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 52012PC0550
 Proposta għal DEĊIŻJONI TAL-KUNSILL li tawtorizza lill-Istati Membri li huma partijiet kontraenti għall-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna dwar ir-responsabbiltà ċivili għad-danni nukleari tal-21 ta' Mejju 1963 ("il-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna") biex, fl-interess tal-Unjoni Ewropea, jirratifikaw il-protokoll li jemenda lil dik il-konvenzjoni jew jissieħbu miegħu /* COM/2012/0550 final - 2012/0262 (NLE) */
 MEMORANDUM TA’ SPJEGAZZJONI
 1. IL-KUNTEST TAL-PROPOSTA
 1.1. L-iskop tal-proposta
 Bħalissa, ir-reġim internazzjonali
 tar-responsabbiltà nukleari hu rregolat primarjament permezz ta’ żewġ
 strumenti: il-"Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna", kif emendata permezz tal-Protokoll
 tal-1997 u l-"Konvenzjoni ta' Pariġi" tal-1960 dwar
 ir-responsabbiltà ċivili fil-qasam tal-enerġija nukleari, li
 ġiet emendata permezz ta’ diversi protokolli u li ġiet
 imsaħħa permezz tal-Konvenzjoni ta’ Brussell tal-31 ta' Jannar 1963
 (minn issa 'l quddiem imsejħa "il-Konvenzjoni ta' Brussell").
 Dawn iż-żewġ konvenzjonijiet huma msejsin fuq l-istess
 prinċipji ewlenin dwar is-sustanza. Madankollu, xi Stati Membri tal-UE
 huma partijiet kontraenti għall-Konvenzjoni ta' Pariġi filwaqt li
 oħrajn huma partijiet kontraenti għall-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna.
 L-artikoli minn 12 sa 14 tal-protokoll
 tal-1997 jinkludu dispożizzjonijiet dwar il-ġuriżdizzjoni u dwar
 ir-rikonoxximent u l-eżekuzzjoni ta' sentenzi li għandhom x’jaqsmu
 mal-applikazzjoni tal-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna. Dawn ir-regoli jaffettwaw
 id-dispożizzjonijiet li hemm fil-liġi tal-Unjoni Ewropea, b'mod
 partikolari fir-Regolament tal-Kunsill (KE) Nru 44/2001 tat-22 ta'
 Diċembru 2000 dwar ġuriżdizzjoni u rikonoxximent u eżekuzzjoni
 ta’ sentenzi f’materji ċivili u kummerċjali. L-Unjoni għalhekk
 għandha l-kompetenza esklużiva fuq dawk id-dispożizzjonijiet
 stabbiliti fil-Protokoll tal-1997. Konsegwentement, l-Istati Membri ma
 jistgħux isiru partijiet kontraenti għall-Protokoll tal-1997
 għal dak li għandu x’jaqsam ma’ dawn id-dispożizzjonijiet.
 F’sitwazzjoni simili rigward il-Protokoll tat-12 ta’ Frar 2004 li jemenda
 l-Konvenzjoni ta' Pariġi, ġew adottati Deċiżjonijiet
 tal-Kunsill sabiex l-Istati Membri kkonċernati jiġi awtorizzati
 jiffirmaw u jirratifikaw il-protokoll, jew jissieħbu miegħu,
 fl-interess tal-Unjoni. F’dan il-każ qed tiġi ssuġġerita
 soluzzjoni simili.
 Il-Kummissjoni tipproponi li l-Kunsill
 jawtorizza lill-Istati Membri li huma partijiet kontraenti
 għall-Konvenzjoni tal-21 ta’ Mejju 1963 dwar ir-responsabbiltà ċivili
 għad-danni nukleari ("il-Konvenzjoni ta' Vjenna") – i.e.
 il-Bulgarija, ir-Repubblika Ċeka, l-Estonja, l-Ungerija, il-Litwanja,
 il-Polonja (ex post) u s-Slovakkja – biex jirratifikaw jew jikkonkludu,
 fl-interess tal-Unjoni Ewropea, il-Protokoll[1] li jemenda l-Konvenzjoni, li ġie
 adottat fit-12 ta’ Settembru 1997 taħt l-awspiċi tal-Aġenzija
 Internazzjonali dwar l-Enerġija Atomika.
 Fl-aħħar nett, filwaqt li jkun
 preferibbli li tiġi applikata sistema waħda għar-responsabbiltà
 nukleari fl-Unjoni Ewropea, madankollu huwa possibbli li jkun hemm flessibilità
 minħabba li s-sistemi stabbiliti fil-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna u
 fil-Konvenzjoni ta’ Pariġi huma kompatibbli.
 1.2. Protokoll biex tiġi
 emendata l-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna tal-1963 dwar ir-responsabbiltà ċivili
 għad-danni nukleari
 Il-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna ġiet adottata sabiex tipprovdi kumpens
 xieraq u ġust għall-vittmi ta’ danni kkawżati minn
 inċidenti nukleari. Hija tistabbilixxi sistema speċjali ta’
 responsabbiltà ċivili fil-qasam tal-enerġija nukleari, fuq
 il-bażi tal-prinċipji bażiċi li ġejjin: (a)
 responsabbiltà “assoluta”, i.e. responsabbiltà mingħajr tort; (b)
 responsabbilità esklużiva tal-operatur tal-istallazzjoni nukleari; (c)
 limitazzjoni tar-responsabbiltà fl-ammont u/jew limitazzjoni tal-kopertura
 tar-responsabbiltà permezz ta’ assigurazzjoni jew ta’ xi garanzija finanzjarja
 oħra; (d) limitazzjoni tar-responsabbiltà tul iż-żmien.
 Il-Protokoll
 tal-1997
 Il-Konvenzjoni ta' Vjenna ġiet emendata
 permezz tal-Protokoll tal-1997 (li daħal fis-seħħ fl-4 ta'
 Ottubru 2003) sabiex tittejjeb is-sistema ta’ kumpens għal danni nukleari.
 Inter alia,
 il-Protokoll tal-1997 fih definizzjoni ġdida ta’ dannu nukleari (li issa
 tindirizza wkoll il-kunċett ta' dannu ambjentali u ta’ miżuri
 preventivi), jestendi l-ambitu ġeografiku tal-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna,
 jestendi l-perjodu li matulu jistgħu jitressqu pretensjonijiet għal
 telf ta' ħajja jew korriment personali, u jgħolli sostanzjalment
 il-limiti minimi tal-kumpens. Barra minn hekk, fih dispożizzjonijiet
 ġodda dwar il-ġuriżdizzjoni li għandhom implikazzjonijiet
 f'każijiet fejn l-inċident nukleari jseħħ waqt it-trasport
 ta' materjal nukleari lejn jew minn installazzjoni li tkun tinsab
 fit-territorju ta’ Stat li jkun parti għall-Konvenzjoni ta' Vjenna.
 Skont l-artikolu 19(1) tal-Protokoll tal-1997,
 Stat li jkun parti għall-protokoll iżda mhux għall-Konvenzjoni
 ta' Vjenna tal-1963 huwa marbut bid-dispożizzjonijiet ta’ dik
 il-Konvenzjoni kif emendata permezz tal-Protokoll, fir-rigward ta’ Stati
 oħra li huma firmatarji tal-protokoll, u fin-nuqqas ta' espressjoni ta’
 intenzjoni differenti min-naħa ta’ dak l-istat fil-mument
 tad-depożitu tal-istrument tar-ratifika tiegħu,
 l-aċċettazzjoni, l-approvazzjoni jew l-adeżjoni se jkunu marbuta
 bil-Konvenzjoni ta' Vjenna tal-1963 fir-rigward ta’ Stati li huma partijiet
 għaliha biss.
 Il-Protokoll
 Komuni tal-1988
 Fil-21 ta’ Settembru 1988 il-Konferenza dwar
 ir-relazzjoni bejn il-Konvenzjoni ta' Pariġi u l-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna
 adottat il-Protokoll Konġunt dwar l-applikazzjoni tal-Konvenzjoni ta’
 Vjenna u tal-Konvenzjoni ta' Pariġi ("il-Protokoll Komuni
 tal-1988"), peress li l-Konvenzjoni ta' Pariġi, il-Konvenzjoni ta’
 Brussell u l-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna huma msejsin fuq l-istess prinċipji.
 L-għan ewlieni kien li tiġi kkoordinata l-implimentazzjoni
 tal-konvenzjonijiet.
 Il-Protokoll Komuni tal-1988 jorbot flimkien
 liż-żewġ konvenzjoniet b'żewġ modi ewlenin.
