Overeenkomst tussen het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden en de Universiteit van de Verenigde Naties inzake het Instituut voor nieuwe technologieën van de Universiteit van de Verenigde Naties

1

The Institute shall have immunity from jurisdiction except to the extent that such immunity has been expressly waived in a particular case.

2

The Institute's property and assets wherever situated shall be immune from any form of requisition, confiscation, expropriation and sequestration.

1

The Institute 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 have the same privileges and immunities as diplomatic couriers and bags.

2

No censorship shall be applied to the official correspondence and other official communications of the Institute.

1

• a.

  The Institute has the right to publish freely within the Netherlands in the fulfilment of its purposes.

• b.

  It is, however, understood that the Institute shall respect the laws and regulations of the Netherlands and the international conventions to which the Netherlands is a party, relating to intellectual property.

2

The transmission of publications and other information material sent by or to the Institute shall not be restricted in any way.

1

The Institute, its assets, income and other property shall be exempt from all direct taxes. Direct taxes include income tax, capital tax, corporation tax and direct taxes levies by local authorities.

2

The Institute shall be granted exemption from motor vehicle tax in respect of its motor vehicles used for its official activities. In order to apply this exemption the Institute shall file a request for each purchase to which the exemption is applicable.

3

The Institute shall be accorded a refund of value added tax paid on the supply of goods or services of substantial value, necessary for the official activities of the Institute with the exception of motor vehicles. In this connection it is envisaged that claims for refund will be made only in respect of goods or services supplied on a recurring basis or involving considerable expenditure such as the furnishings of the premises of the Institute.

The Institute shall be accorded a refund of the excise duty element included in the price of spirits and hydrocarbons such as fuel oils and motor fuels purchased by the Institute and necessary for its official activities.

4

Goods, including motor vehicles, whose import or export by the Institute is necessary for the exercise of its official activities shall be exempt from all import duties and taxes and from all prohibitions and restrictions on import or export.

5

The provisions of the preceding sections of this Article shall not apply to taxes and duties that are no more than charges for public utility services.

6

Goods acquired or imported under the preceding sections of this Article shall not be sold, given away or otherwise disposed of, except in accordance with conditions agreed with the Government.

1

Without being restricted by financial controls, regulations or moratoria of any kind, the Institute may:

• a.

  hold funds, gold or currency of any kind and operate accounts in any currency;

• b.

  freely transfer its funds, gold or currency to or from the Netherlands or within the Netherlands and convert any currency held by it into any other currency.

1

Provided the Institute establishes its own social security scheme or adheres to a social security scheme, the Institute and the members of its personnel to whom the aforementioned scheme applies shall be exempt from all compulsory contributions to the Netherlands social security organisations. Consequently, they shall not be covered against the risks described in the Netherlands social security regulations.

2

The provisions of paragraph 1 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the spouse, children and other relatives belonging to the household of the persons referred to in paragraph 1, unless they are employed or self-employed in the Netherlands or receive Netherlands social security benefit.

3

Any resident of the Netherlands who receives benefit under the Institute's social security scheme as referred to in paragraph 1 may be exempted from the Netherlands national insurance schemes by the "Sociale Verzekeringsbank" (Social Insurance Bank) at his or her request, unless he or she is employed or self-employed in the Netherlands.

1

Members of the family forming part of the household of the officials of the Institute shall be authorised to engage in gainful employment in the Netherlands for the duration of the term of office of the officials concerned.

2

The following persons are members of the family forming part of the household in the sense of paragraph 1:

• a)

  the spouses or registered partners of the officials of the Institute;

• b)

  children of the officials of the Institute who are under the age of 18;

• c)

  children of the officials of the Institute aged 18 or over, but not older than 27, provided that they formed part of the official’s household prior to their first entry into the Netherlands and still form part of this household, and that they are unmarried, financially dependent on the Institute official concerned and are attending education in the Netherlands.

3

Persons mentioned in paragraph 2 of this Article who obtain gainful employment shall have no immunity from criminal, civil or administrative jurisdiction with respect to matters arising in the course of or in connection with such employment, provided that measures of execution are taken without infringing the inviolability of their person or of their residence, if they are entitled to such inviolability.

4

In case of the insolvency of a person aged under 18 with respect to a claim arising out of gainful employment of that person under this Article, the immunity of the official of whose family the person concerned is a member shall be waived by the Institute for the purpose of settlement of the claim, in accordance with the provisions of the applicable international legal instrument regarding waiver.

