EU/Morocco Agreement: dispute settlement mechanism

2010/0181(NLE)

PURPOSE: to conclude an Agreement between the EU and Morocco establishing a Dispute Settlement Mechanism.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND: on 24 February 2006, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with partners in the Mediterranean region in order to establish a dispute settlement mechanism related to trade provisions. These negotiations have been concluded and an Agreement between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco establishing a Dispute Settlement Mechanism was initialled on 9 December 2009.

It is now necessary to conclude the Agreement on behalf of the Union.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT: no impact assessment was carried out.

LEGAL BASE: the first sub-paragraph of Article 207(4), in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a)(v) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

CONTENT: with this draft decision, the Agreement between the EU and Morocco establishing a Dispute Settlement Mechanism is hereby approved on behalf of the Union.

The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision (see Council Doc. 13973/10).

For further details on the content of this Agreement please refer to the previous initial legislative document dated 22/06/2010.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the proposal has no implications for the Union’s budget.