97/838/EC: Council Decision of 28 November 1997 concerning the conclusion on behalf of the European Community, as regards matters within its competence, of the results of the WTO negotiations on basic telecommunications services

1 The Fourth Protocol to the General Agreement on Trade in Services concerning basic telecommunications services is hereby approved on behalf of the European Community with regard to that portion of it which falls within the competence of the Community.

2 The text of the Fourth Protocol is attached to this Decision, as are also the following: the schedule of specific commitments of the Community and the Member States, which is part of the overall package of commitments reached at the WTO on 15 February 1997, the decision of the Council for Trade in Services on commitments in basic telecommunications, and the report of 15 February 1997 by the Group on Basic Telecommunications to the Council for Trade in Services.

3 The President of the Council is hereby authorized to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the Fourth Protocol to the General Agreement on Trade in Services in order to bind the Community with regard to that portion of the Protocol falling within its competence.