EU/North Macedonia Agreement: operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the Republic of North Macedonia

2022/0301(NLE)

PURPOSE: to conclude the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of North Macedonia on the operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the Republic of North Macedonia.

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: Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 of the European Parliament and of the Council stipulates that in circumstances requiring the deployment of border management teams from the standing corps of the European Border and Coast Guard to a third country where the members of the teams will exercise executive powers, a status agreement is to be concluded by the Union with the third country concerned on the basis of Article 218 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

The Agreement should be approved.

CONTENT: the purpose of the proposal for a Council Decision is to approve, on behalf of the Union, the Agreement between the EU and Northern Macedonia on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in Northern Macedonia.

The status agreement will allow for the deployment in North Macedonia of European Border and Coast Guard teams by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, using all the possibilities offered by Regulation (EU) 2019/1896.

Ireland is not taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its application.

Denmark is not taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its application. Denmark shall decide within a period of six months after the Council has decided on this Decision whether it will implement it in its national law.