The European Parliament adopted by 622 votes to 14, with 35 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, of the Third Additional Protocol to the Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the United Mexican States, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union.

Parliament gave its approval to the conclusion of the agreement.

The Committee on International Trade adopted the report by Inmaculada RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO FERNÁNDEZ (S&D, ES) on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, of the Third Additional Protocol to the Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the United Mexican States, 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 approval to the conclusion of the agreement.

In the explanatory memorandum accompanying the recommendation, it is recalled that, in accordance with Croatia's Act of Accession, Croatia has undertaken to accede to the existing agreements concluded or signed by the European Union and its Member States with third countries. Unless otherwise provided for in specific agreements, Croatia shall accede to these agreements by means of protocols concluded between the Council, acting unanimously on behalf of the Member States, and the third countries concerned.

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. A third Additional Protocol to the Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the United Mexican States, of the other part, was signed in Brussels on 8 December 1997 and entered into force on 1 October 2000.

The third protocol was successfully finalised and signed on 27 November 2018 in Brussels and was then referred to Parliament for its consent.

The rapporteur called for (i) enhanced information sharing with the Committee on International Trade (INTA) throughout the full life-cycle of international agreements, (ii) improved information to the general public and stakeholders on the effects of international agreements, (iii) the avoidance of the use of provisional application before Parliament's consent and (iv) communicate ex ante and ex post information by the Council and the Commission to the European Parliament, economic operators, social partners and civil society organisations concerned, as regards all relevant decisions taken in the context of international trade agreements.

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, a Third Additional Protocol to the Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, on the one part, and the United Mexican States, on the other hand, to take into account Croatia’s accession 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 Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and Mexico, of the other part (Global Agreement), was signed on 8 December 1997 and entered into force on 1 October 2000.

In accordance with Article 6(2) of the Act of Accession of Croatia, the accession of Croatia to the Global Agreement is to be agreed by means of a protocol to the Global Agreement concluded between the Council, acting unanimously on behalf of the Member States, and Mexico.

On 14 September 2012, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with Mexico with a view to concluding the Third Additional Protocol to the Global Agreement to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union. The negotiations were successfully concluded and the Protocol was signed.

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

CONTENT: the Council seeks to approve, on behalf of the Union, the Third Additional Protocol to the Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and Mexico, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union.

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, a Third Additional Protocol to the Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, on the one part, and the United Mexican States, on the other hand, to take into account Croatia’s accession to the European Union.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the Council adopts the act after consulting the European Parliament but without being obliged to follow its opinion.

BACKGROUND: the Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, and the United Mexican States, of the other part, was signed on 8 December 1997 and entered into force on 1 October 2000.

Croatia undertook to accede to the existing agreements concluded or signed by the Member States and the European Union with third countries. Unless otherwise provided for in specific agreements, Croatia accedes to these existing agreements by means of protocols that the Council, acting unanimously on behalf of the Member States, concludes with the third countries concerned.

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 Mexico have been successfully concluded.

CONTENT: the aim of the Commission proposal is to invite the Council to adopt a decision approving, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, the Third Additional Protocol to the Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the United Mexican States, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union.

It is intended that the Third Additional Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the date on which the Parties have notified each other of the completion of the internal procedures necessary for that purpose.