 L-ewwel nett, jipprovdi għal estensjoni reċiproka
 tar-responsabbiltà tal-operatur bħala parti mir-reġimi ta’
 Pariġi u ta’ Vjenna (l-artikolu II). Għalhekk, jekk iseħħ
 inċident nukleari li għalih ikun responsabbli operatur kemm skont
 il-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna kif ukoll skont il-protokoll komuni, f'konformità
 mal-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna l-operatur se jkun responsabbli għad-danni nukleari
 mġarrbin mhux biss fit-territorju tal-partijiet għal din
 il-konvenzjoni iżda wkoll fit-territorju tal-pajjiżi li huma
 partijiet kemm għall-Konvenzjoni ta' Pariġi kif ukoll
 għall-protokoll komuni. Bil-maqlub ta’ dan, jekk iseħħ
 inċident li għalih l-operatur ikun responsabbli kemm skont
 il-Konvenzjoni ta’ Pariġi kif ukoll skont il-protokoll komuni, tapplika
 r-reċiproċità.
 It-tieni nett, il-Protokoll Komuni tal-1988 hu
 maħsub biex jiġu eliminati l-kunflitti li, kieku, speċjalment
 fil-każ ta’ każijiet ta’ trasport, jirriżultaw
 mill-applikazzjoni simultanja taż-żewġ konvenzjonijiet
 (l-artikolu III).
 Il-Protokoll Komuni tal-1988 ġie ffirmat
 minn ħames Stati Membri u daħal fis-seħħ għal 17
 oħrajn wara r-ratifika, l-adeżjoni, l-approvazzjoni, jew
 l-aċċettazzjoni.
 2. IR-RIŻULTATI TAL-KONSULTAZZJONIJIET
 MAL-PARTIJIET INTERESSATI U L-VALUTAZZJONIJIET TAL-IMPATT
 L-emendi li saru fil-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna
 fihom aspetti li huma ta' benefiċċju għall-vittmi potenzjali ta’
 inċident nukleari, i.e. żieda fl-ammonti ta' responsabbiltà u
 definizzjoni usa’ ta' x’inhu dannu nukleari. Għalhekk, skont
 il-konklużjonijiet ta’ studju li ġie ppubblikat fl-2009 u ta’
 workshop li sar f’Ġunju 2010 dwar ir-responsabbiltà nukleari[2], huwa
 rrikonoxxut, wara konsultazzjoni mal-partijiet interessati, li kwalunkwe
 inizjattiva fil-qasam tar-responsabbiltà nukleari m’għandhiex tfixkel
 l-adeżjoni mill-Istati Membri ma’ kwalunkwe konvenzjoni internazzjonali li
 ttejjeb is-sitwazzjoni tal-vittmi potenzjali fl-Unjoni Ewropea. L-adeżjoni
 mal-Protokoll tal-1997 hija għalhekk ta’ benefiċċju biex jitjieb
 il-kumpens għall-vittmi madwar l-Unjoni Ewropea.
 3. L-ELEMENTI LEGALI TAL-PROPOSTA
 3.1. L-Istati Membri
 kkonċernati
 Id-disa’ Stati Membri li ġejjin
 tal-Unjoni Ewropea rratifikaw il-Konvenzjoni ta' Vjenna jew issieħbu
 magħha: il-Bulgarija, ir-Repubblika Ċeka, l-Estonja, l-Ungerija,
 il-Latvja, il-Litwanja, is-Slovakkja, il-Polonja u r-Rumanija. Ir-Renju Unit u
 Spanja ffirmaw il-konvenzjoni iżda ma rratifikawhiex (dawn iż-żewġ
 pajjiżi saru partijiet kontraenti għall-Konvenzjoni ta’ Pariġi).
 Il-konvenzjoni ma baqgħetx tapplika għas-Slovenja.
 Il-Protokoll tal-1997 ġie ffirmat
 mir-Repubblika Ċeka, l-Ungerija, il-Litwanja u l-Italja (din
 tal-aħħar hija parti kontraenti għall-Konvenzjoni ta’
 Pariġi). Il-protokoll ġie rratifikat mir-Rumanija u mil-Latvja (qabel
 daħlu fl-UE) u mill-Polonja (wara li daħlet fl-UE).
 Id-Deċiżjoni tal-Kunsill
 għandha għalhekk tiġi indirizzata lill-Istati Membri li huma
 partijiet kontraenti għall-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna, i.e. il-Bulgarija,
 ir-Repubblika Ċeka, l-Estonja, l-Ungerija, il-Litwanja, il-Polonja (ex
 post) u s-Slovakkja. Minħabba li l-Italja, ir-Renju Unit u Spanja,
 filwaqt li huma firmatarji tal-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna huma wkoll partijiet
 kontraenti għall-Konvenzjoni ta' Pariġi li tistabbilixxi sistema
 simili ta’ responsabbiltà nukleari, dawn il-pajjiżi m’għandhomx ikunu
 affettwati mid-Deċiżjoni tal-Kunsill.
 3.2. Ir-Regolament tal-Kunsill
 (KE) Nru 44/2001
 Ir-Regolament tal-Kunsill (KE) Nru 44/2001 tat-22 ta' Diċembru
 2000[3] jistabbilixxi
 regoli dwar il-ġuriżdizzjoni, ir-rikonoxximent u l-eżekuzzjoni
 ta' sentenzi f'materji ċivili u kummerċjali. Ir-regolament jorbot
 lill-Istati Membri kollha (jeżistu arranġamenti speċjali
 fir-rigward tad-Danimarka).
 Ir-regoli dwar il-ġuriżdizzjoni
 previsti fir-Regolament tal-Kunsill (KE) Nru 44/2001 japplikaw meta l-konvenut
 jkun domiċiljat f'wieħed mill-Istati Membri li huma marbuta
 bir-regolament. Konvenuti li ma jkunu domiċiljati fi Stat Membru
 jistgħu jitressqu quddiem il-qrati ta’ kull Stat Membru skont ir-regoli
 nazzjonali ta' dak l-Istat dwar il-ġuriżdizzjoni, soġġett
 għall-artikoli 22 (il-ġuriżdizzjoni esklużiva) u 23
 (il-klawżoli dwar l-għażla tal-forum).
 Il-ġuriżdizzjoni hija bbażata,
 qabelxejn, fuq id-domiċilju tal-konvenut. Barra minn hekk, f'materji li
 għandhom x'jaqsmu ma’ delitt jew kważi delitt, persuna
 domiċiljata fi Stat Membru tista' tiġi mfittxa fl-Istat Membru fejn
 ikun seħħ jew ikun jista’ sseħħ l-avveniment ta’ dannu.
 Skont il-każistika tal-Qorti, bil-post fejn iseħħ l-avveniment
 ta’ dannu nifhmu l-post fejn iseħħ l-att li jagħti lok
 għall-avveniment ta’ dannu jew il-post fejn ikun seħħ id-dannu.
 F'materji relatati mal-assigurazzjoni, assiguratur domiċiljat fi Stat
 Membru jista’ jiġi mfittex (a) fil-qrati tal-Istat Membru fejn ikun
 domiċiljat l-assiguratur, jew (b) fl-Istat Membru fejn ikun
 domiċiljat l-attur, fil-każ ta' azzjonijiet meħudin minn dak li
 f’ismu tkun maħruġa l-polza tal-assigurazzjoni, mill-assigurat jew
 minn benefiċjarju, jew (c) jekk ikun koassiguratur, fil-qrati ta' Stat
 Membru li fih jittieħdu l-proċeduri kontra l-assiguratur
 prinċipali. Fir-rigward tal-assigurazzjoni tar-responsabbiltà,
 l-assiguratur jista' wkoll jiġi mfittex fil-qrati tal-post fejn ikun
 seħħ id-dannu kif ukoll, jekk tkun tippermetti l-liġi tal-qorti,
 jissejjaħ biex jieġu sehem fi proċeduri mibdijin kontra
 l-persuna assigurata mill-parti li tkun ġarrbet id-dannu.
 Ir-Regolament tal-Kunsill (KE) Nru 44/2001
 jistipula li sentenza mogħtija fi Stat Membru wieħed trid tiġi
 rrikonoxxuti u eżegwita fl-oħrajn mingħajr ma tkun
 meħtieġa xi proċedura speċjali. Madankollu, huma
 awtorizzati numru limitat ta’ raġunijiet biex ma jingħatax
 rikonoxximent, u dan sabiex jingħata kas ta’ konsiderazzjonijiet ta’ ordni
 pubbliku, ta’ rispett għad-drittijiet tad-difiża, u
 tal-eżistenza ta’ ċerti sentenzi irrikonċiljabbli.
 3.3. Il-kompetenza tal-Unjoni
 fir-rigward tal-Protokoll tal-1997
 Ma hemm l-ebda leġiżlazzjoni
 tal-Unjoni li tirregola r-responsabbiltà ċivili fil-qasam nukleari.
 Ir-Regolament (KE) Nru 864/2007 tal-Parlament Ewropew u tal-Kunsill tal-11
 ta' Lulju 2007 dwar il-liġi applikabbli għall-obbligi mhux
 kuntrattwali ("Ruma II") jeskludi r-responsabbiltà nukleari mill-kamp
 tal-applikazzjoni tiegħu.
