EU/Australia Framework Agreement

PURPOSE: to approve the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Australia, of the other part.

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: the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States and Australia was signed and some of its provisions are being applied on a provisional basis pending its entry into force.

The Agreement must now be approved.

CONTENT: the draft Council Decision seeks the approval, on behalf of the Union, of the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Australia, of the other part.

The Agreement seeks to strengthen cooperation in a wide range of areas, including:

• human rights,
• non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,
• the fight against terrorism,
• cooperation on economic and trade matters,
• health,
• the environment,
• climate change,
• energy,
• education,
• culture,
• labour,
• disaster management,
• fisheries and maritime affairs,
• transport,
• legal cooperation and the combating of money laundering,
• terrorist financing,
• organised crime and corruption.

For further details on the content of the Agreement, please refer to the summary of the Commission’s initial legislative proposal dated 28.11.2016.