PURPOSE: to conclude a Protocol to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Albania, 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: in accordance with a Council Decision, the Protocol to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Albania, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union has been signed, subject to its conclusion.
It is now necessary to conclude the Protocol on behalf of the European Union.
LEGAL BASIS: Article 217, in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a)(i) and the second subparagraph of Article 218(8) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and the Act of Accession of Croatia.
CONTENT: under this proposal decision, the Council is invited to approve, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, the Protocol to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Albania, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union.
N.B.: the conclusion of the Protocol is subject to a separate procedure as regards matters falling within the competence of the European Atomic Energy Community.
For further details as regards the provisions of this Protocol and its impact on the Union budget, please refer to the proposal of the Commission’s initial legislative proposal dated 16/09/2013.