COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2019/1934

of 18 March 2019

on the signing, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, of the Protocol to the Cooperation Agreement on a Civil Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Korea, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Republic of Croatia and Romania to the European Union

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 172, in conjunction with Article 218(5) thereof,

Having regard to the Acts of Accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania (1) and of the Republic of Croatia (2), and in particular Article 6(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) The Cooperation Agreement on a Civil Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Korea, of the other part (3) (the ‘Agreement’) was signed on 9 September 2006 (4) and entered into force on 1 July 2016 (5).

(2) Bulgaria and Romania became Member States of the Union on 1 January 2007 and Croatia on 1 July 2013.

(3) In accordance with Article 6(2) of the Acts of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania and of Croatia, accession to the Agreement is to be agreed by means of a protocol to that Agreement (the ‘Protocol’). In accordance with Article 6(2) of those Acts of Accession, a simplified procedure is to apply to such accession, whereby a protocol is to be concluded by the Council, acting unanimously on behalf of the Member States, and by the third country concerned.

(4) On 23 October 2006 and on 14 September 2012 the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the third country concerned in order to conclude protocols to international agreements concluded by the Union and its Member States.

(5) The negotiations with the Republic of Korea were successfully concluded by exchange of notes verbales.

(6) The Protocol should be signed,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 The signing, on behalf of the Union and its Member States, of the Protocol to the Cooperation Agreement on a Civil Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Korea, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Republic of Croatia and Romania to the European Union is hereby authorised, subject to the conclusion of the said Protocol (6).

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 and its Member States.

Article 3 This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 18 March 2019. For the Council The President P. DAEA

(1) Act concerning the conditions of accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania and the adjustments to the Treaties on which the European Union is founded (OJ L 157, 21.6.2005, p. 203).

(2) Act concerning the conditions of accession of the Republic of Croatia and the adjustments to the Treaty on European Union, the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (OJ L 112, 24.4.2012, p 21).

(3) OJ L 288, 19.10.2006, p. 31.

(4) Council Decision 2006/700/EC of 1 September 2006 on the signing, on behalf of the Community, of the Cooperation Agreement on a Civil Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Korea, of the other part (OJ L 288, 19.10.2006, p. 30).

(5) Council Decision (EU) 2016/944 of 6 June 2016 on the conclusion of the Cooperation Agreement on a Civil Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) between the European Community and its Member States of the one part, and the Republic of Korea, of the other part (OJ L 157, 15.6.2016, p. 19).

(6) The text of the Protocol will be published together with the decision on its conclusion.