem sporazumu:
a) “carinska zakonodaja“ pomeni zakone in predpise, ki jih uveljavljajo carinski organi pri uvozu, izvozu in tranzitu blaga in se nanašajo na carinske in druge dajatve ter druge ukrepe nadzora glede gibanja blaga čez državne meje;
b) “carinske dajatve“ pomenijo vse dajatve, davke, pristojbine in/ali druge dajatve, ki se odmerjajo in pobirajo na ozemljih pogodbenic pri uporabi carinske zakonodaje, ne vključujejo pa pristojbin in dajatev, katerih znesek je omejen na približne stroške opravljenih storitev;
c) “organ prosilec“ pomeni carinski organ, ki zaprosi za pomoč na podlagi tega sporazuma ali prejme tako pomoč;
d) “zaprošeni organ“ pomeni carinski organ, ki prejme zaprosilo za pomoč na podlagi tega sporazuma ali da tako pomoč;
e) “kršitev“ pomeni vsako kršitev carinske zakonodaje kot tudi vsak poskus kršitve take zakonodaje;
f) “carinski organ“ pomeni v Republiki Sloveniji Ministrstvo za finance – Carinsko upravo Republike Slovenije in v Republiki Makedoniji Ministrstvo za finance – Carinsko upravo Republike Makedonije;
g) “osebni podatki“ pomenijo vse podatke, ki se nanašajo na določenega ali določljivega posameznika.
2. člen
Obseg uporabe sporazuma
1. Pogodbenici pomagata druga drugi na način in pod pogoji, navedenimi v tem sporazumu, pri zagotavljanju pravilne uporabe carinske zakonodaje, še posebej s preprečevanjem, odkrivanjem in preiskovanjem kršitev te zakonodaje.
2. Vsa pomoč na podlagi tega sporazuma se zagotavlja v skladu z notranjo zakonodajo zaprošene pogodbenice.
3. člen
Pomoč po zaprosilu
1. Po zaprosilu organa prosilca mu zaprošeni organ priskrbi vse ustrezne podatke, ki mu bodo omogočili, da se prepriča, ali se carinska zakonodaja pravilno uporablja, med drugim tudi podatke glede prevoza in odpošiljanja blaga, razporejanja in kraja, kamor je blago namenjeno, kot tudi glede njegove vrednosti in porekla, pa tudi podatke glede storjenih ali načrtovanih dejanj, ki kršijo ali bi lahko kršili tako zakonodajo.
2. Po zaprosilu organa prosilca ga zaprošeni organ obvesti, ali je bilo blago, izvoženo z ozemlja ene pogodbenice, pravilno uvoženo na ozemlje druge pogodbenice, in kadar je primerno, navede carinski postopek, uporabljen za blago.
3. Po zaprosilu organa prosilca mora zaprošeni organ sprejeti potrebne ukrepe za zagotovitev nadzora nad:
a) določenimi fizičnimi ali pravnimi osebami, za katere se utemeljeno domneva, da kršijo ali so kršile carinsko zakonodajo na ozemlju pogodbenice prosilke;
b) kraji, kjer se blago skladišči na način, zaradi katerega je mogoče utemeljeno sumiti, da je namenjeno nedovoljenemu uvozu na ozemlje pogodbenice prosilke;
c) gibanjem blaga, za katero organ prosilec sporoči, da bi lahko povzročilo znatne kršitve carinske zakonodaje na ozemlju pogodbenice prosilke;
d) prevoznimi sredstvi in zabojniki, za katere se upravičeno domneva, da so bila, so ali bi lahko bila uporabljena pri kršenju carinske zakonodaje na ozemlju pogodbenice prosilke.
4. člen
Prostovoljna pomoč
Pogodbenici v okviru svojih pristojnosti druga drugi zagotavljata pomoč, če menita, da je to potrebno za pravilno uporabo carinske zakonodaje, še posebej kadar prejmeta informacije, ki se nanašajo na:
– dejanja, s katerimi je bila kršena, je kršena ali bi lahko bila kršena ta zakonodaja in ki bi lahko zanimali drugo pogodbenico;
– nove načine ali metode kršenja te zakonodaje;
– blago, za katero je znano, da v zvezi z njim prihaja do resnih kršitev carinske zakonodaje na ozemlju druge pogodbenice;
– določene osebe, za katere se ve ali sumi, da kršijo zakonodajo, ki velja na ozemlju pogodbenice;
– prevozna sredstva in zabojnike, za katere se ve ali sumi, da so bili, so ali bi lahko bili uporabljeni pri kršenju carinske zakonodaje, ki velja na ozemlju druge pogodbenice.