 Madankollu, il-Protokoll tal-1997 fih
 dispożizzjonijiet li jaffettwaw lir-Regolament tal-Kunsill (KE)
 Nru 44/2001. F'kuntrast mar-raġunijiet multipli
 għall-ġuriżdizzjoni disponibbli skont ir-regolament, l-artikolu XI
 tal-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna, kif emendata permezz tal-Protokoll tal-1997,
 jipprovdi, bħala regola ġenerali, għall-ġuriżdizzjoni
 esklużiva tal-qrati tal-Istat Parti li fit-territorju tiegħu jkun
 seħħ l-inċident nukleari.
 B'mod partikolari, l-artikolu XI
 tal-Konvenzjoni ta' Vjenna jassenja l-ġuriżdizzjoni esklużiva
 lill-qrati tal-Istat kontraenti li fit-territorju tiegħu jkun
 seħħ inċident nukleari fir-rigward tat-talbiet għal kumpens
 għal danni kkawżati mill-inċident. Jekk l-inċident ikun
 seħħ barra mit-territorju tal-partijiet kontraenti jew jekk il-post
 tal-inċident ma jkunx jista’ jiġi ddeterminat b’ċertezza,
 il-qrati rilevanti jkunu dawk tal-Istat fejn ikun hemm l-istallazzjoni nukleari
 tal-operatur responsabbli.
 Il-Protokoll tal-1997 jipprovdi wkoll
 għall-ġuriżdizzjoni esklużiva tal-qrati tal-parti
 kontraenti kostali għal inċidenti nukleari li jseħħu
 fiż-żona ekonomika esklużiva tagħha. Din
 il-ġuriżdizzjoni tingħata bil-kundizzjoni li d-depożitarju
 tal-konvenzjoni jkun irċieva notifika dwar iż-żona qabel
 l-inċident nukleari.
 Fir-rigward tar-regoli dwar ir-rikonoxximent u l-eżekuzzjoni,
 skont l-artikolu XII tal-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna kif emendata permezz
 tal-Protokoll tal-1997, kull sentenza mill-qorti kompetenti li ma tkunx
 għadha soġġetta għall-forom komuni ta’ stħarriġ
 tgawdi minn dispożizzjonijiet speċifiċi relatati mar-rikonoxximent
 u l-eżekuzzjoni tas-sentenzi. B’xi eċċezzjonijiet[4]
 l-artikolu XII jipprovdi li s-sentenza trid tiġi rikonoxxuta
 fit-territorju tal-partijiet kontraenti kollha u tkun eżegwibbli
 daqslikieku kienet s-sentenza ta’ qorti nazzjonali. Qatt m'hu permess li
 jitqiesu mill-ġdid il-merti tal-każ.
 L-Unjoni Ewropea għandha
 l-ġuriżdizzjoni esklużiva fuq id-dispożizzjonijiet dwar
 il-ġuriżdizzjoni u r-rikonoxximent u l-eżekuzzjoni ta’ sentenzi
 li jinstabu fil-Protokoll tal-1997, minħabba li dawn jaffettwaw, skont kif
 definit mill-ġurisprudenza tal-QEĠ[5], lir-regoli korrispondenti tar-Regolament
 tal-Kunsill (KE) Nru 44/2001. L-Istati Membri għalhekk m’għadx
 għandhom id-dritt li jidderogaw minn dawn ir-regoli bejniethom jew li
 jikkuntrattaw ma' pajjiżi li mhumiex Membri obbligi li jaffettwaw lil dawn
 ir-regoli.
 3.4. Awtorizzazzjoni tal-Istati
 Membri
 Madankollu, il-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna u
 l-Protokoll tal-1997 ma fihom l-ebda klawżola dwar l-organizzazzjonijiet
 ekonomiċi reġjonali li tippermetti li l-Unjoni Ewropea ssir parti
 kontraenti għall-protokoll. Konsegwentement, l-Unjoni Ewropea mhix f
 'pożizzjoni li ssir parti kontraenti għall-Protokoll tal-1997.
 Il-Protokoll tal-1997, li jtejjeb
 il-protezzjoni għall-vittmi f'każ ta' inċidenti nukleari, huwa
 partikolarment importanti għall-Unjoni Ewropea u għall-Istati Membri
 tagħha. Fuq bażi eċċezzjonali, għalhekk, huwa
 ġġustifikat li l-Unjoni teżerċita s-setgħat
 tagħha permezz tal-Istati Membri tagħha li huma partijiet
 għall-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna.
 Madankollu, jekk wieħed ma jqisx lil dawk
 l-Istati Membri li diġà huma partijiet kontraenti għall-Konvenzjoni
 emendata ta’ Pariġi, ħames Stati Membri tal-Unjoni Ewropea –
 l-Awstrija, l-Irlanda, il-Lussemburgu, Malta u Ċipru – mhumiex parti la
 għall-Konvenzjoni emendata ta' Pariġi u lanqas għall-Konvenzjoni
 ta’ Vjenna tal-1963. Konsegwentement, huwa meqjus oġġettivament
 ġustifikat, fuq bażi eċċezzjonali, li dawn il-ħames
 Stati Membri jitħallew ma jsirux parti għall-Protokoll tal-1997 u,
 għalhekk, ikomplu japplikaw ir-regoli tar-Regolament tal-Kunsill (KE)
 Nru 44/2001 fiż-żona koperta mill-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna u
 mill-Protokoll tal-1997. Din id-differenza fl-applikazzjoni tar-regoli dwar
 il-ġuriżdizzjoni fl-Unjoni Ewropea hija ġustifikata billi:
 - il-Protokoll tal-1997 jemenda konvenzjoni li
 dawn il-ħames Stati Membri mhumiex partijiet kontraenti għaliha;
 - ir-Regolament tal-Kunsill (KE)
 Nru 44/2001 ma jaffettwax lill-konvenzjonijiet li l-Istati Membri huma
 partijiet għalihom.
 Bħala konsegwenza, huma biss dawk
 l-Istati Membri li bħalissa huma partijiet għall-Konvenzjoni ta’
 Vjenna li għandhom jirratifikaw il-Protokoll tal-1997, jew jissieħbu
 miegħu, fl-interess tal-Unjoni Ewropea. Il-Polonja rratifikat il-Protokoll
 tal-1997 wara li daħlet fl-UE. Id-deċiżjoni għandha
 għalhekk tiġi indirizzata lill-Polonja ex post. Il-Latvja u
 r-Rumanija kienu diġà ffirmaw u rratifikaw il-Protokoll tal-1997 qabel ma
 daħlu fl-Unjoni Ewropea.
 Għal dawn ir-raġunijiet,
 il-Kummissjoni tirrakkomanda li l-PE u l-Kunsill jadottaw
 id-deċiżjoni li tawtorizza lill-Istati Membri li huma partijiet
 għall-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna jirratifikaw, fl-interess tal-Unjoni Ewropea,
 il-Protokoll tal-1997, jew jissieħbu miegħu.
 3.5. Riżerva fuq ir-regoli
 dwar ir-rikonoxximent u l-eżekuzzjoni tas-sentenzi
 Fir-rigward tar-regoli dwar ir-rikonoxximent u l-eżekuzzjoni
 tas-sentenzi, stabbiliti fl-artikolu XII, kif emendat permezz tal-artikolu 14
 tal-Protokoll tal-1997, huwa meħtieġ li tiġi żgurata
 l-applikazzjoni ma taqta’ xejn tar-regoli rilevanti
 tar-Regolament 44/2001, kif estiż għad-Danimarka permezz
 tal-Ftehim bejn il-Komunità Ewropea u r-Renju tad-Danimarka dwar
 il-ġuriżdizzjoni u r-rikonoxximent u l-eżekuzzjoni ta’ sentenzi
 f'materji ċivili u kummerċjali[6], jew tal-Konvenzjoni ta’ Lugano dwar
 il-ġuriżdizzjoni u r-rikonoxximent u l-eżekuzzjoni ta' sentenzi
 f’materji ċivili u kummerċjali tat-30 ta' Ottubru 2007[7]. Jekk
 l-applikazzjoni tal-artikolu XII tal-Konvenzjoni ta' Vjenna tiġi limitata
 b’dan il-mod, wieħed jiżgura l-unità fl-ispazju ġudizzjarju
 tal-Unjoni u ċ-ċirkulazzjoni ħielsa tas-sentenzi fl-UE,
 mingħajr ma jkun hemm la riperkussjonijiet fuq l-implimentazzjoni
 effettiva tal-konvenzjoni, kif emendata permezz tal-protokoll, u lanqas
 implikazzjonijiet fundamentali għall-Istati li mhumiex fl-UE u li huma
 parti għaliha.
 Il-Protokoll tal-1997 ma jsemmi xejn fuq il-kwistjoni tar-riżervi
 permissibbli. Skont l-artikolu 19 tal-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna tal-1969 dwar
 il-liġi tat-trattati, riżerva tista’ tkun permissibbli jekk tkun
 kompatibbli ma’ "l-oġġett u l-iskop" tal-konvenzjoni, kif
 inhu l-każ hawnhekk.
