PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, the Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Russia, 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 Partnership and Cooperation Agreement establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Russia, 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 approve the Protocol on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.
CONTENT: under this proposal, the Council is called upon to adopt a decision aiming to approve, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, a Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Russia, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union has been signed, subject to its conclusion.
The conclusion of the Protocol is subject to a separate procedure as regards matters falling within the competence of the European Atomic Energy Community.
The proposed Protocol incorporates Croatia as contracting party to the Agreement and commits the EU to providing the authentic version of the Agreement in the Croatian language.
For details are regards the main provisions of the Protocol and its economic implications, please refer to the summary of the initial legislative proposal dated 26/02/2014.