Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the signature and provisional application of a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia, and the Slovak Republic to the European Union

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

According to the terms of Article 6(2) of the Act of Accession of the new EU Member States to the EU, accession of the new EU Member States to the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement is to be agreed by means of a protocol to this Agreement. The same article provides for a simplified procedure, whereby the protocol is to be concluded by the Council, acting unanimously on behalf of the Member States, and by the third country concerned. This procedure is without prejudice to the Community's own competences.

On 10 February 2004, the Council approved a mandate for the Commission to negotiate such a protocol with the Arab Republic of Egypt. These negotiations have since been completed to the satisfaction of the Commission. The text of the Protocol was initialled by the Commission and the Egyptian authorities on 11 May 2004 in Cairo.

The attached proposals are for (1) a Council Decision on the signature of the Protocol and (2) a Council Decision on the conclusion of the Protocol.

The text of the protocol negotiated with Egypt is attached. The most important aspects of the protocol are provision for the accession of the new Member States to the EU-Egypt Association Agreement, adaptation of the Protocol on agricultural products and inclusion of the new official languages of the EU.

The Commission would ask the Council to approve the attached draft Council Decisions for the signature and conclusion of the Protocol.

The European Parliament will be called upon to give its assent to this Protocol.

Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the signature and provisional application of a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia, and the Slovak Republic to the European Union

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 310 in conjunction with the second phrase of Article 300(2) thereof,

Having regard to the Act of Accession of the new Member States to the European Union, and in particular Article 6(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1) On 10 February, the Council authorised the Commission, on behalf of the European Community and its Member States, to open negotiations with Egypt with a view to adjusting the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the new Member States to the EU.

(2) These negotiations have been concluded to the satisfaction of the Commission.

(3) The text of the Protocol negotiated with the Arab Republic of Egypt provides, in Article 12(3), for the provisional application of the Protocol before its entry into force.

(4) Subject to its possible conclusion at a later date, the Protocol should be signed on behalf of the Community and applied provisionally,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article1

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign, on behalf of the European Community and its Member States, the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia, and the Slovak Republic to the European Union. The text of the Protocol is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The European Community and its Member States hereby agree to apply provisionally the terms of the Protocol, subject to its possible conclusion at a later date.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President