 Bħala konklużjoni, meta
 jissieħbu mal-Protokoll tal-1997, l-Istati Membri jridu jiżguraw
 l-applikazzjoni tar-regoli relevanti tal-UE dwar ir-rikonoxximent u
 l-eżekuzzjoni ta’ sentenzi li jingħataw mill-qorti ta’ Stat Membru
 ieħor (inkluża d-Danimarka) jew minn Stati li mhumiex fl-UE u li huma
 marbuta bil-Konvenzjoni ta’ Lugano.
 2012/0262 (NLE)
 Proposta għal
 DEĊIŻJONI TAL-KUNSILL
 li tawtorizza lill-Istati Membri li huma
 partijiet kontraenti għall-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna dwar ir-responsabbiltà
 ċivili għad-danni nukleari tal-21 ta' Mejju 1963
 ("il-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna") biex, fl-interess tal-Unjoni Ewropea,
 jirratifikaw il-protokoll li jemenda lil dik il-konvenzjoni jew jissieħbu
 miegħu
 IL-KUNSILL TAL-UNJONI EWROPEA,
 Wara li kkunsidra t-Trattat dwar
 il-Funzjonament tal-Unjoni Ewropea, u b’mod partikolari l-artikolu 81(2),
 flimkien mal-artikolu 218(6)(a) tiegħu,
 Wara li kkunsidra l-proposta mill-Kummissjoni
 Ewropea,
 Wara li kkunsidra l-kunsens tal-Parlament
 Ewropew,
 Billi:
 (1) Il-Protokoll tat-12 ta’
 Settembru 1997 li jemenda l-Konvenzjoni ta' Vjenna dwar ir-responsabbiltà
 ċivili għad-danni nukleari tal-21 ta’ Mejju 1963 (minn hawn ’il
 quddiem imsejħa l-"Konvenzjoni ta' Vjenna") kien innegozjat
 bil-ħsieb li jitjieb il-kumpens għall-vittmi ta’ danni kkawżati
 minn inċidenti nukleari.
 (2) L-Unjoni Ewropea għandha
 l-ġuriżdizzjoni esklużiva rigward l-artikoli kkonsolidati XI u
 XII tal-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna sa fejn dawn id-dispożizzjonijiet
 jaffettwaw lir-regoli stabbiliti fir-Regolament tal-Kunsill (KE) Nru 44/2001
 tat-22 ta' Diċembru 2000 dwar ġuriżdizzjoni u rikonoxximent u
 eżekuzzjoni ta’ sentenzi f'materji ċivili u kummerċjali[8]. L-Istati
 Membri jżommu l-kompetenza tagħhom għal materji koperti
 mill-Protokoll tal-1997 li ma jaffettwawx lil-liġi tal-Unjoni Ewropea.
 Minħabba l-oġġett u l-għan tal-Protokoll tal-1997,
 l-aċċettazzjoni tad-dispożizzjonijiet tal-protokoll li
 jaqgħu taħt il-ġuriżdizzjoni tal-Unjoni Ewropea ma tistax
 tiġi ddiżassoċjata mid-dispożizzjonijiet li jaqgħu
 taħt il-kompetenza tal-Istati Membri.
 (3) Il-Protokoll tal-1997 huwa
 partikolarment importanti, fl-interess tal-Unjoni Ewropea u tal-Istati Membri
 tagħha, għax itejjeb il-kumpens għal danni kkawżati minn
 inċidenti nukleari.
 (4) Il-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna u
 l-Protokoll tagħha tal-1997 mhumiex miftuħa għall-parteċipazzjoni
 ta’ organizzazzjonijiet reġjonali. B’riżultat ta’ dan, l-Unjoni
 Ewropea mhix f’pożizzjoni li tiffirma jew tirratifika l-protokoll. F’dawn
 iċ-ċirkustanzi, huwa ġġustifikat, fuq bażi
 eċċezzjonali, li l-Istati Membri jirratifikaw jew jikkonkludu l-Protokoll
 tal-1997 fl-interess tal-Unjoni Ewropea.
 (5) Madankollu, ħamsa
 mill-Istati Membri tal-Unjoni Ewropea – l-Awstrija, l-Irlanda, il-Lussemburgu,
 Ċipru u Malta – mhumiex partijiet għall-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna.
 Minħabba li l-Protokoll tal-1997 jemenda l-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna u li
 r-Regolament tal-Kunsill (KE) Nru 44/2001 jawtorizza lill-Istati Membri li
 huma marbuta b'din il-konvenzjoni jkomplu japplikaw ir-regoli dwar
 il-ġuriżdizzjoni previsti fiha, huwa oġġettivament ġustifikat
 li din id-deċiżjoni tiġi indirizzata biss lil dawk l-Istati
 Membri li huma partijiet kontraenti għall-Konvenzjoni ta' Vjenna u li, fuq
 bażi eċċezzjonali, dawn il-ħames Stati Membri
 jitħallew ma jsirux parti għall-Protokoll tal-1997.
 (6) L-Istati Membri li huma
 partijiet għall-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna għandhom għalhekk
 jirratifikaw jew jikkonkludu l-Protokoll tal-1997 fl-interess tal-Unjoni
 Ewropea, suġġett għall-kundizzjonijiet stabbiliti f’din
 id-Deċiżjoni. Din id-deċiżjoni hija indirizzata
 lill-Polonja ex post minħabba li hija hija rratifikat il-protokoll
 fl-2010.
 (7) Konsegwentement, rigward
 l-Unjoni Ewropea, id-dispożizzjonijiet tal-Protokoll tal-1997 se jiġu
 applikati biss minn dawk l-Istati Membri li fil-preżent huma partijiet
 kontraenti għall-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna.
 (8) L-Istati Membri għandhom
 jiffinalizzaw, fi żmien raġonevoli, il-proċeduri tagħhom
 għar-ratifika tal-Protokoll tal-1997, jew għall-adeżjoni
 tagħhom miegħu, fl-interess tal-UE. L-Istati Membri għandhom jaqsmu
 ma' xulxin informazzjoni dwar fejn ikunu waslu l-proċeduri tar-ratifika
 jew tal-adeżjoni tagħhom sabiex jippreparaw għad-depożitu
 tal-istrumenti tagħhom għar-ratifika tal-Protokoll tal-1997 jew
 għall-adeżjoni miegħu.
 (9) Ir-regoli dwar
 ir-rikonoxximent u l-eżekuzzjoni tas-sentenzi stabbiliti fl-artikolu XII
 tal-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna, kif emendata permezz tal-artikolu 14 tal-Protokoll
 tal-1997, m’għandhom jieħdu preċedenza la fuq ir-regoli
 rilevanti stabbiliti fir-Regolament (KE) Nru 44/2001, kif estiż
 għad-Danimarka permezz tal-Ftehim bejn il-Komunità Ewropea u r-Renju
 tad-Danimarka dwar il-ġuriżdizzjoni u r-rikonoxximent u
 l-eżekuzzjoni ta' sentenzi f'materji ċivili u kummerċjali, u
 lanqas fuq dawk tal-Konvenzjoni ta' Lugano dwar il-ġuriżdizzjoni u
 r-rikonoxximent u l-eżekuzzjoni ta’ sentenzi f'materji ċivili u
 kummerċjali tat-30 ta’ Ottubru 2007. Għalhekk, meta jirratifikaw
 il-Protokoll tal-1997 jew jissieħbu miegħu, l-Istati Membri jridu
 jagħmlu dikjarazzjoni bil-għan li tiġi żgurata
 applikazzjoni kontinwata tar-regoli rilevanti tal-UE.
 (10) F’konformità
 mal-artikoli 1 u 2 tal-Protokoll dwar il-pożizzjoni
 tad-Danimarka, li hu anness mat-Trattat dwar l-Unjoni Ewropea u t-Trattat dwar
 il-Funzjonament tal-Unjoni Ewropea, id-Danimarka mhijiex tieħu sehem
 fl-adozzjoni ta’ din id-deċiżjoni, u mhijiex marbuta biha jew
 soġġetta għall-applikazzjoni tagħha
 ADOTTAT DIN ID-DEĊIŻJONI:
 Artikolu 1
 1.
 Mingħajr preġudizzju
 għas-setgħat tal-Unjoni Ewropea, l-Istati Membri li attwalment huma
 partijiet għall-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna tal-21 ta' Mejju 1963 dwar
 ir-responsabbiltà ċivili għad-danni nukleari se jirratifikaw
 il-Protokoll tal-1997, jew jissieħbu miegħu, fl-interess tal-Unjoni
 Ewropea.
 2.
 It-test tal-Protokoll tal-1997 huwa mehmuż ma’
 din id-deċiżjoni.
 3.
