1. This Protocol shall be open for signature by the signatory States of and the contracting States to the
Agreement.
2. This Protocol is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval by its signatory States. A Signatory to this Protocol may not ratify, accept or approve it unless it has previously or simultaneously ratified, accepted or approved the
Agreement or has acceded to it. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Government of the Netherlands.
3. States which have acceded to the
Agreement may also accede to this Protocol until it has entered into force.
4. This Protocol shall enter into force thirty days after two States have expressed their consent to be bound in accordance with paragraph 2 or 3 of this Article.
5. For each State consenting to be bound after the date of entry into force of this Protocol, the Protocol shall enter into force for that State thirty days after the deposit of its instrument expressing its consent to be bound.
6. From the date of its entry into force, this Protocol shall form an integral part of the
Agreement. From that date, no State may become a State Party to the Agreement without at the same time becoming a State Party to the Protocol.
7. This Protocol shall be deposited with the Government of the Netherlands, which shall serve as the Depositary and shall provide each State Party with a certified copy of the Protocol.
8. The Depositary shall notify the States that have signed, ratified, accepted, approved or have acceded to this Protocol in accordance with paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this Article of the following:
a. the signatures, ratifications, acceptances, approvals and accessions referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this Article;
b. the dates of entry into force referred to in paragraphs 4 and 5 of this Article.