5. člen
Strokovna pomoč
1. Pomoč, predvidena po tem sporazumu, med drugim obsega podatke o:
a) ukrepih za izvajanje, ki so lahko koristni pri preprečevanju kršitev;
b) novih načinih, ki se uporabljajo pri kršitvah;
c) opažanjih in ugotovitvah, ki izhajajo iz uspešne uporabe novih pripomočkov in metod za ukrepanje, in
d) novih metodah in izboljšanih načinih obravnave potnikov in tovora.
2. Carinski organi pogodbenic si, če to ni v nasprotju z njuno notranjo zakonodajo, prizadevajo sodelovati tudi pri:
a) dajanju pobud, razvoju in izboljšavi izobraževalnih programov za svoje osebje;
b) vzpostavljanju in vzdrževanju poti za medsebojno komuniciranje, da bi olajšali varno in hitro izmenjavo informacij;
c) pospeševanju učinkovitega medsebojnega usklajevanja, vključno z izmenjavo osebja, izvedencev in imenovanjem oseb za zvezo;
d) proučevanju in preskušanju nove opreme ali postopkov;
e) poenostavitvi in usklajevanju svojih carinskih postopkov in
f) vseh drugih splošnih upravnih zadevah, ki lahko občasno zahtevajo njihovo skupno ukrepanje.
6. člen
Dostava/obveščanje
Po zaprosilu organa prosilca sprejme zaprošeni organ v skladu s svojo zakonodajo vse potrebne ukrepe za:
– dostavo vseh dokumentov,
– obveščanje o vseh odločitvah
na podlagi tega sporazuma naslovniku, ki prebiva ali je ustanovljen na njegovem ozemlju. V takem primeru se uporablja tretji odstavek 7. člena.
7. člen
Oblika in vsebina zaprosil za pomoč
1. Zaprosila po tem sporazumu morajo biti pisna. Zaprosilu morajo biti priloženi dokumenti, potrebni za njegovo obravnavo. Kadar je nujno hitro ukrepanje, se lahko sprejme ustno zaprosilo, ki pa ga je treba takoj pisno potrditi.
2. Zaprosila na podlagi prvega odstavka tega člena vsebujejo te podatke:
a) navedbo organa prosilca, ki da zaprosilo,
b) zaprošeni ukrep,
c) predmet zaprosila in razlog zanj,
d) zakone, predpise in druge pravne elemente v zvezi s tem,
e) kolikor je mogoče natančne in celovite navedbe o fizičnih ali pravnih osebah, na katere se zaprosilo nanaša,
f) povzetek pomembnih dejstev, razen v primerih, predvidenih v 6. členu, in
g) povezava med zaprošeno pomočjo in zadevo, na katero se nanaša.
3. Zaprosila je treba predložiti v uradnem jeziku zaprošenega organa, angleškem jeziku ali jeziku, ki je sprejemljiv za ta organ.
4. a) Pomoč se zagotovi z neposrednim sodelovanjem med ustreznimi carinskimi organi.
b) Če carinski organ zaprošene pogodbenice ni ustrezen organ za izpolnitev zaprosila, mora zaprosilo nemudoma poslati ustreznemu organu, ki bo nanj odgovoril v skladu s svojimi zakonskimi pooblastili, ali pa organ prosilca obvestiti o ustreznem postopku, po katerem mora ta organ ravnati pri takem zaprosilu.
5. Če zaprosilo ne ustreza formalnim zahtevam, je mogoče zahtevati njegov popravek ali dopolnitev; lahko pa se odredijo varnostni ukrepi.
8. člen
Obravnavanje zaprosil
1. Zaprošeni organ sprejme vse upravičene ukrepe za obravnavo zaprosila in po potrebi skuša zagotoviti vsakršen uradni ali sodni ukrep, potreben za izpolnitev zaprosila.
2. Carinski organ ene pogodbenice na zahtevo carinskega organa druge pogodbenice opravi vsakršno potrebno preiskavo, vključno z zaslišanjem izvedencev in prič ali oseb, osumljenih kršitve, in opravi preverjanja, inšpekcije in poizvedbe o dejstvih v zvezi z zadevami, na katere se nanaša ta sporazum.
3. Po zaprosilu lahko zaprošeni organ v največji možni meri omogoči uradnim osebam organa prosilca prisotnost na ozemlju zaprošene pogodbenice, kadar njegove uradne osebe raziskujejo kršitve, ki zadevajo organ prosilca.