 F'din id-deċiżjoni, it-terminu "Stat
 Membru" jfisser l-Istati Membri kollha li fil-preżent huma partijiet
 kontraenti għall-Konvenzjoni ta' Vjenna.
 Artikolu 2
 1.
 L-Istati Membri se jieħdu l-passi
 meħtieġa biex jiddepożitaw l-istrumenti tagħhom
 għar-ratifika tal-Protokoll tal-1997 jew għall-adeżjoni
 miegħu mad-direttur ġenerali tal-Aġenzija Internazzjonali
 tal-Enerġija Atomika simultanjament fi żmien raġonevoli u, jekk
 ikun possibbli, qabel il-31 ta' Diċembru 2014.
 4.
 Qabel [...],
 l-Istati Membri se jgħarrfu lill-Kunsill u lill-Kummissjoni bid-data
 prospettiva tal-konklużjoni tal-proċeduri tagħhom
 għar-ratifika jew għall-adeżjoni.
 5.
 L-Istati Membri se jagħmlu ħilithom biex
 jiskambjaw informazzjoni dwar fejn ikunu waslu l-proċeduri tagħhom
 għar-ratifika.
 Artikolu 3
 Meta jirratifikaw il-Protokoll tal-1997 jew
 jissieħbu miegħu, l-Istati Membri jagħmlu d-dikjarazzjoni li
 ġejja:
 "Is-sentenzi dwar materji koperti
 mill-Protokoll tal-1997, meta mogħtija mill-qorti ta’ Stat Membru tal-UE
 li huwa parti kontraenti għall-protokoll, tiġi rikonoxxuta u
 eżegwita fi Stati Membri oħra tal-UE li huma partijiet kontraenti
 għall-protokoll, skont ir-regoli rilevanti tal-Unjoni Ewropea dwar
 is-suġġett.
 Sentenzi fuq kwistjonijiet koperti
 mill-Protokoll tal-1997, meta mogħtija minn qorti tar-Renju tad-Danimarka,
 jiġu rrikonoxxuti u eżegwiti fi Stati Membri oħra tal-UE li huma
 partijiet kontraenti għall-protokoll, skont il-Ftehim bejn il-Komunità
 Ewropea u r-Renju tad-Danimarka dwar il-ġuriżdizzjoni u
 r-rikonoxximent u l-eżekuzzjoni ta’ sentenzi f'materji ċivili u
 kummerċjali.
 Sentenzi fuq kwistjonijiet koperti mill-Protokoll
 ta’ Ateni, meta mogħtija minn qorti ta’ Stat li mhux fl-UE u li hu marbut
 bil-Konvenzjoni ta’ Lugano dwar il-ġuriżdizzjoni u l-eżekuzzjoni
 ta' sentenzi f'materji ċivili u kummerċjali tat-30 ta' Ottubru 2007
 jiġu rrikonoxxuti u eżegwiti fl-Istati Membri l-oħra tal-UE li
 huma partijiet kontraenti għall-protokoll, skont din il-konvenzjoni."
 Artikolu 4
 Din id-deċiżjoni tidħol
 fis-seħħ l-għada tal-jum tal-pubblikazzjoni tagħha f'Il-Ġurnal
 Uffiċjali tal-Unjoni Ewropea.
 Artikolu 5
 Din
 id-deċiżjoni hija indirizzata lill-Istati Membri skont it-trattati.
 Magħmul fi Brussell,
 Għall-Kunsill
 Il-President
 ANNESS
 Protokoll biex tiġi emendata
 l-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna tal-1963 dwar ir-responsabbiltà ċivili
 għad-danni nukleari
 L-ISTATI PARTIJIET GĦAL DAN IL-PROTOKOLL,
 BILLI hu mixtieq li l-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna
 dwar ir-responsabbiltà ċivili għad-danni nukleari tal-21 ta' Mejju
 1963 tiġi emendata sabiex tipprovdi għal ambitu usa', għal
 ammont ikbar ta' responsabbiltà tal-operatur ta' impjant nukleari u għal
 mezzi mtejba biex jiġi ggarantit kumpens adegwat u ġust,
 QABLU fuq dan li ġej,
 Artikolu 1
 Il-konvenzjoni li d-dispożizzjonijiet ta’
 dan il-protokoll jemendaw hi l-Konvenzjoni ta' Vjenna dwar ir-responsabbiltà
 ċivili għad-danni nukleari tal-21 ta’ Mejju 1963, minn hawn’il
 quddiem imsejħa l-"Konvenzjoni ta' Vjenna tal-1963".
 Artikolu 2
 L-artikolu I tal-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna
 tal-1963 hu emendat kif ġej:
 1. Il-paragrafu 1(j) hu emendat
 kif ġej:
 (a)
 il-kelma "and" titħassar minn tmiem
 is-subparagrafu (ii) u tiddaħħal fi tmiem is-subparagrafu (iii).
 (b)
 jiżdied subparagrafu ġdid, (iv), kif
 ġej:
 (iv)
 such other installations in which there are nuclear fuel or radioactive
 products or waste as the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy
 Agency shall from time to time determine;
 2. Il-paragrafu 1(k)
 jinbidel bit-test li ġej:
 (k) "Nuclear Damage" means -
 (i) loss of life or personal injury;
 (ii) loss of or damage to property;
 and each of the following to the extent
 determined by the law of the competent court;
 (iii) economic loss arising from loss or damage
 referred to in sub-paragraph (i) or (ii), insofar as not included in those
 sub-paragraphs, if incurred by a person entitled to claim in respect of such
 loss or damage;
 (iv) the costs of measures of reinstatement of
 impaired environment, unless such impairment is insignificant, if such measures
 are actually taken or to be taken, and insofar as not included in sub-paragraph
 (ii);
 (v) loss of income deriving from an economic
 interest in any use or enjoyment of the environment, incurred as a result of a
 significant impairment of that environment, and insofar as not included in
 sub-paragraph (ii);
 (vi) the costs of preventive measures, and further
 loss or damage caused by such measures;
 (vii) any other economic loss, other than any
 caused by the impairment of the environment, if permitted by the general law on
 civil liability of the competent court,
 in the case of subparagraphs (i) to (v) and
 (vii) above, to the extent that the loss or damage arises out of or results
 from ionizing radiation emitted by any source of radiation inside a nuclear
 installation, or emitted from nuclear fuel or radioactive products or waste in,
 or of nuclear material coming from, originating in, or sent to, a nuclear
 installation, whether so arising from the radioactive properties of such
 matter, or from a combination of radioactive properties with toxic, explosive
 or other hazardous properties of such matter.
 3. Il-paragrafu 1(l) jiġi sostitwit bit-test li ġej:
 (l) "Nuclear incident" means any
 occurrence or series of occurrences having the same origin which causes nuclear
 damage or, but only with respect to preventive measures, creates a grave and
 imminent threat of causing such damage.
 4. Wara l-paragrafu 1(l) jiddaħħlu erba’ paragrafi ġodda,
 1(m), 1(n), 1(o) u 1(p), kif ġej:
 (m) ""Measures of reinstatement"
 means any reasonable measures which have been approved by the competent
 authorities of the State where the measures were taken, and which aim to
 reinstate or restore damaged or destroyed components of the environment, or to
 introduce, where reasonable, the equivalent of these components into the
 environment. The law of the State where the damage is suffered shall determine who
 is entitled to take such measures.
 (n) ""Preventive measures" means any reasonable measures taken
 by any person after a nuclear incident has occurred to prevent or minimize
 damage referred to in sub-paragraphs (k)(i) to (v) or (vii), subject to any approval
 of the competent authorities required by the law of the State where the
 measures were taken.
 (o) ""Reasonable measures" means measures which are found under
 the law of the competent court to be appropriate and proportionate having
 regard to all the circumstances, for example -
 (i) the nature and extent of the damage incurred
 or, in the case of preventive measures, the nature and extent of the risk of
 such damage;
 (ii) the extent to which, at the time they are
 taken, such measures are likely to be effective; and
 (iii) relevant scientific and technical expertise.
 (p) "Special Drawing Right",
 hereinafter referred to as SDR, means the unit of account defined by the
 International Monetary Fund and used by it for its own operations and
 transactions.
 5. Il-paragrafu 2 jiġi
 sostitwit bit-test li ġej:
 2. An Installation State may, if the small
 extent of the risks involved so warrants, exclude any nuclear installation or
 small quantities of nuclear material from the application of this Convention,
 provided that-
 (a)
 with respect to nuclear installations, criteria for
 such exclusion have been established by the Board of Governors of the
 International Atomic Energy Agency and any exclusion by an Installation State
 satisfies such criteria; and
 (b)
 with respect to small quantities of nuclear
 material, maximum limits for the exclusion of such quantities have been
 established by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency
 and any exclusion by an Installation State is within such established limits.
 The criteria
 for the exclusion of nuclear installations and the maximum limits for the
 exclusion of small quantities of nuclear material shall be reviewed
 periodically by the Board of Governors.
