PURPOSE: to conclude the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Canada, of the other part.
PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.
ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has approved the latter.
BACKGROUND: the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Canada, of the other part, was signed on 30 October 2016, subject to its conclusion at a later date.
The Agreement should now be approved.
CONTENT: the draft Council decision is aimed at approving, on behalf of the Union, the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Canada, of the other part.
The objective of the Agreement is to strengthen cooperation across a wide spectrum of policy fields including (i) human rights and fundamental freedoms, (ii) democracy and the rule of law, (iii) international peace and security and effective multilateralism, (iv) economic and sustainable development, (v) justice, freedom and security.
The Agreement will strengthen political dialogue and consultation and will establish a Joint Ministerial Committee and a Joint Cooperation Committee with the objective of monitoring the development in the strategic relationship between the Parties.
For more details on the content of the Agreement, please refer to the summary of the initial joint proposal of the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, dated 23.11.2016.