4. Organ prosilec je, če tako zahteva, obveščen o času in kraju ukrepanja na podlagi zaprosila, tako da je ukrepanje lahko usklajeno.
5. Uradne osebe organa prosilca, ki so pooblaščene za preiskave glede kršitev, lahko zahtevajo, da zaprošeni organ pregleda ustrezne knjige, registre in druge dokumente ali nosilce podatkov in preskrbi njihove kopije oziroma da preskrbi vsakršne informacije v zvezi s kršitvijo.
9. člen
Oblika sporočanja informacij
1. Zaprošeni organ sporoči izide poizvedb organu prosilcu v obliki dokumentov, overjenih kopij dokumentov, poročil in podobnega, po potrebi pa tudi ustno.
2. Dokumente iz prvega odstavka lahko nadomestijo računalniško pripravljeni podatki v kakršni koli obliki z enakim namenom; hkrati je treba priskrbeti vse informacije, potrebne za razlago ali uporabo takih računalniških podatkov.
10. člen
Izjeme pri obveznosti zagotavljanja pomoči
1. Kadar zaprošena pogodbenica meni, da bi bili z ugoditvijo zaprosilu prizadeti njena suverenost, varnost, javni interes ali drugi bistveni državni interesi ali da bi bila kršena kaka gospodarska, poslovna ali poklicna skrivnost, je mogoče pomoč odreči oziroma jo dati le ob izpolnitvi določenih pogojev ali zahtev. Pomoč je prav tako mogoče odreči, če zaprosilo vključuje druge devizne ali davčne predpise, ki se ne nanašajo na carinske dajatve.
2. Kadar organ prosilec prosi za pomoč, ki je sam ne bi mogel zagotoviti, če bi ga zanjo zaprosili, mora na to dejstvo v svojem zaprosilu opozoriti. Zaprošeni organ se mora potem odločiti, kako bo odgovoril na tako zaprosilo.
3. Če je pomoč odložena ali zavrnjena, je treba to odločitev in razloge zanjo brez odlašanja sporočiti organu prosilcu.
11. člen
Obveznost spoštovanja zaupnosti
1. Vsaka informacija, sporočena v kakršni koli obliki v skladu s tem sporazumom, je zaupna. Varovati jo je treba kot uradno skrivnost in je deležna enake zaščite, kot je predvidena po ustreznih zakonih, ki veljajo za enako vrsto informacij v pogodbenici, ki jo je prejela.
2. Osebne podatke je mogoče poslati, le če je raven osebnega varstva, ki ga zagotavlja zakonodaja pogodbenic, enakovredna. Pogodbenici zagotovita vsaj raven varstva, ki temelji na načelih, navedenih v prilogi k temu sporazumu.
12. člen
Uporaba informacij
1. Informacije, dokumente in druga sporočila v okviru medsebojne pomoči, je mogoče uporabiti le za namene, določene v tem sporazumu, vključno z njihovo uporabo v sodnih in upravnih postopkih.
2. Organ prosilec ne sme uporabljati dokazov ali informacij, dobljenih po tem sporazumu, za drugačne namene, kot so navedeni v zaprosilu, brez predhodnega pisnega soglasja zaprošenega organa.
3. Kadar so po tem sporazumu izmenjani osebni podatki, carinski organi pogodbenic zagotovijo, da so uporabljeni le za namene, navedene v zaprosilu, in v skladu z vsakršnimi pogoji, ki bi jih lahko postavila zaprošena pogodbenica.
4. Določbe prvega in drugega odstavka tega člena ne veljajo za informacije v zvezi s kršitvami, ki se nanašajo na mamila in psihotropne snovi. Take informacije je mogoče sporočiti organom pogodbenice prosilke, ki so neposredno vključeni v boj proti nedovoljeni trgovini z mamili.
13. člen
Spisi, dokumenti in priče
1. Carinski organi pogodbenic na zahtevo zagotovijo dokumentacijo v zvezi s prevozom in odpošiljanjem blaga z navedbo vrednosti, porekla, razporejanja blaga in kraja, kamor je namenjeno.
2. Izvirnike spisov, dokumentov in drugega gradiva je mogoče zahtevati, le kadar kopije ne bi zadostovale. Na zahtevo se kopije takih spisov, dokumentov in drugega gradiva ustrezno overijo.
3. Izvirnike spisov, dokumentov in drugega gradiva, poslane organu prosilcu, je treba vrniti ob prvi priložnosti. To ne vpliva na pravice zaprošenega organa ali drugih, ki so s tem povezani. Na zahtevo je treba izvirnike, potrebne za sodne postopke ali podobne namene, nemudoma vrniti.
