EN    EN EN 
EN    EN  EUROPEAN COMMISSION 
Brussels, 11.8.2010 
SEC(2010) 972 final 
  
RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CO MMISSION TO THE COUNCIL 
authorising the Commission to open negotiations with Turkmenistan to adapt the 
Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and its 
Member States , of the one part, and Turkmenistan, of the other part, to take into account 
of the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Estonia, 
the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the 
Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland,  the Slovak Republic, the Republic of 
Slovenia to the European Union 
EN 2   EN RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CO MMISSION TO THE COUNCIL 
authorising the Commission to open negotiations with Turkmenistan to adapt the 
Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and its 
Member States , of the one part, and Turkmenistan, of the other part, to take into account 
of the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Estonia, 
the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the 
Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland,  the Slovak Republic, the Republic of 
Slovenia to the European Union 
A. EXPLANATORY  MEMORANDUM 
1. The Partnership and Cooperation Agr eement (PCA) between the European 
Communities and its Member States, of the one part, and Turkmenistan, of the other part, signed in Brussels, on 25 May 1998, has not yet entered into force. 
2. As it was signed before the enlargement of  the European Union to include on 1 May 
2004 the Czech Republic, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Estonia, the 
Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Latvia , the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic 
of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Slova k Republic, the Republic of Slovenia and 
on 1 January 2007 the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania, a Protocol to the PCA 
needs to be drawn up to allow the 12 new Member States to accede to the Agreement 
when it will enter into force.  
3. Under Article 6 of the Act concerning the conditions of accession of the Czech 
Republic, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic  of Estonia, the Republic of Hungary, 
the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Malta, the 
Republic of Poland, the Slovak Republic, th e Republic of Slovenia to the European 
Union and the adjustment to the Treatie s on which the European Union is founded 
(OJ:L:2003:236; hereinafter the 'Act of A ccession'), the accession of the above-
mentioned 10 new Member States to the PCA with Turkmenistan is to be agreed by 
the conclusion of a protocol to this Agreem ent. Article 6(2) of the Act of Accession 
provides for a simplified procedure, as th is Protocol is to be concluded by the 
Council of the European Uni on, acting unanimously on beha lf of the Member States, 
and the third country concerned. 
4. As authorised by the Council on 23 October 2006, the Commission has negotiated, 
on behalf of the Community and its Member States, with Turkmenistan with a view 
to concluding a Protocol to the PCA to take into account the accession of the 
Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to th e EU, which has not, however, yet been 
concluded.  
5 The Commission will negotiate a Protocol for accession, duly talking into account 
the Protocol for accession of the Republic  of Bulgaria and Romania already 
negotiated, on behalf of the European Uni on on the basis of negotiating directives 
approved by the Council, acting by unanimity, and in consultation with a committee of the representatives of the Member States. It will submit a draft of the joint Protocol for conclusion to the Council. 
EN 3   EN 6. As regards the timetable, these negotiations should be concluded rapidly in order to 
allow for the Protocol adjusting the PCA to  enter into force as soon as possible, 
before the completion of the ratification of the PCA. 
B. RECOMMENDATION 
The Commission therefore recommends that the Council: 
– authorise the Commission to negotiate, on  behalf of the European Union, with 
Turkmenistan, a protocol adapting the Part nership and Cooperation Agreement between 
the European Communities and its Member Stat es, of the one part, and Turkmenistan, of 
the other part, signed in Brussels, on 25 Ma y 1998, to take into acc ount the accession of 
the Czech Republic, the Republic of Cyprus, th e Republic of Estonia, the Republic of 
Hungary, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of  Lithuania, the Repu blic of Malta, the 
Republic of Poland, the Slovak Re public, the Republic of Slove nia to the European Union, 
on the basis of the annexed negotiating direc tives, taking due account of the Protocol for 
accession of the Republic of Bulgaria  and Romania already negotiated; 
– appoint COEST as special committee, composed  of the representatives of the Member 
States, to assist the Commission in its task; and 
– adopt the annexed negotiating directives. 
EN 4   EN ANNEX  
Negotiating directives for the adaptation of  the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement 
between the European Communities and it s Member States, of the one part, and 
Turkmenistan, of the other part, to take into account the accession of the Czech 
Republic, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Hungary, the 
Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithua nia, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of 
Poland, the Slovak Republic, the Republic of Slovenia  to the European Union  
1. G ENERAL OBJECTIVE  
Adaptation of the Partnership and Coopera tion Agreement (PCA) with Turkmenistan 
to allow for the accession of the new Member States, which joined the EU on 1 May 2004, to this Agreement. 
2. C
ONTENT OF THE PROTOCOL   
The new Member States of the European Union, which joined on 1 May 2004, will 
accede to the PCA with Turkmenistan. The Pr otocol will provide for the necessary 
technical adaptation of the Agreement that will ensue from the accession of ten new 
contracting parties duly taking into acc ount the Protocol for accession of the 
Republic of Bulgaria and Romania already negotiated. 
3. T IMETABLE  
Negotiations should be concl uded rapidly, allowing for adopt ion of the joint Protocol 
before the completion of ratification of the PCA with Turkmenistan.