CELEX: 52014PC0201
Language: en
Date: 2014-03-31
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the conclusion of a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Lebanon, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Lebanon on the general principles for the participation of the Republic of Lebanon in Union programmes

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		52014PC0201
		
			Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the conclusion of a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Lebanon, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Lebanon on the general principles for the participation of the Republic of Lebanon in Union programmes /* COM/2014/0201 final - 2014/0110 (NLE) */
			
				
		
		
			
			   	EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
As part of the European Neighbourhood
Policy (ENP), the gradual opening up of certain European Union programmes and
agencies to ENP partner countries is one of many measures to promote reform,
modernisation and transition in the European Union’s neighbourhood. The
Commission has expanded on this in its December 2006  Communication “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
conclusions on 5 March 2007[2].

Further to this Communication and the
subsequent conclusions, the Council, on 18 June 2007, 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 Council meeting on 18/19 June 2007 as well as the related Council conclusions[6]. This report recalled
the Council directives to negotiate 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 emphasised the EU’s intention
to facilitate partner countries’ participation in EU programmes.
To date,
Protocols have been signed with Armenia[8],
 Georgia[9],
 Israel[10],
 Jordan[11],
Moldova[12]
Morocco[13]
and Ukraine[14].

In December
2013, the Republic of Lebanon 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 the Republic of   Lebanon 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 Lebanon in Union programmes. It contains standard conditions that should be
applied to all European Neighbourhood Policy partner countries with whom such
protocols are to be concluded. 
Under Article 218(6)(a) of the Treaty on
the Functioning of the European Union, the Council shall obtain the consent of
the European Parliament before concluding  this Protocol. 
In parallel, the Commission submits a
proposal for a Council Decision on the signature and provisional application of
the said Protocol. 
The Council is invited to adopt the
following proposed Decision.
2014/0110 (NLE)
Proposal for a
COUNCIL DECISION
on the conclusion of a Protocol to the
Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European
Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Lebanon,
of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Republic
of Lebanon on the general principles for the participation of the Republic of
Lebanon 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) and Article
218(7) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the
European Commission,
Having regard to the consent of the
European Parliament,
Whereas:
(1)       The Protocol to the
Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European
Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Lebanon,
of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the
Republic of Lebanon on the general principles for the participation of the
Republic of Lebanon in Union programmes ("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 the Republic of   Lebanon to participate in certain EU programmes. The horizontal framework
established by the Protocol sets out principles for economic, financial and
technical cooperation measure and  allows the Republic of Lebanon to receive
technical assistance, in particular financial assistance, from the European Union
pursuant to the European Union programmes. This framework applies only to those
Union programmes for which the relevant constitutive legal acts provide for the
possibility of the participation of the Republic of Lebanon. The conclusion of
the Protocol does not therefore 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 on behalf of the Union,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
Article 1
The Protocol to
the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the
European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of
Lebanon, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union
and the Republic of Lebanon on the general principles for the participation of
the Republic of Lebanon in Union programmes (“the Protocol”) is hereby approved
on behalf of the Union[15].
Article 2
The President of the Council shall
designate the person empowered to proceed, on behalf of the European Union, to
the notification provided for in Article 10 of the Protocol[16], in order to express
the consent of the European Union to be bound by the Protocol. 
The date of entry into forcce of the
Protocol will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union. 
Article 3
The Commission is authorised to determine,
on behalf of the Union, the specific terms and conditions applicable to the
participation of Lebanon in any given programme, including the financial
contribution payable. The Commission shall keep the relevant working party of
the Council 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]               [to complete with OJ reference once published]
[9]               [to complete with OJ reference once published]
[10]             OJEU L129/39 of 17.5.2008;
[11]             [to complete with OJ reference once published]
[12]             OJEU L14/5 of 19.01.2011, OJEU L131/1 of 18.05.2011,
entry into force on 01.05.2011;
[13]             OJEU L273/1 of 19.10.2010, OJEU L90/1 of 28.03.2012,
entry into force on 01.10.2012;
[14]             OJEU L18/1-5 of 21.01.2011, OJEU L133/1 of 20.05.2011,
entry into force on 01.11.2011
[15]             The Protocol has been published in [OJ…] together with
the decision on signature.
[16]             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.