4. Na zaprosilo carinskega organa ene pogodbenice carinski organ druge pogodbenice po lastnem preudarku pooblasti svoje uslužbence, če ti uslužbenci na to pristanejo, da nastopijo kot priče v sodnih ali upravnih postopkih na ozemlju pogodbenice prosilke in predložijo spise, dokumente in drugo gradivo ali njihove overjene kopije, ki utegnejo biti potrebni za postopek. V takem zaprosilu je treba navesti čas, kraj in vrsto postopka in v kakšni vlogi bo zaposleni pričal.
14. člen
Stroški
1. Carinski organi pogodbenic se odpovedo vsem zahtevkom za povračilo stroškov, nastalih pri izvajanju tega sporazuma, razen stroškov za priče, honorarjev izvedencev in stroškov za tolmače, ki niso državni uslužbenci.
2. Če so ali bodo za obravnavo zaprosila potrebni večji ali izredni stroški, se carinski organi pogodbenic posvetujejo, da bi določili pogoje, pod katerimi bo zaprosilo obravnavano, kot tudi način kritja stroškov.
15. člen
Izvajanje
1. Izvajanje tega sporazuma se zaupa carinskim organom pogodbenic. Ti odločajo o vseh praktičnih ukrepih in dogovorih, potrebnih za njegovo uporabo, ob upoštevanju predpisov za varstvo podatkov.
2. Po posvetovanju lahko carinski organi pogodbenic izdajo upravna navodila, potrebna za izvajanje tega sporazuma.
3. Carinski organi pogodbenic se lahko dogovorijo, da bodo njihove preiskovalne službe med seboj v neposrednem stiku.
16. člen
Začetek in prenehanje veljavnosti sporazuma
1. Sporazum se začasno uporablja od dneva podpisa in začne veljati prvi dan drugega meseca, ki sledi datumu, ko se pogodbenici po diplomatski poti obvestita, da so bile izpolnjene vse notranjepravne zahteve za začetek njegove veljavnosti.
2. Carinski organi pogodbenic soglašajo, da se sestanejo zaradi ponovnega pregleda sporazuma ali obravnave drugih carinskih zadev, ki bi lahko izhajale iz njihovega medsebojnega odnosa, na zahtevo enega od carinskih organov ali po petih letih od datuma začetka veljavnosti sporazuma, razen če se med seboj pisno ne obvestijo, da tak pregled ni potreben.
3. Sporazum je sklenjen za nedoločen čas, razen če ga katera koli pogodbenica pisno po diplomatski poti ne odpove. Sporazum preneha veljati šest mesecev po prejemu uradnega obvestila. Že začeti postopki se dokončajo v skladu z določbami tega sporazuma.
Da bi to potrdila, sta podpisana, ki sta ju pravilno pooblastili njuni vladi, podpisala ta sporazum.
Sklenjeno v Ljubljani dne 24. maja 2000 v dveh izvirnikih v slovenskem, makedonskem in angleškem jeziku, pri čemer so vsa besedila enako verodostojna. Pri razlikah v razlagi je odločilno angleško besedilo.
Za Vlado
Republike Slovenije
Franc Košir l. r.
Za Vlado
Republike Makedonije
Dragan Daravelski l. r.
PRILOGA
TEMELJNA NAČELA VARSTVA PODATKOV
1 Osebni podatki, ki se avtomatsko obdelujejo, morajo biti:
a) pridobljeni in obdelani pošteno in zakonito;
b) hranjeni za določene in zakonite namene in se ne smejo uporabljati na način, nezdružljiv s temi nameni;
c) primerni, ustrezni in ne preobsežni glede na namene, za katere se hranijo;
d) natančni, in če je potrebno, tekoče usklajevani;
e) ohranjeni v obliki, ki dopušča identifikacijo oseb, na katere se podatki nanašajo, le tako dolgo, kot je potrebno za namen, za katerega se ti podatki hranijo.
2 Osebni podatki o zdravju ali spolnem življenju ne smejo biti avtomatsko obdelani, razen če notranje pravo ne zagotavlja ustreznega varstva. Enako velja za osebne podatke v zvezi s kazenskimi sodbami.
3 Sprejeti je treba ustrezne varnostne ukrepe za varstvo osebnih podatkov, hranjenih v podatkovnih datotekah, pred nepooblaščenim uničenjem ali nenamerno izgubo kot tudi pred nepooblaščenim dostopom, spremembo ali razširjanjem.
