EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Brussels, 24.8.2018
COM(2018) 604 final
2018/0311(NLE)
Proposal for a
COUNCIL DECISION
on the signing, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States,
and provisional application of a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement
establishing an association between the European Communities
and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the other part,
to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
The Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the other part, was signed in Brussels on 17 July 1995. The Agreement entered into force on 1 March 1998.
In its Act of Accession, the Republic of Croatia undertakes to accede to the international agreements already signed or concluded by the European Union and its Member States by means of a protocol to those agreements.
The attached proposal is the legal instrument for the signing and provisional application of the Protocol to the Agreement, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union.
The proposed Protocol incorporates the Republic of Croatia as a contracting party to the Agreement and commits the European Union to providing an authentic version of the Agreement in Croatian.
On 14 September 2012 1 , the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the third countries concerned, in order to conclude the relevant protocols. The negotiations with the Republic of Tunisia were successfully concluded on 11 May 2018.
The Commission judges the results of the negotiations to be satisfactory and requests the Council to adopt the attached Decision on the signing and provisional application of the Protocol.
2018/0311 (NLE)
Proposal for a
COUNCIL DECISION
on the signing, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States,
and provisional application of a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement
establishing an association between the European Communities
and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the other part,
to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 217, in conjunction with Article 218(5) thereof,
Having regard to the Act of Accession of the Republic of Croatia, and in particular Article 6(2) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1)The Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the other part 2 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’), was signed in Brussels on 17 July 1995. The Agreement entered into force on 1 March 1998.
(2)The Republic of Croatia became a Member State of the European Union on 1 July 2013.
(3)In accordance with Article 6(2) of the Act of Accession of the Republic of Croatia, the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the Agreement is to be agreed by means of a protocol to the Agreement (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Protocol’). Under a simplified procedure, a protocol is to be concluded between the Council, acting unanimously on behalf of the Member States, and the third country concerned.
(4)On 14 September 2012, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the third countries concerned in view of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the Union. The negotiations with the Republic of Tunisia were concluded successfully on 11 May 2018.
(5)Therefore, the Protocol should be signed on behalf of the Union and its Member States, subject to its conclusion at a later date.
(6)The Protocol should be applied provisionally, pending its entry into force, in accordance with Article 7(3) thereof,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The signing, on behalf of the Union and its Member States, of the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union, is hereby approved on behalf of the Union and its Member States, subject to the conclusion of the said Protocol.
The text of the Protocol is attached to this Decision.
Article 2
The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the Protocol on behalf of the Union and of the Member States.
Article 3
The Protocol shall be applied provisionally, with effect from 1 July 2013, in accordance with Article 7(3) thereof, pending its entry into force.
Article 4
This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.
Done at Brussels,
For the Council
The President