COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2019/1750

of 21 October 2019

amending Decision (EU) 2019/274 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union and of the European Atomic Energy Community, of the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 50 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) On 29 March 2017, the United Kingdom notified the European Council of its intention to withdraw from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community (‘Euratom’) in accordance with Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union (‘TEU’), which applies to Euratom by virtue of Article 106a of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community.

(2) In accordance with Article 50 TEU, the European Union negotiated with the United Kingdom an agreement setting out the arrangements for its withdrawal, taking account of the framework for its future relationship with the Union (‘Withdrawal Agreement’).

(3) On 11 January 2019, the Council adopted Decision (EU) 2019/274 (1) on the signing of the Withdrawal Agreement.

(4) By Decision (EU) 2019/476 (2), the European Council, in agreement with the United Kingdom, initially decided to extend the period under Article 50(3) TEU until 12 April 2019. That period was further extended until 31 October 2019 by European Council Decision (EU) 2019/584 (3), taken in agreement with the United Kingdom.

(5) As a result, the date of entry into force of the Withdrawal Agreement had to be adjusted accordingly, and Decision (EU) 2019/274 was amended by Council Decision (EU) 2019/642 (4) to take account of the adapted text of the Withdrawal Agreement.

(6) Following negotiations between the negotiators of the Union and of the United Kingdom during the months of September and October 2019, an agreement was reached on a revised text of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland included in the Withdrawal Agreement, and on necessary technical adaptations to Articles 184 and 185 of that Agreement. On 17 October 2019, the European Council endorsed the amended Withdrawal Agreement.

(7) Decision (EU) 2019/274 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(8) As provided for in Article 50(4) TEU, the United Kingdom has not taken part in the discussions of the Council concerning this decision nor in its adoption,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 The second paragraph of Article 1 of Decision (EU) 2019/274 is replaced by the following: ‘The text of the Agreement, as amended, is attached to this Decision.’.

Article 2 The text of the Agreement attached to Decision (EU) 2019/274 is replaced by the text of the amended Agreement attached to this Decision (5).

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

Done at Brussels, 21 October 2019. For the Council The President T. TUPPURAINEN

(1) Council Decision (EU) 2019/274 of 11 January 2019 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union and of the European Atomic Energy Community, of the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community (OJ L 47I, 19.2.2019, p. 1). The text of the Withdrawal Agreement attached to Decision (EU) 2019/274 was published in OJ C 66 I, 19.2.2019, p. 1.

(2) European Council Decision (EU) 2019/476 taken in agreement with the United Kingdom of 22 March 2019 extending the period under Article 50(3) TEU (OJ L 80 I, 22.3.2019, p. 1).

(3) European Council Decision (EU) 2019/584 taken in agreement with the United Kingdom of 11 April 2019 extending the period under Article 50(3) TEU (OJ L 101, 11.4.2019, p. 1).

(4) Council Decision (EU) 2019/642 of 13 April 2019 amending Decision (EU) 2019/274 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union and of the European Atomic Energy Community, of the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, (OJ L 110 I, 25.4.2019, p. 1). The text of the Withdrawal Agreement attached to Decision (EU) 2019/642 was published in OJ C 144 I, 25.4.2019, p. 1.

(5) OJ C 384 I, 12.11.2019, p. 1.