4 Vsaki osebi je treba omogočiti:
a) da ugotovi obstoj datoteke osebnih podatkov, ki se avtomatsko obdelujejo, njene glavne namene kot tudi identiteto in običajno prebivališče ali glavni sedež upravljavca datoteke;
b) da je v razumnih presledkih in brez pretirane zamude ali stroškov obveščena o tem, ali so osebni podatki, ki se nanašajo nanjo, hranjeni v datoteki, ki se avtomatsko obdeluje, in da ji take podatke sporočijo v razumljivi obliki;
c) da, odvisno od primera, doseže popravek ali izbris takih podatkov, če so bili obdelani v nasprotju z določbami notranjega prava, ob upoštevanju temeljnih načel iz prvega in drugega odstavka te priloge;
d) da dobi ustrezno povračilo, če zahteva za obvestilo oziroma, odvisno od primera, obvestilo, popravek ali izbris, omenjen v pododstavkih b) in c) tega odstavka, ni opravljen.
5.1 Glede določb iz prvega, drugega in četrtega odstavka te priloge niso dovoljene nobene izjeme, razen v mejah, določenih v tem odstavku.
5.2 Izjeme pri določbah prvega, drugega in četrtega odstavka te priloge so dovoljene, če so predvidene v zakonodaji pogodbenice in je to potreben ukrep v demokratični družbi v interesu:
a) zaščite državne varnosti, javne varnosti, finančnih interesov države ali zatiranja kaznivih dejanj;
b) varstva osebe, na katero se podatki nanašajo, ali pravic in svoboščin drugih.
5.3 Zakon lahko določa omejitev uresničevanja pravic, določenih v pododstavkih b), c) in d) četrtega odstavka te priloge, v zvezi z datotekami osebnih podatkov, ki se avtomatsko obdelujejo in se uporabljajo za statistične ali za znanstvenoraziskovalne namene, kadar očitno ni nikakršnega tveganja, da bi bila kršena zasebnost oseb, na katere se podatki nanašajo.
6 Nobene določbe te priloge ni mogoče razlagati, kot da omejuje ali drugače vpliva na možnost pogodbenice, da dodeli osebam, na katere se podatki nanašajo, širše varstvo, kot je določeno v tej prilogi.
A G R E E M E N T
BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA REGARDING MUTUAL ASSISTANCE IN CUSTOMS MATTERS
The Government of the Republic of Slovenia and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia hereinafter referred to as the “Contracting Parties“.
Considering that the offences against Customs laws are prejudicial to the economic, fiscal and commercial interests of their respective countries;
Considering the importance of assuring the accurate assessment of Customs duties and other taxes on the importation and exportation of goods, as well as the accurate determination of the value and origin of such goods;
Recognizing the need for international cooperation in matters related to the administration and enforcement of the Customs legislation;
Convinced that action against Customs offences can be made more effective by cooperation between their Customs Authorities;
Having regard to the Recommendation of the Customs Cooperation Council on Mutual Administrative Assistance of December 5, 1953;
Having regard to the United Nations Convention on the fight against the illicit traffic of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances of December 20, 1988, including those listed in the Annexes to the aforesaid Convention.
Have agreed as follows:
Article 1
Definitions
For the purposes of this Agreement:
a) “Customs legislation“ shall mean laws and regulations enforced by the Customs Authorities concerning importation, exportation, and transit of goods, as they relate to Customs duties, charges, and other controls in respect of the movement of goods across national boundaries;
b) “Customs duties“ shall mean all duties, taxes, fees or / and other charges which are levied and collected in the territories of the Contracting Parties, in application of customs legislation, but not including fees and charges which are limited in amount to the approximate costs of services rendered;
c) “Applicant Authority“ shall mean the Customs Authority which makes a request for assistance in pursuant to this Agreement or which receives such assistance;
d) “Requested Authority“ shall mean the Customs Authority which receives a request for assistance pursuant to this Agreement or which renders such assistance;
e) “Contravention“ shall mean any violation of the customs legislation as well as any attempted violation of such legislation;
f) “Customs Authority“ shall mean in the Republic of Slovenia, the Ministry of Finance – the Customs Administration of the Republic of Slovenia and in the Republic of Macedonia, the Ministry of Finance – the Customs Administration of the Republic of Macedonia;
g) “Personal data“ shall mean all information relating to an identified or identifiable individual.
Article 2
Scope of the Agreement
1. The Contracting Parties shall assist each other, in the manner and under the conditions laid down in this Agreement, in ensuring that customs legislation is correctly applied, in particular by the prevention, detection and investigation of contraventions of this legislation.
