# EUR-Lex - 52012PC0215 - EN

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# 52012PC0215

**Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the signing and provisional application of a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on the general principles for the participation of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Union programmes /* COM/2012/0215 final - 2012/0109 (NLE) */**

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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

As part of the European Neighbourhood
Policy, the gradual opening-up of certain Union programmes and agencies to the
participation of European Neighbourhood Policy partner countries represents one
of many measures to promote reform, modernisation and transition in the
European Union’s neighbourhood. The Commission outlined this policy aspect more
extensively in its Communication of December 2006 “on the general approach to
enable European Neighbourhood Policy partner countries to participate in
Community agencies and Community programmes”[1].

The Council endorsed this approach on 5
March 2007[2].

Based upon this Communication and those
conclusions, the Council, on 18 June 2007, issued directives to the Commission
to negotiate Framework Agreements with Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt,
Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Moldova, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority,
Tunisia and Ukraine, on the general principles for their participation in
Community programmes[3].

The June 2007 European Council[4] reaffirmed the paramount
importance of the European Neighbourhood Policy and endorsed a Presidency
Progress Report[5]
that had been submitted to the General Affairs and External Relations Council
(GAERC) meeting on 18/19 June as well as the related Council Conclusions[6]. This report recalled the
Council directives to negotiate relevant additional protocols.

The Joint
Communication by the Commission and the High Representative of the European
Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy “A new response to a changing
Neighbourhood”[7],
endorsed by Council Conclusions on 20 June 2011, further stressed the EU’s
intention to facilitate partner countries’ participation in EU programmes.

To date,
Protocols were signed with Israel[8],
Morocco[9],
Moldova[10]
and Ukraine[11].

In March 2011,
Jordan expressed its interest to participate in the broad range of programmes
open to partner countries of the European Neighbourhood Policy. The text of the
Protocol negotiated with Jordan is attached.

The Commission herewith submits a proposal
for a Council Decision on the signing and provisional application of the
Protocol. This Protocol contains a Framework Agreement on the general
principles for the participation of Jordan in Union programmes. It contains
standard stipulations that are intended to be applied to all European
Neighbourhood Policy partner countries with which such protocols are to be
concluded. The negotiated text also foresees that the Parties shall
provisionally apply the provisions of this Protocol from the date of its
signature.

In parallel, the Commission submits a
proposal for a Council Decision on the conclusion of the said Protocol.

The Council is invited to adopt the
following proposed Decision.

2012/0109 (NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the signing and provisional application
of a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association
between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and
the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement
between the European Union and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on the general
principles for the participation of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Union
programmes

THE
COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the
Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Articles 217, in
conjunction with Article 218(5) and the first subparagraph of Article 218(8)
thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the
European Commission,

Whereas:

(1)       On 18 June 2007 the
Council authorised the Commission to negotiate a Protocol to the
Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European
Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Hashemite Kingdom
of Jordan, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the
European Union and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on the general
principles for the participation of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Union
programmes (hereinafter referred to as "the Protpocol"),

(2)       The negotiations have been
concluded to the satisfaction of the Commission and the High Representative,

(3)       As a consequence of the
entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon on 1 December 2009, the European Union
has replaced and succeeded the European Community,

(4)       The Protocol should be
signed on behalf of the Union, subject to its conclusion at a later date,

(5)       The Protocol should be
applied on a provisional basis in accordance with Article 10 thereof, pending
the completion of the procedures for its conclusion,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The signing of
the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement
establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member
States, of the one part, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, of the other
part, on a Framework Agreement between the European
Union and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on the general principles for the
participation of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Union programmes
(hereinafter referred to as “the Protocol”) is hereby approved on behalf of the
Union, subject to the conclusion of the said Protocol.

The text of the
Protocol to be signed is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The President of the Council is hereby
authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the Protocol on behalf
of the Union, subject to its conclusion.

Article 3

This Protocol shall be applied on a
provisional basis as from the date of its signature, pending the completion of
the procedures for its conclusion.

Article 4

This Decision shall enter into force on the
day of its adoption.

Done at Brussels,

For
the Council

The
President

PROTOCOL

to
the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an
Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the
one part, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on the general principles for the participation of
the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Union programmes

THE EUROPEAN UNION, hereinafter referred to
as “the Union”,

of the one part,

and

the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,
hereinafter referred to as “Jordan”

of the other part,

hereinafter referred to as “the Parties”

Whereas:

(1)          The Hashemite Kingdom of
Jordan has concluded a Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association
between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and
the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, of the other part, (hereinafter referred to as
“the Agreement”), which entered into force on 1 May 2002.

(2)          The Brussels European
Council of 17 and 18 June 2004 welcomed the European Commission’s proposals for
a European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and endorsed the Council conclusions of
14 June 2004.

(3)          The Council has, on
numerous further occasions, repeatedly concluded in favour of this policy.

