CELEX: 52014PC0092
Language: en
Date: 2014-02-17
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the signing, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, and provisional application of an Additional Protocol to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Kingdom of Norway, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union

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		52014PC0092
		
			Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the signing, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, and provisional application of an Additional Protocol to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Kingdom of Norway, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union /* COM/2014/092 final - 2014/0049 (NLE) */
			
				
		
		
			
			   	EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
The Agreement between the European Economic
Community and the Kingdom of Norway, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’,
was signed on 14 May 1973 in Brussels and entered into force on 1 July 1973.
The attached proposal creates the legal
instrument for the signature and provisional application of an Additional
Protocol to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the
Kingdom of Norway, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia
to the European Union (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Additional Protocol’).
According to the Act of
Accession of the Republic of Croatia, Croatia shall accede to the international
agreements signed or concluded by the European Union and its Member States by means of a protocol to those agreements.
On 24 September 2012[1], the
Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the third countries
concerned to conclude the relevant protocols. Negotiations with Norway were
conducted in the framework of the negotiations for the adaptation of the
Agreement on the European Economic Area and the Agreement between the Kingdom
of Norway and the European Union on a Norwegian Financial Mechanism for the
period 2009-2014, in view of the enlargement of the European Union to include
Croatia[2],
and were successfully concluded by the initialling of the Additional Protocol.
The proposed Additional
Protocol makes the Republic of Croatia a contracting party to the Agreement and
commits the EU to providing an authentic version of the Agreement in the new
official language of the EU. It also provides for additional fish trade
concessions for Norway, given Croatia’s accession to the European Economic
Area.
In accordance with
Article 4 of the Additional Protocol and pending the completion of the relevant
procedures for its formal conclusion and entry into force, the provisional
application of the Protocol should begin as of the first day of the third month
following the deposit of the last notification of the Parties to this effect.
The Commission has judged the results of
the negotiations to be satisfactory and asks the Council to adopt the attached
decision on the signature and provisional application of the Additional
Protocol.
2014/0049 (NLE)
Proposal for a
COUNCIL DECISION
on the signing, on behalf of the European
Union and its Member States, and provisional application of an Additional
Protocol to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the
Kingdom of Norway, 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 Article 207 in
conjunction with Article 218(5) and the second subparagraph of Article 218(8)
thereof,
Having regard to the Act on the conditions
of accession of the Republic of Croatia annexed to the Treaty of Accession, and
in particular Article 6(2) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the
Commission[3],
Whereas:
(1)       On 24 September 2012 the
Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations, on behalf of the Union
and its Member States and the Republic of Croatia, with Norway to conclude a
Protocol to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the
Kingdom of Norway, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia
to the European Union.
(2)       These negotiations have
been successfully completed and, subject to its possible conclusion at a later
date, the Additional Protocol should be signed on behalf of the European Union
and the Member States.
(3)       The Additional Protocol
should be applied on a provisional basis with effect from the first day of the
third month following the deposit of the last notification by the Parties to
this effect,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The signing of the Additional Protocol to
the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Kingdom of Norway, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European
Union (the ‘Additional Protocol’) is hereby approved on behalf of the Union and
the Member States, subject to the conclusion of the Additional Protocol.
The text of the Additional Protocol is
attached to this Decision.
Article 2
The Council General Secretariat shall
establish the instrument of full powers to sign the Additional Protocol,
subject to its conclusion, for the person(s) indicated by the negotiator of the
Protocol.
Article 3
Subject to its
conclusion at a later date and pending its entry into force, the Additional
Protocol shall be applied on a provisional basis from
the first day of the third month following the deposit of the last notification
to this effect, in accordance with Article 4 of the Protocol.
Done at Brussels,
                                                                       For
the Council
                                                                       The
President
[1]               Council decision authorising the opening of
negotiations for the adaptation of agreements signed or concluded between the
European Union, or the European Union and its Member States, with one or more
third countries or international organisations, in view of the accession of the
Republic of Croatia to the European Union (Council doc. 13351/12 LIMITED). 
[2]               Council decision authorising the Commission to open negotiations for the adaptation of the
Agreement on the European Economic Area and the Agreement between the Kingdom
of Norway and the European Union on a Norwegian Financial Mechanism for the
period 2009-2014, in view of the enlargement of the European Union to Croatia
(Council doc. 12865/12 LIMITED).
[3]               OJ C […], […], p.[…].