PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, a Protocol amending the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Morocco, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic 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 Republic of Croatia joined the European Union on 1 July 2013. In accordance with the Act concerning the conditions of accession, Croatia has undertaken to accede to the agreements concluded or signed by the Member States and the Union with one or more third countries or an international organisation, including the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement with Morocco.

The accession of Croatia to such agreements shall be agreed by the conclusion of a protocol to these agreements between the Council, acting unanimously on behalf of the Member States, and the third country or countries or international organisation concerned.

The Commission has negotiated the Protocol amending the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Morocco, of the other part. The Protocol defines the linguistic adaptations to be made to the Agreement by reason of the accession of Croatia.

CONTENT: the Commission proposes that the Council decide to approve, on behalf of the Union and its Member States, the Protocol amending the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Morocco, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union.

The provisions of the Protocol supplement the provisions of the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Morocco, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union.

The Agreement with Morocco was the first comprehensive air transport agreement signed with a non-EU partner of the Union and is an important element of the Union’s external aviation policy and is one of several Euro-Mediterranean aviation agreements which the Union has since signed also with Israel and Jordan. The Aviation Agreement with Morocco has made it possible to nearly triple, in absolute terms, connectivity between that country and the Union. This Protocol will enable Croatia to enjoy these benefits in the same way as the other Member States currently do.

Preparatory document

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, a Protocol amending the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Morocco, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic 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 Republic of Croatia joined the European Union on 1 July 2013. In accordance with the Act concerning the conditions of accession, Croatia has undertaken to accede to the agreements concluded or signed by the Member States and the Union with one or more third countries or an international organisation, including the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement with Morocco.

The accession of Croatia to such agreements shall be agreed by the conclusion of a protocol to these agreements between the Council, acting unanimously on behalf of the Member States, and the third country or countries or international organisation concerned.

The Commission has negotiated the Protocol amending the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Morocco, of the other part. The Protocol defines the linguistic adaptations to be made to the Agreement by reason of the accession of Croatia.

CONTENT: the Commission proposes that the Council decide to approve, on behalf of the Union and its Member States, the Protocol amending the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Morocco, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union.

The provisions of the Protocol supplement the provisions of the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Morocco, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union.

The Agreement with Morocco was the first comprehensive air transport agreement signed with a non-EU partner of the Union and is an important element of the Union’s external aviation policy and is one of several Euro-Mediterranean aviation agreements which the Union has since signed also with Israel and Jordan. The Aviation Agreement with Morocco has made it possible to nearly triple, in absolute terms, connectivity between that country and the Union. This Protocol will enable Croatia to enjoy these benefits in the same way as the other Member States currently do.

Preparatory document