2. All assistance rendered pursuant to the present Agreement shall be rendered in accordance with the national legislation of the requested Contracting Party.
Article 3
Assistance on Request
1. At the request of the applicant Authority, the requested Authority shall furnish it with all relevant information to enable it to ensure that customs legislation is correctly applied, including inter alia, information regarding the transportation and shipment of goods, the disposition and destination of such goods as well as their value and origin as well as information regarding acts committed or planned which contravene or would contravene such legislation.
2. At the request of the applicant Authority, the requested Authority shall inform it whether goods exported from the territory of one of the Contracting Parties have been properly imported into the territory of the other Contracting Party, specifying, where appropriate, the customs procedure applied to the goods.
3. At the request of the applicant Authority, the requested Authority shall take the necessary steps to ensure that a surveillance is kept on:
a) particular natural or legal persons of whom there are reasonable grounds for believing that they are contravening or have contravened customs legislation in the territory of the applicant Contracting Party;
b) places where goods are stored in a way that gives grounds for suspecting that they are intended to be illicitly imported into the territory of the applicant Contracting Party;
c) movement of goods notified by the applicant Authority as possibly giving rise to substantial contraventions of customs legislation in the territory of the applicant Contracting Party;
d) means of transport and containers for which there are reasonable grounds for believing that they have been, are or may be used in the contravening of customs legislation in the territory of the applicant Contracting Party.
Article 4
Spontaneous Assistance
The Contracting Parties shall within their competences provide each other with assistance if they consider that to be necessary for the correct application of customs legislation, particularly when they obtain information pertaining to:
– acts which have contravened, contravene or would contravene such legislation and which may be of interest to the other Contracting Party;
– new means or methods employed in committing contraventions against such legislation;
– goods known to be the subject of substantial contraventions against the customs legislation in the territory of the other Contracting Party;
– particular persons known to be or suspected of committing contraventions against the legislation in force in the territory of the Contracting Party;
– means of transport and containers, about which knowledge or suspicions exist that they were, are, or could be used in committing contraventions against the customs legislation in force in the territory of the other Contracting Party.
Article 5
Technical Assistance
1. Assistance, as provided for in this Agreement shall include inter alia information regarding:
a) enforcement actions that may be of use in the prevention of contraventions;
b) new methods used in committing contraventions;
c) observations and findings resulting from the successful application of new enforcement aids and techniques; and
d) new techniques and improved methods of processing passengers and cargo.
2. The Customs Authorities of the Contracting Parties shall, if not contrary to their national legislation, also seek to cooperate in:
a) initiating, developing, or improving specific training programs for their personnel;
b) establishing and maintaining channels of communication between themselves in order to facilitate the secure and rapid exchange of information;
c) facilitating effective coordination between themselves, including the exchange of personnel, experts and the posting of liaison officers;
d) the consideration and testing of new equipment or procedures;
e) the simplification and harmonization of their respective customs procedures; and
f) any other general administrative matters that may from time to time require their joint action.
Article 6
Delivery / Notification
At the request of the applicant Authority, the requested Authority shall in accordance with its legislation take all necessary measures in order
– to deliver all documents,
– to notify all decisions
falling within the scope of this Agreement to an addressee, residing or established in its territory. In such a case paragraph 3 of Article 7 shall apply.
Article 7
Form and Substance of Requests for Assistance
1. Requests pursuant to the present Agreement shall be made in writing. Documents necessary for the execution of such requests shall accompany the request. When required because of the urgency of the situation, oral request may be accepted, but must be confirmed in writing immediately.
2. Requests pursuant to paragraph 1 of this Article shall include the following information:
a) the applicant Authority making the request;
b) the measure requested;
c) the object of and the reason for the request;
d) the laws, rules and other legal elements involved;
e) indications as exact and comprehensive as possible on the natural or legal persons, to which the request relates;
f) a summary of the relevant facts, except in cases provided for in Article 6; and
g) the connection between the assistance sought and the matter to which it relates.
3. Requests shall be submitted in an official language of the requested Authority, in English or in a language acceptable to that Authority.
4. a) Assistance shall be carried out by direct communication between the respective Customs Authorities.
b) In case the Customs Authority of the requested Contracting Party is not the appropriate agency to comply with a request, it shall promptly transmit the request to the appropriate agency, who shall act upon the request according to its powers under the law, or advise the applicant Authority of the appropriate procedure that should be followed by that Authority regarding such a request.
5. If a request does not meet the formal requirements, its correction or completion may be demanded; the ordering of precautionary measures may, however, be undertaken.
