EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

As part of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), the gradual opening-up of certain Union programmes and agencies to the participation of ENP partner countries represents one of many measures to promote reform, modernisation and transition in the European Union’s neighbourhood. The Commission outlined this policy aspect more extensively in its Communication of December 2006 ‘on the general approach to enable European Neighbourhood Policy partner countries to participate in Community agencies and Community programmes’[1].

The Council endorsed this approach in its conclusions of 5 March 2007[2].

Based upon this Communication and those conclusions, on 18 June 2007 the Council issued directives to the Commission to negotiate Framework Agreements with Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Moldova, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Tunisia and Ukraine, on the general principles for their participation in Community programmes[3].

The June 2007 European Council[4] reaffirmed the paramount importance of the ENP and endorsed a Presidency Progress Report[5] that had been submitted to the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) meeting on 18/19 June 2007 as well as the related Council Conclusions[6]. The report referred to the Council directives for negotiating the relevant additional protocols.

The Joint Communication by the Commission and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy ‘A new response to a changing Neighbourhood’[7], endorsed by Council Conclusions on 20 June 2011, further stressed the EU’s intention to facilitate partner countries’ participation in EU programmes.

To date, protocols have been signed with Armenia, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Moldova, Morocco and Ukraine.

In December 2013, Tunisia expressed its interest in participating in the broad range of programmes open to partner countries of the European Neighbourhood Policy. The text of the protocol negotiated with Tunisia is attached.

The Commission herewith submits a proposal for a Council Decision on the conclusion of the protocol. This protocol contains a framework agreement on the general principles for the participation of Tunisia in Union programmes. It contains standard clauses that are intended to be applied to all European Neighbourhood Policy partner countries with which such protocols are to be concluded.

In accordance with Article 218(6)(a) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the European Parliament will be asked to give its consent to the conclusion of this protocol.

The Commission is submitting a parallel proposal for a Council decision on the signing and provisional application of the protocol.

The Council is invited to adopt the following proposal for a decision.

2014/0118 (NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the conclusion of the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Tunisia on the general principles for the participation of the Republic of Tunisia in Union programmes

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

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

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament[8],

Whereas:

(1) The Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Tunisia on the general principles for the participation of the Republic of Tunisia in Union programmes (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Protocol’) was signed on behalf of the Union on …

(2) The objective of the Protocol is to lay down the financial and technical rules enabling Tunisia to participate in certain Union programmes. The horizontal framework established by the Protocol constitutes an economic, financial and technical cooperation measure which allows for access to assistance, in particular financial assistance, to be provided by the Union pursuant to the Union programmes. This framework applies only to those Union programmes for which the relevant constitutive legal acts provide for the possibility of Tunisia’s participation. The signing and provisional application of the Protocol therefore does not entail the exercise of powers under the various sectoral policies pursued by the programmes, which are exercised when establishing the programmes.

(3) The Protocol should be approved,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Tunisia on the general principles for the participation of the Republic of Tunisia in Union programmes (‘the Protocol’) is hereby approved on behalf of the Union[9].

Article 2

The President of the Council shall designate the person empowered to proceed, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, to the notification provided for in Article 10 of the Protocol, in order to express the consent of the European Union and its Member States to be bound by the Protocol.

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

Article 3

The Commission is authorised to determine, on behalf of the Community, the specific terms and conditions applicable to the participation of Tunisia in any given programme, including the financial contribution payable. The Commission will keep the relevant Council working party informed.

Article 4

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

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President

[1] COM(2006) 724 final of 4 December 2006.

[2] GAERC conclusions of 5 March 2007.

[3] Council Decision (restricted) authorising the Commission to negotiate Protocols […], Doc 10412/07.

[4] Presidency Conclusions – Brussels, 21/22 June 2007, Doc 11177/07.

[5] Presidency Progress Report on ‘Strengthening the European Neighbourhood Policy’, Doc 10874/07.

[6] Conclusions on Strengthening the European Neighbourhood Policy, adopted by the Council (General Affairs and External Relations) on 18 June 2007, Doc 11016/07.

[7] COM(2011) 303 final of 25 May 2011.

[8] OJ C […] of […], p. […].