(4)          The Council, on 5 March
2007, expressed support for the general and global approach outlined in the
European Commission’s Communication of 4 December 2006 to enable European
Neighbourhood Policy partners to participate in Community agencies and
Community programmes on their merits and where the legal bases so allow.

(5)          Jordan has expressed its
wish to participate in a number of Union programmes.

(6)          The specific terms and
conditions, in particular, financial contribution and reporting and evaluation
procedures, regarding the participation of Jordan in each particular programme
should be determined in a Memorandum of Understanding between the European
Commission and the competent authorities of Jordan,

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Jordan shall be
allowed to participate in all current and future programmes of the Union opened
to the participation of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in accordance with the
relevant provisions adopting these programmes.

Article 2

Jordan shall
contribute financially to the general budget of the European Union
corresponding to the specific programmes in which Jordan participates.

Article 3

The
representatives of Jordan shall be allowed to take part, as observers and for
the points which concern Jordan, in the management committees responsible for
monitoring the programmes to which Jordan contributes financially.

Article 4

Projects and
initiatives submitted by participants from Jordan shall, as far as possible, be
subject to the same conditions, rules and procedures pertaining to the
programmes concerned as applied to Member States.

Article 5

The specific terms
and conditions regarding the participation of Jordan in each particular
programme, in particular the financial contribution payable and reporting and
evaluation procedures, shall be determined in a Memorandum of Understanding
between the Commission and the competent authorities of Jordan on the basis of
the criteria established by the programmes concerned.

If Jordan applies
for external assistance of the Union to participate in a given Union programme
on the basis of Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 1638/2006 of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 2006 laying down general provisions
establishing a European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument or pursuant to
any similar Regulation providing for external assistance of the Union to Jordan
that may be adopted in the future, the conditions governing the use by Jordan
of external assistance of the Union shall be determined in a financing
agreement, respecting in particular Article 20 of Regulation (EC)No 1638/2006.

Article 6

Each Memorandum of
Understanding concluded pursuant to Article 5, shall stipulate, in accordance
with the Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the
Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European
Communities, that financial control or audits or other verifications, including administrative investigations
will be carried out by, or under the authority of, the Euroepan Commission, the
European Anti-Fraud Office and the Court of Auditors.

Detailed
provisions shall be made on financial control and auditing, administrative
measures, penalties and recovery enabling the European Commission, the European
Anti-Fraud Office, and the Court of Auditors to be granted powers equivalent to
their powers with regard to beneficiaries or contractors established in the
Union.

Article 7

This Protocol
shall apply for the period for which the Agreement is in force.

This Protocol
shall be signed and approved by the Parties in accordance with their respective
procedures.

Either Party may
denounce this Protocol by written notification to the other Contracting Party.
This Protocol shall terminate six months after the date of such notification.

Termination of the
Protocol following denunciation by any of the Parties shall have no influence
on the checks and controls to be carried out under the provisions laid down in
Articles 5 and 6 where appropriate.

Article 8

No later than
three years after the date of entry into force of this Protocol, and every
three years thereafter, both Parties may review the implementation of this
Protocol on the basis of the actual participation of Jordan in Union
programmes.

Article 9

This Protocol
shall apply, on the one hand, to the territories in which the Treaty on the
Functioning of the European Union is applied and under the conditions laid down
in this Treaty, and, on the other hand, to the territory of Jordan.

Article 10

This Protocol
shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the date on
which the Parties notify each other through diplomatic channels of the
completion of their procedures necessary for its entry into force.

Pending
its entry into force, the Parties agree to provisionally apply this Protocol
from the date of its signature, pending its conclusion at a later date.

Article 11

This Protocol shall form an integral part
of the Agreement.

Article 12

This Protocol shall be drawn up in duplicate in the Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish,
French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Irish, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese,
Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish and Arabic
languages, each of these texts being equally authentic.

Done at Brussels, this...day of ...in the year...

For the European Union

For Jordan

[1]               COM (2006) 724 final of 4 December 2006;

[2]               GAERC conclusions of 5 March 2007;

[3]               Council Decision (restricted) authorising the
Commission to negotiate Protocols [...], Doc 10412/07;

[4]               Presidency Conclusions – Brussels, 21/22 June 2007,
Doc 11177/07;

[5]               Presidency Progress Report on “Strengthening the
European Neighbourhood Policy”, Doc 10874/07;

[6]               Conclusions on Strengthening the European
Neighbourhood Policy, adopted by the Council (General Affairs and External
Relations) on 18 June 2007, Doc 11016/07;

[7]               COM (2011) 303 final of 25 May 2011;

[8]               OJEU L129/39 of 17.5.2008;

[9]               OJEU L273/1 of 19.10.2010;

[10]             OJEU L14/5 of 19.01.2011, OJEU L131/1 of 18.05.2011,
entry into force on 01.05.2011;

[11]             OJEU L18/1-5 of 21.01.2011, OJEU L133/1 of 20.05.2011.