 Artikolu 3
 Wara l-artikolu I tal-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna
 tal-1963, jiżdiedu żewġ artikoli ġodda, I A u I B,
 kif ġej:
 Article I A
 1. This Convention shall apply
 to nuclear damage wherever suffered.
 2. However, the legislation of
 the Installation State may exclude from the application of this Convention
 damage suffered -
 (c)
 in the territory of a non-Contracting State; or
 (d)
 in any maritime zones established by a
 non-Contracting State in accordance with the international law of the sea.
 3. An exclusion pursuant to
 paragraph 2 of this Article may apply only in respect of a non-Contracting
 State which at the time of the incident -
 (e)
 has a nuclear installation in its territory or in
 any maritime zones established by it in accordance with the international law
 of the sea; and
 (f)
 does not afford equivalent reciprocal benefits.
 4. Any exclusion pursuant to
 paragraph 2 of this Article shall not affect the rights referred to in
 sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph 2 of Article IX and any exclusion pursuant to
 paragraph 2(b) of this Article shall not extend to damage on board or to a ship
 or an aircraft.
 Article I B
 This Convention shall not apply to nuclear
 installations used for non-peaceful purposes.
 Artikolu 4
 L-artikolu II tal-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna
 tal-1963 hu emendat kif ġej:
 5. Fl-aħħar
 tal-paragrafu 3(a) jiżdied it-test li ġej:
 6. The Installation State may
 limit the amount of public funds made available per incident to the difference,
 if any, between the amounts hereby established and the amount established
 pursuant to paragraph 1 of Article V.
 7. Fl-aħħar
 tal-paragrafu 4 jiżdied it-test li ġej:
 The Installation
 State may limit the amount of public funds made available as provided for in
 sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph 3 of this Article.
 8. Il-paragrafu 6 jiġi
 sostitwit bit-test li ġej:
 6. No person shall be liable for any loss or
 damage which is not nuclear damage pursuant to sub-paragraph (k) of paragraph 1
 of Article I but which could have been determined as such pursuant to the
 provisions of that sub-paragraph.
 Artikolu 5
 Wara l-ewwel sentenza fl-artikolu III
 tal-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna tal-1963 jiżdied it-test li ġej:
 However, the Installation State may exclude
 this obligation in relation to carriage which takes place wholly within its own
 territory.
 Artikolu 6
 L-artikolu IV tal-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna
 tal-1963 hu emendat kif ġej:
 9. Il-paragrafu 3 jiġi
 sostitwit bit-test li ġej:
 3. No
 liability under this Convention shall attach to an operator if he proves that
 the nuclear damage is directly due to an act of armed conflict, hostilities,
 civil war or insurrection.
 10. Il-paragrafu 5 jiġi sostitwit
 bit-test li ġej:
 5. The operator shall not be liable under this
 Convention for nuclear damage -
 (g)
 to the nuclear installation itself and any other
 nuclear installation, including a nuclear installation under construction, on
 the site where that installation is located; and
 (h)
 to any property on that same site which is used or
 to be used in connection with any such installation.
 11. Il-paragrafu 6 jiġi
 sostitwit bit-test li ġej:
 6. Compensation
 for damage caused to the means of transport upon which the nuclear material
 involved was at the time of the nuclear incident shall not have the effect of
 reducing the liability of the operator in respect of other damage to an amount
 less than either 150 million SDRs, or any higher amount established by the
 legislation of a Contracting Party, or an amount established pursuant to
 sub-paragraph (c) of paragraph 1 of Article V.
 4. Il-paragrafu 7 jiġi sostitwit bit-test
 li ġej:
 7. Nothing in this Convention shall affect the
 liability of any individual for nuclear damage for which the operator, by
 virtue of paragraph 3 or 5 of this Article, is not liable under this Convention
 and which that individual caused by an act or omission done with intent to
 cause damage.
 Artikolu 7
 12. It-test tal-artikolu V
 tal-Konvenzjoni ta' Vjenna tal-1963 huwa ssostitwit bit-test li ġej:
 1. The liability of the operator may be
 limited by the Installation State for any one nuclear incident, either -
 (i)
 to not less than 300 million SDRs; or
 (j)
 to not less than 150 million SDRs provided that in
 excess of that amount and up to at least 300 million SDRs public funds shall be
 made available by that State to compensate nuclear damage; or
 (k)
 for a maximum of 15 years from the date of entry
 into force of this Protocol, to a transitional amount of not less than 100
 million SDRs in respect of a nuclear incident occurring within that period. An
 amount lower than 100 million SDRs may be established, provided that public
 funds shall be made available by that State to compensate nuclear damage
 between that lesser amount and 100 million SDRs.
 13. Notwithstanding paragraph 1 of
 this Article, the Installation State, having regard to the nature of the
 nuclear installation or the nuclear substances involved and to the likely
 consequences of an incident originating therefrom, may establish a lower amount
 of liability of the operator, provided that in no event shall any amount so
 established be less than 5 million SDRs, and provided that the Installation
 State ensures that public funds shall be made available up to the amount
 established pursuant to paragraph 1.
 14. The amounts established by the
 Installation State of the liable operator in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2
 of this Article and paragraph 6 of Article IV shall apply wherever the nuclear
 incident occurs.
 2. Wara l-artikolu V jiżdiedu erba’
 artikoli ġodda, V A, V B, V C u V D, kif ġej:
 Article V A
 15. Interest and costs awarded by
 a court in actions for compensation of nuclear damage shall be payable in
 addition to the amounts referred to in Article V.
 16. The amounts mentioned in
 Article V and paragraph 6 of Article IV may be converted into national currency
 in round figures.
 Article V B
 Each Contracting Party shall ensure that
 persons suffering damage may enforce their rights to compensation without
 having to bring separate proceedings according to the origin of the funds
 provided for such compensation.
 Article V C
 17. If the courts having
 jurisdiction are those of a Contracting Party other than the Installation
 State, the public funds required under sub-paragraphs (b) and (c) of paragraph
 1 of Article V and under paragraph 1 of Article VII, as well as interest and
 costs awarded by a court, may be made available by the first-named Contracting
 Party. The Installation State shall reimburse to the other Contracting Party
 any such sums paid. These two Contracting Parties shall agree on the procedure
 for reimbursement.
 18. If the courts having
 jurisdiction are those of a Contracting Party other than the Installation
 State, the Contracting Party whose courts have jurisdiction shall take all
 measures necessary to enable the Installation State to intervene in proceedings
 and to participate in any settlement concerning compensation.
 Article V D
 19. A meeting of the Contracting
 Parties shall be convened by the Director General of the International Atomic
 Energy Agency to amend the limits of liability referred to in Article V if
 one-third of the Contracting Parties express a desire to that effect.
 20. Amendments shall be adopted by
 a two-thirds majority of the Contracting Parties present and voting, provided
 that at least one-half of the Contracting Parties shall be present at the time
 of the voting.
 21. When acting on a proposal to
 amend the limits, the meeting of the Contracting Parties shall take into
 account, inter alia, the risk of damage resulting from a nuclear incident,
 changes in the monetary values, and the capacity of the insurance market.
 22. (a) Any amendment adopted in
 accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article shall be notified by the Director
 General of the IAEA to all Contracting Parties for acceptance. The amendment
 shall be considered accepted at the end of a period of 18 months after it has
 been notified provided that at least one-third of the Contracting Parties at
 the time of the adoption of the amendment by the meeting have communicated to
 the Director General of the IAEA that they accept the amendment. An amendment
 accepted in accordance with this paragraph shall enter into force 12 months
 after its acceptance for those Contracting Parties which have accepted it.
 (b) If, within a period of 18 months from the date
 of notification for acceptance, an amendment has not been accepted in
 accordance with sub-paragraph (a), the amendment shall be considered rejected.
 23. For each Contracting Party
 accepting an amendment after it has been accepted but not entered into force or
 after its entry into force in accordance with paragraph 4 of this Article, the
 amendment shall enter into force 12 months after its acceptance by that
 Contracting Party.
 24. A State which becomes a Party
 to this Convention after the entry into force of an amendment in accordance
 with paragraph 4 of this Article shall, failing an expression of a different
 intention by that State -
 (l)
 be considered as a Party to this Convention as so
 amended; and
 (m)
 be considered as a Party to the unamended
 Convention in relation to any State Party not bound by the amendment.
 Artikolu 8
 L-artikolu VI tal-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna
 tal-1963 hu emendat kif ġej:
 25. Il-paragrafu 1 jiġi
 sostitwit bit-test li ġej:
 (n)
 Rights of compensation under this Convention shall
 be extinguished if an action is not brought within -
 (i) with respect to loss of life and personal
 injury, thirty years from the date of the nuclear incident;
 (ii) with respect to other damage, ten years from
 the date of the nuclear incident.
 (o)
 If, however, under the law of the Installation
 State, the liability of the operator is covered by insurance or other financial
 security including State funds for a longer period, the law of the competent
 court may provide that rights of compensation against the operator shall only
 be extinguished after such a longer period which shall not exceed the period
 for which his liability is so covered under the law of the Installation State.
