PURPOSE: to conclude a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement which establishes an association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and Lebanon, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the the EU.
NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision (EU) 2017/609 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, of a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Lebanon, of the other part, to take account of Croatia's accession to the European Union.
BACKGROUND: The Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and Lebanon, of the other part, was signed in Luxembourg on 17 June 2002 and entered into force on 1 April 2006.
In the meantime, Croatia became a Member State of the European Union on 1 July 2013.
In accordance with Article 6, para. 2 of the Act of Accession of Croatia, the accession of Croatia to the Agreement must be approved by the conclusion of a Protocol to the Agreement between the Council, acting on behalf of the Union and acting unanimously on behalf of the Member States, and Lebanon.
On 14 September 2012, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with that Lebanon. The negotiations have been completed and in accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2016/859, the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement which establishes an Association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Lebanon, on the other hand, to take account of Croatia's accession to the EU, was signed on 28 April 2016 on behalf of the Union and its Member States.
The protocol should now be approved.
CONTENT: With this Decision, the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Lebanese Republic, of the other part, taking into account the accession of Croatia to the Union, is hereby approved on behalf of the Union and its Member States.
ENTRY INTO FORCE: the Decision shall enter into force on 27.3.2017. The date of entry into force of the Protocol will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union by the General Secretariat of the Council.