- 1
- The Convention shall be open for signature by the member States of the Council of Europe, the European Community and non-member States which have participated in its elaboration. Such States or the European Community may express their consent to be bound by:
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- a.signature without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval; or
- b.signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, followed by ratification, acceptance or approval.
- 2
- Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
- 3
- This Convention shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date on which 6 signatories, of which at least four are member States of the Council of Europe, have expressed their consent to be bound by the Convention in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1.
- 4
- In respect of any Signatory which subsequently expresses its consent to be bound by it, the Convention 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 expression of its consent to be bound by the Convention in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1.
- 5
- No Party to the 1990 Convention may ratify, accept or approve this Convention without considering itself bound by at least the provisions corresponding to the provisions of the 1990 Convention to which it is bound.
- 6
- As from its entry into force, Parties to this Convention, which are at the same time Parties to the 1990 Convention:
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- a.shall apply the provisions of this Convention in their mutual relationships;
- b.shall continue to apply the provisions of the 1990 Convention in their relations with other Parties to the said Convention, but not to the present Convention.