Article 8
Execution of Requests
1. The requested Authority shall take all reasonable measures to execute the request, and if required, will endeavour to seek any official or judicial measure necessary to carry out the request.
2. The Customs Authority of one Contracting Party shall, upon the request of the Customs Authority of the other Contracting Party, conduct any necessary investigation, including the questioning of experts and witnesses or persons suspected of having committed a contravention, and undertake verifications, inspections, and fact-finding inquiries in connection with the matters referred to in the present Agreement.
3. Upon request, the requested Authority may, to the fullest extent possible, allow officials of the applicant Authority to be present in the territory of the requested Contracting Party, when its officials are investigating contraventions which are of concern to the applicant Authority.
4. The applicant Authority shall, if it so requests, be advised of the time and place of the action to be taken in response to the request so that the action may be coordinated.
5. Officials of the applicant Authority, authorized to investigate contraventions, may ask that the requested Authority examine relevant books, registers, and other documents or data media and supply copies thereof, or supply any information relating to the contravention.
Article 9
The Form in which Information is to be Communicated
1. The requested Authority shall communicate the results of enquiries to the applicant Authority in the form of documents, certified copies of documents, reports and the like and, when necessary, orally.
2. The documents provided for in paragraph 1 may be replaced by computerized information produced in any form for the same purpose, any information necessary for the interpretation or utilization of such computerized information shall be furnished along with it.
Article 10
Exceptions to the Obligation to Provide Assistance
1. In cases where the requested Contracting Party is of the opinion that compliance with a request would infringe upon its sovereignty, security, public policy, or other substantive national interest, or would violate an industrial, commercial or professional secret, assistance may be refused or compliance may be made subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions or requirements. Assistance may also be refused if the request involves currency or tax regulations other than regulations concerning customs duties.
2. Where the applicant Authority requests assistance which it would itself be unable to provide if so asked, it shall draw attention to the fact in its request. It shall then be for the requested Authority to decide how to respond to such a request.
3. If assistance is withheld or denied, the decision and the reasons therefore must be notified to the applicant Authority without delay.
Article 11
Obligation to Observe Confidentiality
1. Any information communicated in whatever form pursuant to this Agreement shall be of a confidential nature. It shall be covered by the obligation of official secrecy and shall enjoy the same protection extended under the relevant laws relating to the same kind of information applicable in the Contracting Party which received it.
2. Personal data may only be transmitted if the level of personal protection afforded by the legislation of the Contracting Parties is equivalent. The Contracting Parties shall ensure at least a level of protection based on the principles laid down in the Annex to this Agreement.
Article 12
Use of Information
1. Information, documents, and other communications received in the course of mutual assistance may only be used for the purposes specified in the present Agreement, including the use in judicial and administrative proceedings.
2. The applicant Authority shall not use evidence or information obtained under this Agreement for purposes other than those stated in the request without the prior written consent of the requested Authority.
3. Where personal data is exchanged under this Agreement, the Customs Authorities of the Contracting Parties shall ensure that it is used only for the purposes indicated in the request and according to any conditions that the requested Contracting Party may impose.
4. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article are not applicable to information concerning contraventions relating to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. Such information may be communicated to the authorities of the applicant Contracting Party which are directly involved in combatting illicit drug traffic.
Article 13
Files, Documents and Witnesses
1. The Customs Authorities of the Contracting Parties shall, upon request, provide documentation relating to the transportation and shipment of goods, showing the value, origin, disposition, and destination of those goods.
2. Originals of files, documents, and other materials shall be requested only in cases where copies would be insufficient. Upon specific request, copies of such files, documents, and other materials shall be appropriately authenticated.
3. Originals of files, documents, and other materials which have been furnished to the applicant Authority shall be returned at the earliest opportunity. The rights of the requested Authority or of third parties relating thereto shall remain unaffected. Upon request, originals necessary for adjudicative or similar purposes shall be returned without delay.
4. Upon the request of the Customs Authority of one Contracting Party, the Customs Authority of the other Contracting Party shall, at its discretion, authorize its employees, if such employees consent to do so, to appear as witnesses in judicial or administrative proceedings in the territory of the applicant Contracting Party, and to produce such files, documents, and other materials, or authenticated copies thereof, as may be considered necessary for the proceedings. Such a request shall specify the time, place, and type of proceedings and in what capacity the employee shall testify.
Article 14
Costs
1. The Customs Authorities of the Contracting Parties shall waive all claims for the reimbursement of costs incurred in the execution of the present Agreement, with the exception of expenses for witnesses, fees of experts, and the costs of interpreters other than government employees.