5

The employment referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be in accordance with Netherlands legislation, including fiscal and social security legislation, unless any other applicable international legal instrument provides otherwise.

1

The Government shall facilitate the entry, stay and departure of the persons listed below and their spouses and children dependent on them for purposes of official business with respect to the Institute of such persons related to the Institute:

• a.

  members of the Board;

• b.

  the Director, personnel and experts of the Institute;

• c.

  fellows and trainees of the Institute;

• d.

  members of the Council of the University and the Rector and other personnel of the University;

• e.

  officials of the United Nations, or of one of the specialized agencies or of the International Atomic Energy Agency, having official business with the Institute;

• f.

  personnel of the research and training centres and programmes and associated institutions of the University, and persons participating in the programmes of the University;

• g.

  other persons invited by the Institute of official business.

2

No act performed by any person referred to in paragraph 1 in his official capacity with respect to the Institute shall constitute a reason for preventing his entry into or departure from the territory of the Netherlands or for requiring him to leave such territory.

3

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

1

Non-Netherlands personnel of the Institute

• a.

  shall enjoy exemption from aliens' registration formalities and shall not require a residence permit provided that they hold the personal identity card referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article; the same shall aplly to non-Netherlands members of their families forming part of their households;

• b.

  shall not require a work permit.

2

The personnel of the Institute and non-Netherlands members of their families forming part of their households shall hold a personal identity card issued by the Institute stating names, date and place of birth, nationality, number of passport (aliens only), and bearing photograph and signature. The identity cards shall be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

1

The personnel of the Institute shall be exempt from Netherlands income tax on the salaries and emoluments paid by the Institute.

2

In the event that the Institute operates a system for the payment of pensions and annuities to its former personnel and their dependents, the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article shall not apply to such pensions and annuities.

1

The Institute shall communicate to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands from time to time a list of its personnel.

2

The Institute shall inform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in each instance of the appointment or departure of members of its personnel.

1

Privileges and immunities are granted by this Agreement in the interests of the Institute and not for the personal benefit of the individuals themselves.

2

The Director, on behalf of the Rector, has the right and the duty to waive such immunities (other than his own and those of the members of the Board) in any case where the immunity would impede the course of justice, and where it can be waived without prejudice to the interests of the Institute. In respect of the Director and the members of the Board the Rector has a similar right and duty.

1

Any dispute between the Parties concerning the interpretation or application of this Agreement or of any supplemental Agreement which cannot be settled amicably, shall be submitted, at the request of either Party to the dispute, to an arbitral tribunal, composed of three members. Each Party shall appoint one arbitrator and the two arbitrators thus appointed shall together appoint a third arbitrator as their chairman.

2

If one of the Parties fails to appoint its arbitrator and has not proceeded to do so within two months after an invitation from the other Party to make such an appointment, the other Party may invite the President of the International Court of Justice to make the necessary appointment.

3

If the two arbitrators are unable to reach agreement, in the two months following their appointment, on the choice of the third arbitrator, either Party may invite the President of the International Court of Justice to make the necessary appointment.

4

Unless the Parties decide otherwise, the tribunal shall determine its own procedure.

5

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

1

Without prejudice to the privileges and immunities accorded by this Agreement, it is the duty of the Institute and of all persons enjoying such privileges and immunities to observe the laws and regulations of the Netherlands. They also have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of the Netherlands.

2

The Institute shall co-operate at all times with the appropriate authorities to facilitate the proper administration of justice and prevent the occurrence of any abuse in connection with the privileges and immunities mentioned in this Agreement.

3

This Agreement shall be construed in the light of its primary purpose of enabling the Institute to discharge fully and efficiently its functions.

4

Consultations with respect to the revision of and amendments to this Agreement shall be entered into at the request of the University or the Government. Any such revision or amendment shall be made by mutual consent,

5

The University and the Government may enter into such supplemental agreements as may be necessary.

6

This Agreement shall enter into force on an agreed date when the Parties have notified each other that the procedures necessary to this end have been completed. It shall remain in force for an indefinite period.

7

This Agreement shall cease to be in force:

• a.

  by mutual consent of the University and the Government; or

• b.

  if the Institute is removed from the territory of the Netherlands, on the understanding that the relevant provisions in connection with the orderly termination of the operations of the Institute in the Netherlands and the disposal of its property therein shall remain applicable as long as necessary.

8

With respect to the Kingdom of the Netherlands this Agreement shall apply to the Kingdom in Europe only.