I SÉRIE-A — NÚMERO 7

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Article 13

Friendly settlement

The European Committee on Crime Problems of the Council of Europe shall be kept informed regarding the

application of this Protocol and shall do whatever is necessary to facilitate a friendly settlement of any difficulty

which may arise out of its interpretation and application.

Article 14

Signature and entry into force

1 – This Protocol shall be open for signature by the member States of the Council of Europe which are a Party

to or have signed the Convention. It shall be subject to ratification, acceptance or approval. A signatory may not

ratify, accept or approve this Protocol unless it has previously ratified, accepted or approved the Convention, or

does so simultaneously. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary

General of the Council of Europe.

2 – This Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three

months after the deposit of the third instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval.

3 – In respect of any signatory State which subsequently deposits its instrument of ratification, acceptance or

approval, this Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of

three months after the date of deposit.

Article 15

Accession

1 – Any non-member State which has acceded to the Convention may accede to this Protocol after it has

entered into force.

2 – Such accession shall be effected by depositing an instrument of accession with the Secretary General of

the Council of Europe.

3 – In respect of any acceding State, the Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following

the expiration of a period of three months after the date of the deposit of the instrument of accession.

Article 16

Territorial application

1 – Any State may, at the time of signature or when depositing its instrument of ratification, acceptance,

approval or accession, specify the territory or territories to which this Protocol shall apply.

2 – Any State may, at any later time, by declaration addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of

Europe, extend the application of this Protocol to any other territory specified in the declaration. In respect of

such territory the Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period

of three months after the date of receipt of such declaration by the Secretary General.

3 – Any declaration made under the two preceding paragraphs may, in respect of any territory specified in

such declaration, be withdrawn by a notification addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

The withdrawal shall become effective on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of six

months after the date or receipt of such notification by the Secretary General.

Article 17

Declarations and reservations

1 – Reservations made by a State to any provision of the Convention or the two Additional Protocols thereto

shall also be applicable to this Protocol, unless that State otherwise declares at the time of signature or when