 (p)
 Actions for compensation with respect to loss of
 life and personal injury or, pursuant to an extension under sub-paragraph (b)
 of this paragraph with respect to other damage, which are brought after a
 period of ten years from the date of the nuclear incident shall in no case
 affect the rights of compensation under this Convention of any person who has
 brought an action against the operator before the expiry of that period.
 26. Il-paragrafu 2
 jitħassar.
 27. Il-paragrafu 3 jiġi
 sostitwit bit-test li ġej:
 3. Rights of compensation under the Convention
 shall be subject to prescription or extinction, as provided by the law of the
 competent court, if an action is not brought within three years from the date
 on which the person suffering damage had knowledge or ought reasonably to have
 had knowledge of the damage and of the operator liable for the damage, provided
 that the periods established pursuant to sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of
 paragraph 1 of this Article shall not be exceeded.
 Artikolu 9
 L-artikolu VII huwa emendat kif ġej:
 28. Fil-paragrafu 1,
 iż-żewġ sentenzi li ġejjin jiżdiedu fl-aħħar
 tal-paragrafu u l-paragrafu emendat b’dan il-mod isir is-sottoparagrafu (a) ta’
 dak il-paragrafu:
 Where the liability of the operator is
 unlimited, the Installation State may establish a limit of the financial
 security of the operator liable, provided that such limit is not lower than 300
 million SDRs. The Installation State shall ensure the payment of claims for
 compensation for nuclear damage which have been established against the
 operator to the extent that the yield of the financial security is inadequate
 to satisfy such claims, but not in excess of the amount of the financial
 security to be provided under this paragraph.
 29. Jiżdied subparagrafu
 ġdid, (b), mal-paragrafu 1, kif ġej:
 (b) Notwithstanding sub-paragraph (a) of this
 paragraph, where the liability of the operator is unlimited, the Installation
 State, having regard to the nature of the nuclear installation or the nuclear
 substances involved and to the likely consequences of an incident originating
 therefrom, may establish a lower amount of financial security of the operator,
 provided that in no event shall any amount so established be less than 5
 million SDRs, and provided that the Installation State ensures the payment of
 claims for compensation for nuclear damage which have been established against
 the operator by providing necessary funds to the extent that the yield of
 insurance or other financial security is inadequate to satisfy such claims, and
 up to the limit provided pursuant to sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph.
 30. Fil-paragrafu 3,
 jiddaħħal il-kliem "or sub-paragraphs (b) and (c) of paragraph 1
 of Article V" wara l-kliem "of this Article".
 Artikolu 10
 L-artikolu VIII tal-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna
 tal-1963 hu emendat kif ġej:
 31. It-test tal-artikolu VIII jsir
 il-paragrafu 1 ta’ dak l-artikolu.
 32. Jiddaħħal paragrafu
 ġdid, 2, kif ġej:
 2. Subject to application of the rule of
 sub-paragraph (c) of paragraph 1 of Article VI, where in respect of claims
 brought against the operator the damage to be compensated under this Convention
 exceeds, or is likely to exceed, the maximum amount made available pursuant to
 paragraph 1 of Article V, priority in the distribution of the compensation
 shall be given to claims in respect of loss of life or personal injury.
 Artikolu 11
 Fl-artikolu X tal-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna
 tal-1963, tiżdied sentenza ġdida fl-aħħar tal-artikolu, kif
 ġej:
 The right of recourse provided for under this
 Article may also be extended to benefit the Installation State insofar as it
 has provided public funds pursuant to this Convention.
 Artikolu 12
 L-artikolu XI tal-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna
 tal-1963 hu emendat kif ġej:
 33. Jiddaħħal paragrafu
 ġdid, 1bis, kif ġej:
 1bis. Where a nuclear incident occurs
 within the area of the exclusive economic zone of a Contracting Party or, if
 such a zone has not been established, in an area not exceeding the limits of an
 exclusive economic zone, were one to be established, jurisdiction over actions
 concerning nuclear damage from that nuclear incident shall, for the purposes of
 this Convention, lie only with the courts of that Party. The preceding sentence
 shall apply if that Contracting Party has notified the Depositary of such area
 prior to the nuclear incident. Nothing in this paragraph shall be interpreted
 as permitting the exercise of jurisdiction in a manner which is contrary to the
 international law of the sea, including the United Nations Convention on the
 Law of the Sea.
 34. Il-paragrafu 2 jiġi
 sostitwit bit-test li ġej:
 2. Where a
 nuclear incident does not occur within the territory of any Contracting Party,
 or within an area notified pursuant to paragraph 1bis, or where the place of
 the nuclear incident cannot be determined with certainty, jurisdiction over
 such actions shall lie with the courts of the Installation State of the
 operator liable.
 35. Fil-paragrafu 3, l-ewwel
 linja, u fis-subparagrafu (b), wara l-figura "1", daħħal
 ", 1bis".
 36. Jiddaħħal paragrafu
 ġdid, 4, kif ġej:
 4.
 The Contracting Party whose courts have jurisdiction shall ensure that only one
 of its courts shall have jurisdiction in relation to any one nuclear incident.
 Artikolu 13
 Wara l-artikolu XI jiżdied artikolu
 ġdid, XI A, kif ġej:
 Article XI A
 The Contracting Party whose courts have
 jurisdiction shall ensure that in relation to actions for compensation of
 nuclear damage -
 (q)
 any State may bring an action on behalf of persons
 who have suffered nuclear damage, who are nationals of that State or have their
 domicile or residence in its territory, and who have consented thereto; and
 (r)
 any person may bring an action to enforce rights
 under this Convention acquired by subrogation or assignment.
 Artikolu 14
 It-test tal-artikolu XII tal-Konvenzjoni ta'
 Vjenna tal-1963 huwa ssostitwit bit-test li ġej:
 Article XII
 37. A judgment that is no longer
 subject to ordinary forms of review entered by a court of a Contracting Party
 having jurisdiction shall be recognized, except -
 (s)
 where the judgment was obtained by fraud;
 (t)
 where the party against whom the judgment was
 pronounced was not given a fair opportunity to present his case; or
 (u)
 where the judgment is contrary to the public policy
 of the Contracting Party within the territory of which recognition is sought,
 or is not in accord with fundamental standards of justice.
 38. A judgment which is recognized
 under paragraph 1 of this Article shall, upon being presented for enforcement
 in accordance with the formalities required by the law of the Contracting Party
 where enforcement is sought, be enforceable as if it were a judgment of a court
 of that Contracting Party. The merits of a claim on which the judgment has been
 given shall not be subject to further proceedings.
 Artikolu 15
 L-artikolu XIII tal-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna
 tal-1963 hu emendat kif ġej:
 39. It-test tal-artikolu XIII jsir
 il-paragrafu 1 ta’ dak l-artikolu.
 40. Jiddaħħal paragrafu
 ġdid, 2, kif ġej:
 2.
 Notwithstanding paragraph 1 of this Article, insofar as compensation for
 nuclear damage is in excess of 150 million SDRs, the legislation of the
 Installation State may derogate from the provisions of this Convention with
 respect to nuclear damage suffered in the territory, or in any maritime zone
 established in accordance with the international law of the sea, of another
 State which at the time of the incident, has a nuclear installation in such
 territory, to the extent that it does not afford reciprocal benefits of an
 equivalent amount.
 Artikolu 16
 It-test tal-artikolu XVIII tal-Konvenzjoni ta'
 Vjenna tal-1963 huwa ssostitwit bit-test li ġej:
 This Convention shall not affect the rights
 and obligations of a Contracting Party under the general rules of public
 international law.
 Artikolu 17
 Wara l-artikolu XX tal-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna
 tal-1963 jiżdied artikolu ġdid, XX A, kif ġej:
 Article XX A
 41. In the event of a dispute
 between Contracting Parties concerning the interpretation or application of
 this Convention, the parties to the dispute shall consult with a view to the
 settlement of the dispute by negotiation or by any other peaceful means of
 settling disputes acceptable to them.
 42. If a dispute of this character
 referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article cannot be settled within six months
 from the request for consultation pursuant to paragraph 1 of this Article, it
 shall, at the request of any party to such dispute, be submitted to arbitration
 or referred to the International Court of Justice for decision. Where a dispute
 is submitted to arbitration, if, within six months from the date of the
 request, the parties to the dispute are unable to agree on the organization of
 the arbitration, a party may request the President of the International Court
 of Justice or the Secretary-General of the United Nations to appoint one or
 more arbitrators. In cases of conflicting requests by the parties to the
 dispute, the request to the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall have
 priority.
 43. When ratifying, accepting,
 approving or acceding to this Convention, a State may declare that it does not
 consider itself bound by either or both of the dispute settlement procedures
 provided for in paragraph 2 of this Article. The other Contracting Parties
 shall not be bound by a dispute settlement procedure provided for in paragraph
 2 of this Article with respect to a Contracting Party for which such a
 declaration is in force.
