on the signing, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, and provisional application of the Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Uzbekistan, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

The attached proposal constitutes the legal instrument for the signature and provisional application of a Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Uzbekistan, of the other part. This Protocol is intended to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union (‘the Protocol’).

According to its Act of Accession, Croatia undertakes to accede to the international agreements signed or concluded by the European Union and its Member States by means of a protocol to those agreements.

The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Uzbekistan, of the other part, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’, was signed on 21 June 1996 and entered into force on 1 July 1999.

The Council Decision of 14 September 2012 authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the third countries concerned, in order to conclude the relevant protocols. Negotiations with the Republic of Uzbekistan were successfully concluded by the exchange of notes verbales.

The proposed Protocol incorporates the Republic of Croatia as a contracting party to the Agreement and commits the Union to providing the authentic version of the Agreement in the Croatian language.

The Commission considers the outcome of the negotiations satisfactory and requests the Council to authorise the signature of the Protocol on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.





2017/0082 (NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the signing, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, and provisional application of the Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Uzbekistan, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia 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 Articles 207 and 209, in conjunction with Article 218(5) thereof,

Having regard to the Act of Accession of the Republic of Croatia, and in particular Article 6(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1)In accordance with Article 6(2) of the Act of Accession of Croatia, the accession of Croatia to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Uzbekistan, of the other part (‘the Agreement’) is to be agreed by means of a protocol to the Agreement. In accordance with Article 6(2) of the Act 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 countries concerned.

(2)On 14 September 2012, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with Uzbekistan for the adaptation of the Agreement. Negotiations were successfully concluded by exchange of notes verbales.