Notawisseling tussen de Nederlandse Regering en de Regering van het Verenigd Koninkrijk van Groot-Brittannië en Noord-Ierland houdende een verdrag inzake voorrechten en immuniteiten te verlenen aan verbindingsofficieren die vanwege de Regering van het Verenigd Koninkrijk van Groot-Brittannië en Noord-Ierland bij Europol te 's-Gravenhage worden tewerkgesteld

1

Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Liaison Officer and members of his family who form part of his household and do not possess Dutch nationality, shall enjoy in and vis-à-vis the Kingdom of the Netherlands the same privileges and immunities as are conferred on members of the diplomatic staff by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 18 April 1961.

2

The immunity granted to persons mentioned in paragraph 1 of this Article shall not extend to either:

• (i)

  civil action by a third party for damages, including personal injury or death, arising from a traffic accident caused by any such person, and is without prejudice to Article 32 of the Europol Convention; or

• (ii)

  criminal and civil jurisdiction over acts performed outside the course of their official duties.

3

The obligations of Sending States and their personnel that apply under the Vienna Convention to members of the diplomatic staff, shall apply to the persons referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article.

1

The Government shall facilitate, if necessary, the entry, stay and departure of the Liaison Officer and members of his family forming part of the household.

2

This Article shall not prevent the requirement of reasonable evidence to establish that persons claiming the treatment provided for under this Article come within the classes described in paragraph 1 of this Article.

3

Visas which may be required by persons referred to in this Article shall be granted without charge and as promptly as possible.

1

The Government shall permit the Liaison Officer to communicate freely and without a need for special permission, for all official purposes, and shall protect the right of the Liaison Officer to do so. The Liaison Officer shall have the right to use codes and to dispatch and receive official correspondence and other official communications by courier or in sealed bags which shall be subject to the same privileges and immunities as diplomatic couriers and bags.

2

The Liaison Officer shall, as far as may be compatible with the International Telecommunications Convention of 6 November 1982, for his official communications enjoy treatment not less favourable than that accorded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands to any international organisation or government, in the matter of priorities for communication by mail, cable, telegraph, telex, radio, television, telephone, fax, satellite, or other means.

1

The Member State shall promptly notify the Government of the name of the Liaison Officer, his arrival and his final departure or the termination of his secondment as well as the arrival and final departure of the members of the family forming part of the household and, where appropriate, the fact that a person has ceased to form part of the household.

2

The Government shall issue to the Liaison Officer and members of his family forming part of the household, an identification card bearing the photograph of the holder. This card shall serve to identify the holder in relation to all Host State authorities.

1

Any dispute between the Member State and the Government concerning the interpretation or application of this Agreement, or any question affecting the Liaison Officer or the relationship between the Member State and the Government which is not settled amicably, shall be referred for final decision to a tribunal of three arbitrators, at the request of the Member State or the Government. Each party shall appoint one arbitrator. The third, who shall be chairman of the tribunal, is to be chosen by the first two arbitrators.

2

If one of the parties fails to appoint an arbitrator within two months following a request from the other party to make such an appointment, the other party may request the President of the Court of Justice of the European Communities or in his absence the Vice-President, to make such an appointment.

3

Should the first two arbitrators fail to agree upon the third within two months following their appointment, either party may request the President of the Court of Justice of the European Communities, or in his absence the Vice-President, to make such appointment.

4

Unless the parties agree otherwise, the tribunal shall determine its own procedure.

5

The tribunal shall reach its decision by a majority of votes. The Chairman shall have a casting vote. The decision shall be final and binding on the Parties to the dispute.