 44. A Contracting Party which has
 made a declaration in accordance with paragraph 3 of this Article may at any
 time withdraw it by notification to the depositary.
 Artikolu 18
 45. L-artikoli minn XX sa XXV,
 il-paragrafi 2 u 3 u l-paragrafu bin-numru "1." tal-artikolu XXVI, u
 l-artikoli XXVII u XXIX tal-Konvenzjoni ta' Vjenna tal-1963 huma mħassra.
 46. Il-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna
 tal-1963 u dan il-Protokoll, bejn il-partijiet għal dan il-protokoll,
 jinqraw u jiġu interpretati flimkien bħala test wieħed li jista’
 jkun magħruf bħala l-Konvenzjoni ta' Vjenna tal-1997 dwar ir-responsabbiltà
 ċivili għad-danni nukleari.
 Artikolu 19
 47. Stat li huwa parti għal
 dan il-protokoll iżda li mhux parti għall-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna
 tal-1963 ikun marbut bid-dispożizzjonijiet ta’ dik il-konvenzjoni kif
 emendata permezz ta’ dan il-protokoll fir-rigward ta' Stati oħrajn li huma
 partijiet għalih, u fin-nuqqas ta' espressjoni ta’ intenzjoni differenti
 min-naħa ta’ dak l-Istat fil-mument tad-depożitu ta’ strument imsemmi
 fl-artikolu 20 ikun marbut bid-dispożizzjonijiet tal-Konvenzjoni ta' Vjenna
 tal-1963 fir-rigward ta’ Stati li huma biss partijiet għal dik
 il-konvenzjoni.
 48. Xejn milli hemm f’dan
 il-protokoll ma jaffettwa l-obbligi ta’ Stat li huwa parti kemm
 għall-Konvenzjoni ta' Vjenna tal-1963 kif ukoll għal dan il-protokoll
 fir-rigward ta’ Stat li huwa parti għall-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna tal-1963
 iżda mhux parti għal dan il-protokoll.
 Artikolu 20
 49. Dan il-protokoll ikun
 miftuħ għall-firma tal-Istati kollha fil-kwartieri ġenerali
 tal-Aġenzija Internazzjonali tal-Enerġija Atomika fi Vjenna mid-29
 ta’ Settembru 1997 sad-dħul fis-seħħ tiegħu.
 50. Dan il-protokoll huwa
 soġġett għar-ratifika, għall-aċċettazzjoni jew
 għall-approvazzjoni mill-Istati li ffirmawh.
 51. Wara d-dħul
 fis-seħħ tiegħu, kwalunkwe Stat li ma jkunx iffirma dan
 il-protokoll jista’ jissieħeb miegħu.
 52. L-istrumenti tar-ratifika,
 tal-aċċettazzjoni, tal-approvazzjoni jew tal-adeżjoni jiġu
 ddepożitati għand id-direttur ġenerali tal-Aġenzija
 Internazzjonali dwar l-Enerġija Atomika, li se jkun id-depożitarju
 ta’ dan il-protokoll.
 Artikolu 21
 53. Dan il-protokoll jidħol
 fis-seħħ tliet xhur wara d-data tad-depożitu tal-ħames
 strument tar-ratifika, tal-aċċettazzjoni jew tal-approvazzjoni.
 54. Għal kull Stat li
 jirratifika, jaċċetta jew japprova dan il-protokoll jew
 jissieħeb miegħu wara d-depożitu tal-ħames strument
 tar-ratifika, tal-aċċettazzjoni jew tal-approvazzjoni, dan
 il-protokoll jidħol fis-seħħ tliet xhur wara d-data
 tad-depożitu tal-istrument xieraq minn dak l-Istat.
 Artikolu 22
 55. Kwalunkwe parti kontraenti
 tista’ tiddenunzja dan il-protokoll b’notifika bil-miktub lid-depożitarju.
 56. Id-denunzja tidħol
 fis-seħħ sena wara d-data li fiha d-depożitarju jkun
 irċieva n-notifika.
 57. Bejn il-partijiet għal
 dan il-protokoll, id-denunzja minn kwalunkwe waħda minnhom tal-Konvenzjoni
 ta’ Vjenna tal-1963 skont l-artikolu XXVI tagħha bl-ebda mod ma titqies
 bħala denunzja tal-Konvenzjoni ta’ Vjenna tal-1963 kif emendata permezz
 ta’ dan il-protokoll.
 58. Minkejja denunzja ta’ dan
 il-protokoll minn parti kontraenti skont dan l-artikolu, id-dispożizzjonijiet
 ta' dan il-protokoll jibqgħu japplikaw għal kwalunkwe dannu nukleari
 kkawżat minn inċident nukleari li jseħħ qabel denunzja
 bħal din tidħol fis-seħħ.
 Artikolu 23
 Id-depożitarju jinnotifika minnufih
 lill-Istati li huma parti u lill-Istati l-oħra kollha dwar:
 (v)
 kull firma ta’ dan il-protokoll;
 (w)
 kull depożitu ta' strument ta' ratifika,
 aċċettazzjoni, approvazzjoni jew adeżjoni;
 (x)
 id-dħul fis-seħħ ta’ dan
 il-protokoll;
 (y)
 kwalunkwe notifika rċevuta skont il-paragrafu
 1bis tal-artikolu XI;
 (z)
 talbiet biex titlaqqa’ konferenza ta’
 reviżjoni skont l-artikolu XXVI tal-Konvenzjoni ta' Vjenna tal-1963 u
 għal laqgħa tal-partijiet kontraenti skond l-artikolu V D
 tal-Konvenzjoni ta' Vjenna tal-1963 kif emendata permezz ta’ dan il-protokoll;
 (aa)
 notifiki ta’ denunzji rċevuti skont l-artikolu
 22 u notifiki pertinenti oħrajn marbuta ma' dan il-protokoll.
 Artikolu 24
 59. Id-dokument oriġinali ta’
 dan il-protokoll, li t-testi tiegħu bl-Għarbi,
 biċ-Ċiniż, bl-Ingliż, bil-Franċiż, bir-Russu u
 bl-Ispanjol huma daqstant ieħor awtentiċi, jiġi ddepożitat
 għand id-depożitarju.
 60. L-Aġenzija
 Internazzjonali tal-Enerġija Atomika tistabbilixxi t-test konsolidat
 tal-Konvenzjoni ta' Vjenna tal-1963, kif emendata permezz ta’ dan il-protokoll,
 bl-Għarbi, biċ-Ċiniż, bl-Ingliż,
 bil-Franċiż, bir-Russu u bl-Ispanjol, kif stabbilit fl-anness ta’ ma’
 dan il-protokoll.
 61. Id-depożitarju
 jikkomunika lill-Istati kollha l-kopji awtentikati ta’ dan il-protokoll
 flimkien mat-test konsolidat tal-Konvenzjoni ta' Vjenna tal-1963 kif emendata
 permezz ta’ dan il-protokoll.
 B’SINJAL TA’ XHIEDA TA’ DAN, is-sottoskritti,
 awtorizzati kif għandu jkun, iffirmaw dan il-protokoll.
 Magħmul fi Vjenna, it-tnax-il jum ta’
 Settembru, tas-sena elf disa' mija u sebgħa u disgħin.
 [1] OJ L 12, 16.1.2001, p. 1; Edizzjoni Speċjali tal-ĠU
 bil-Malti: Kapitolu 19 Volum 04, p. 42 – 64.
 [2] http://ec.europa.eu/energy/nuclear/studies/nuclear_en.htm
 [3] OJ L 12,
 16.1.2001, p. 1; Edizzjoni Speċjali tal-ĠU bil-Malti: Kapitolu 19
 Volum 04, p. 42 – 64.
 [4] Ir-rifjut
 tar-rikonoxximent huwa permess biss: (a) fejn is-sentenza tkun inkisbet
 bil-qerq; (b) fejn il-parti li kontra tagħha tkun inqatgħet
 is-sentenza ma tkunx ingħatat opportunità ġusta biex tippreżenta
 l-każ tagħha; jew (c) fejn is-sentenza tkun kuntrarja
 għall-ordni pubbliku (“ordre public”) tal-parti kontraenti li
 fit-territorju tagħha jkun qed jintalab ir-rikonoxximent, jew ma tkunx
 f'konformità mal-istandards fundamentali tal-ġustizzja.
 [5] QEĠ,
 Kawża 22/70 (“EART"), [1971] Ġabra 263.
 [6] OJ L 299,
 16.11.2005, p. 62; ĠU L 173M, 27.6.2006, p. 127–136 (MT).
 [7] ĠU L
 339, 12.12.2007, p. 3.
 [8] OJ L 12,
 16.1.2001, p. 1; Edizzjoni Speċjali tal-ĠU bil-Malti: Kapitolu
 19 Volum 04, p. 42 – 64.