COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2022/1664

of 20 September 2022

on 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

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 37 thereof,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 207 and Article 212(1), in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a) and the second subparagraph of Article 218(8) thereof,

Having regard to the joint proposal from the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament (1),

Whereas:

(1) Pursuant to Council Decision (EU) 2017/1546 (2), the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Australia, of the other part (‘the Agreement’) was signed on 7 August 2017, and some of its provisions are being applied on a provisional basis in accordance with Article 61 of the Agreement, pending its entry into force.

(2) The objective of the Agreement is to strengthen the cooperation across a wide spectrum of policy fields, 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.

(3) The Agreement should be approved,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 The Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Australia, of the other part is hereby approved on behalf of the Union (3).

Article 2 The President of the Council shall, on behalf of the Union, give the notification provided for in Article 61(1) of the Agreement (4).

Article 3 The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy shall co-chair the Joint Committee provided for in Article 56 of the Agreement. The Union or, as the case may be, the Union and the Member States, shall be represented in the Joint Committee, depending on the subject matter.

Article 4 This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 20 September 2022. For the Council The President M. BEK

(1) Consent of 18 April 2018 (not yet published in the Official Journal).

(2) Council Decision (EU) 2016/1546 of 29 September 2016 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and provisional application of the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Australia, of the other part (OJ L 237, 15.9.2017, p. 5).

(3) The Agreement has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJ L 237, 15.9.2017, p. 7) together with the Decision on the signing and provisional application thereof.

(4) The date of entry into force of the Agreement will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union by the General Secretariat of the Council.