[9]

ANNEX PROTOCOL to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Tunisia on the general principles for the participation of the Republic of Tunisia in Union programmes

THE EUROPEAN UNION, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Union’,

of the one part,

and

THE REPUBLIC OF TUNISIA, hereinafter referred to as ‘Tunisia’,

of the other part,

hereinafter jointly referred to as ‘the Parties’,

Whereas:

(1) Tunisia has concluded a Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Tunisia, of the other part (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’), which entered into force on 1 March 1998.

(2) The Brussels European Council of 17 and 18 June 2004 welcomed the Commission’s proposals for a European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and endorsed the Council conclusions of 14 June 2004.

(3) The Council has since adopted conclusions in favour of this policy on numerous occasions.

(4) On 5 March 2007 the Council expressed support for the general and comprehensive approach outlined in the Commission’s communication of 4 December 2006, COM(2006) 724 final, to enable European Neighbourhood Policy partners to participate in Community agencies and Community programmes on their merits and where authorised by the legal bases.

(5) Tunisia has expressed its wish to participate in a number of Union programmes.

(6) The specific terms and conditions, including the financial contribution and reporting and evaluation procedures, applicable to Tunisia's participation in any particular programme should be determined by agreement between the European Commission, acting on behalf of the Union, and Tunisia,

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Tunisia shall be allowed to participate in all current and future programmes of the Union opened to the participation of Tunisia in accordance with the relevant provisions adopting those programmes.

Article 2

Tunisia shall contribute financially to the general budget of the European Union corresponding to the specific programmes in which Tunisia participates.

Article 3

Tunisia’s representatives shall be allowed to take part, as observers and for those items which concern Tunisia, in the management committees responsible for monitoring the programmes to which Tunisia contributes financially.

Article 4

Projects and initiatives submitted by participants from Tunisia shall, as far as possible, be subject to the same conditions, rules and procedures pertaining to the programmes concerned as applied to Member States.

Article 5

The specific terms and conditions regarding the participation of Tunisia in each particular programme, in particular the financial contribution payable and reporting and evaluation procedures, shall be determined in a Memorandum of Understanding between the Commission and the competent authorities of Tunisia on the basis of the criteria established by the programmes concerned.

If Tunisia applies for Union external assistance to participate in a given Union programme on the basis of Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 232/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing a European Neighbourhood Instrument or pursuant to any similar regulation providing for Union external assistance to Tunisia that may be adopted in the future, the conditions governing the use by Tunisia of the Union assistance shall be determined in a financing agreement.

Article 6

Each agreement concluded pursuant to Article 5 shall stipulate, in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union and repealing Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002, that financial control or audits or other verifications, including administrative investigations, will be carried out by, or under the authority of, the European Commission, the European Anti‑Fraud Office and the Court of Auditors.

Detailed provisions shall be adopted for financial controls and audits, administrative measures, penalties and recoveries that accord the European Commission, the European Anti‑Fraud Office and the Court of Auditors powers equivalent to their powers with regard to beneficiaries or contractors established in the Union.

Article 7

This Protocol concerning a Framework Agreement shall apply for the period during which the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement is in force.

This Protocol shall be signed and approved by the Parties in accordance with their respective procedures.

Either Party may denounce this Protocol by written notification to the other Contracting Party. This Protocol shall cease to apply six months after the date of such notification.

The termination of the Protocol following denunciation by either of the Parties shall not affect the checks and controls to be carried out where necessary under the provisions of Articles 5 and 6.

Article 8

No later than three years after the date of entry into force of this Protocol and at three‑year intervals thereafter both Parties may review the implementation of this Protocol on the basis of the actual participation of Tunisia in Union programmes.

Article 9

This Protocol shall apply to the territory in which the Treaty on the European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union are applied under the conditions laid down in those Treaties, on the one hand, and to the territory of Tunisia, on the other.

Article 10

Pending its entry into force, the Parties agree to provisionally apply this Protocol from the date of its signing, subject to completion of the procedures necessary for that purpose.

This Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the date on which the Parties notify each other through diplomatic channels of the completion of the procedures necessary for its entry into force.

Article 11

This Protocol shall form an integral part of the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the other part.

Article 12

This Protocol is drawn up in duplicate in the Arabic, Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish and Swedish languages, each of these texts being equally authentic.

Done at Brussels,

For the European Union For the Republic of Tunisia