PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Egypt, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union.

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision (EU) 2019/835 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, 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 Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union.

CONTENT: the Council decided to approve, on behalf of the Union and its Member States, the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Egypt, of the other part, to take account of Croatia's accession to the European Union.

The Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Egypt, of the other part, was signed in Luxembourg on 25 June 2001. It entered into force on 1 June 2004.

In accordance with its Act of Accession, Croatia has undertaken to accede to international agreements signed or concluded by the European Union and its Member States by means of a protocol to these agreements. The Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement to take account of Croatia's accession to the European Union was signed on 10 April 2017, subject to its conclusion at a later date.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 8.4.2019.

The European Parliament adopted by 574 votes to 46 with 46 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, 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 Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union.

Parliament gave its consent to conclusion of the Protocol through which Croatia becomes a party to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part. The Agreement was signed on 25 June 2001 and entered into force on 1 June 2004.

The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted a report by Ramona Nicole MĂNESCU (EPP, RO) on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, 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 Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union.

The committee recommended that the European Parliament give its consent to the conclusion of the protocol.

The Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, was signed on 25 June 2001. It entered into force on 1 June 2004.

Croatia's Act of Accession to the EU provides that Croatia will accede to international agreements signed or concluded by the European Union and its Member States by means of protocols to these agreements. On 14 September 2012, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the third countries concerned in order to conclude the necessary protocols. Negotiations with Egypt were concluded on 29 October 2015.

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Egypt, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

BACKGROUND: the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Egypt, of the other part was signed on 25 June 2001. It entered into force on 1 June 2004.

Croatia became a Member State of the European Union on 1 July 2013.

In accordance with the Act of Accession of Croatia, the accession of Croatia to the Agreement is to be agreed by means of a protocol to the Agreement concluded between the Council, acting unanimously on behalf of the Member States, and Egypt.

On 14 September 2012, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with Egypt. The negotiations were successfully concluded.

In accordance with a Council Decision, the Protocol has been signed on behalf of the Union and its Member States.

It is now necessary to approve the Protocol on behalf of the EU.

CONTENT: under this proposed Decision, it is provided that the Council approve, on behalf of the Union and its Member States, the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union.

The text of the Protocol is attached to the proposal.

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Egypt, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

BACKGROUND: the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Egypt, of the other part was signed on 25 June 2001. It entered into force on 1 June 2004.

Croatia became a Member State of the European Union on 1 July 2013.

In accordance with the Act of Accession of Croatia, the accession of Croatia to the Agreement is to be agreed by means of a protocol to the Agreement concluded between the Council, acting unanimously on behalf of the Member States, and Egypt.

On 14 September 2012, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with Egypt. The negotiations were successfully concluded.

In accordance with a Council Decision, the Protocol has been signed on behalf of the Union and its Member States.

It is now necessary to approve the Protocol on behalf of the EU.

CONTENT: under this proposed Decision, it is provided that the Council approve, on behalf of the Union and its Member States, the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union.

The text of the Protocol is attached to the proposal.

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

BACKGROUND: according its Act of Accession, Croatia undertakes to accede to the international agreements signed or concluded by the European Union and its Member States by means of a protocol to these agreements.

The Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, was signed on 25 June 2001. The Agreement entered into force on 1 June 2004.

On 14 September 2012, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the third countries concerned with a view to concluding the relevant protocols. The negotiations with the Arab Republic of Egypt were successfully concluded on 29 October 2015.

The Commission judges the results of the negotiations to be satisfactory and requests the Council to approve the Protocol on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

CONTENT: the Commission called on the Council to adopt a decision seeking to approve, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union.

The text of the Protocol is attached to the proposal.