2. If expenses of a substantial and extraordinary nature are, or will be required, in order to execute the request, the Customs Authorities of the Contracting Parties shall consult to determine the terms and conditions under which the request shall be executed, as well as the manner in which the costs shall be borne.
Article 15
Implementation
1. The implementation of this Agreement shall be entrusted to the Customs Authorities of the Contracting Parties. They shall decide on all practical measures and arrangements necessary for its application, taking into consideration rules in the field of data protection.
2. After consultation, the Customs Authorities of the Contracting Parties may issue any administrative directives necessary for the implementation of this Agreement.
3. The Customs Authorities of the Contracting Parties may arrange for their investigation services to be in direct communication with each other.
Article 16
Entry into Force and Termination
1. This Agreement shall apply provisionally from the date of its signing and shall enter into force on the first day of the second month following the date on which the Contracting Parties notify each other through diplomatic channels that all internal legal requirements for its entry into force have been fulfilled.
2. The Customs Authorities of the Contracting Parties agree to meet in order to review this Agreement or to discuss any other customs matters which may arise out of the relationship between them, upon the request of one of the Customs Authorities or at the end of five years from the date of its entry into force, unless they notify one another in writing that no such review is necessary.
3. This Agreement shall be concluded for an indefinite period of time, unless terminated by one of the Contracting Parties in writing through diplomatic channels. The Agreement shall cease to apply six months following the receipt of such notification. Ongoing proceedings at the time of termination shall nonetheless be completed in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorized by their respective governments, have signed this Agreement.
Done at Ljubljana on the day of 24 May 2000 in two originals in the Slovene, Macedonian and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of any difference in interpretation, the English text shall prevail.
For the Government of
the Republic of Sloveniathe
Franc Košir, (s)
For the Government of
Republic of Macedonia
Dragan Daravelski, (s)
ANNEX
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF DATA PROTECTION
1. Personal data undergoing automatic processing shall be:
a) obtained and processed fairly and lawfully;
b) stored for specified and legitimate purposes and not used in a way incompatible with those purposes;
c) adequate, relevant and not excessive in relation to the purposes for which they are stored;
d) accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date;
e) preserved in a form which permits identification of the data subjects for no longer than is required for the purpose for which those data are stored.
2. Personal data concerning health or sexual life, may not be processed automatically unless domestic law provides appropriate safeguards. The same shall apply to personal data relating to criminal convictions.
3. Appropriate security measures shall be taken for the protection of personal data stored in automated data files against unauthorised destruction or accidental loss as well as against unauthorised access, alteration or dissemination.
4. Any person shall be enabled:
a) to establish the existence of an automated personal data file, its main purposes, as well as the identity and habitual residence or principal place of business of the controller of the file;
b) to obtain at reasonable intervals and without excessive delay or expense confirmation of whether personal data relating to him are stored in the automated data file as well as communication to him of such data in an intelligible form;
c) to obtain, as the case may be, rectification or erasure of such data if they have been processed contrary to the provisions of domestic law giving effect to the basic principles set out under paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Annex;
d) to have remedy if a request for communication or, as the case may be, communication, rectification or erasure as referred to in subparagraphs b and c of this paragraph is not complied with.
5.1 No exception to the provisions under paragraphs 1, 2 and 4 of this Annex shall be allowed except within the limits defined in this paragraph.
5.2 Derogation from the provisions under paragraphs 1, 2 and 4 of this Annex shall be allowed when such derogation is provided for by the law of the Contracting Party and constitutes a necessary measure in a democratic society in the interest of:
a) protecting State security, public safety, the monetary interests of the State or the suppression of criminal offences;
b) protecting the data subject or the rights and freedoms of others.
5.3 Restrictions on the exercise of the rights specified in paragraph 4, subparagraphs b, c and d of this Annex, may be provided by law with respect to automated personal data files used for statistics or for scientific research purposes where there is obviously no risk of an infringement of the privacy of the data subjects.
6 None of the provisions of this Annex shall be interpreted as limiting or otherwise affecting the possibility for a Contracting Party to grant data subjects a wider measure of protection than that stipulated in this Annex.
3. člen
Za izvajanje sporazuma skrbita Ministrstvo za finance in Carinska uprava Republike Slovenije.
4. člen
Ta zakon začne veljati naslednji dan po objavi v Uradnem listu Republike Slovenije – Mednarodne pogodbe.
Št. 437-01/00-10/1
Ljubljana, dne 31. januarja 2001
Predsednik
Državnega zbora
Republike Slovenije
Borut Pahor l. r.