EU/ACP countries' Economic Partnership Agreements: exclusion of certain countries from trade preferences; Commission delegated powers

In its opinion on the position of the Council on the adoption of a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Annex I to Council Regulation (EC) No 1528/2007, the Commission states that it can accept the amendments introduced by the Council to its proposal.

The Commission rejects three of four amendments adopted by the European Parliament at first reading: two of the amendments concern procedural aspects related to delegated acts and are not in line with the Common Understanding on Delegated Acts. The third one relates to the date of entry into force of the amendment to the Regulation (1 January 2016 rather than 1 January 2014).

The Council did not take up the Parliament's amendments. It did, however, introduce one amendment which re-instates Zimbabwe in Annex I. This country has ratified an EPA since the Commission's proposal was adopted. The modification is in line with the logic of the proposal itself therefore the Commission can accept the amendment introduced by the Council.