CELEX: 52019PC0362
Language: en
Date: 2019-08-02
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the signing and provisional application, on behalf of the European Union, of a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Interim Association Agreement on trade and cooperation between the European Community, of the one part, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip , of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip on the general principles for its participation in Union programmes

EUROPEAN COMMISSION
            Brussels, 2.8.2019
            COM(2019) 362 final
            2019/0165(NLE)
            Proposal for a
            COUNCIL DECISION
            on the signing and provisional application, on behalf of the European Union, of a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Interim Association Agreement on trade and cooperation between the European Community, of the one part, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip , of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip on the general principles for its participation in Union programmes
            
               
         
         
            
               EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
            
            
               1.CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL
            
            
               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 European 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 its conclusions of 5 March 2007
                  2
               .
            
            
               Further to this Communication and the 5 March 2007 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 of 18 and 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 Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on a new response to a changing Neighbourhood
                  7
               , endorsed by the Council conclusions of 20 June 2011, further emphasised the EU’s intention to facilitate partner countries’ participation in EU programmes.
            
            
               To date, similar protocols have been signed with Algeria
                  8
               , Armenia
                  9
               , Azerbaijan
                  10
               , Georgia
                  11
               , Israel
                  12
               , Jordan
                  13
               , Lebanon
                  14
               , Moldova
                  15
                Morocco
                  16
               , Tunisia
                  17
               , and Ukraine
                  18
               , and a Protocol with Egypt is under discussion. In September 2018, during the EU- Palestinian Authority Joint Committee, the Palestinian Authority expressed its interest in signing a Protocol to a Framework Agreement for their potential full participation in a number of selected EU programmes. 
            
            
               The objective of the Protocol is to lay down the financial and technical rules enabling the Palestinian Authority to participate in certain EU programmes. The horizontal framework established by the Protocol sets out principles for economic, financial and technical cooperation and allows the Palestinian Authority to receive assistance, in particular financial assistance, from the European Union pursuant to the programmes. This framework applies only to these programmes for which the relevant constitutive legal acts provide the possibility of the participation of the Palestinian Authority. The signing and provisional application of the Protocol does not therefore entail the exercise of powers under the various sectoral policies, which are exercised when establishing the programmes.
            
            
               2.LEGAL BACKGROUND
            
            
               
                  The Euro-Mediterranean Interim Association Agreement on trade and cooperation between the European Community, of the one part, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, of the other part, was signed on 24 February 1997 and entered into force on 1 July 1997.
               
               
                  The European Council of 17 and 18 June 2004 welcomed the Commission’s proposals for the ENP and endorsed the Council conclusions of 14 June 2004.
               
               
                  The Council, on 5 March 2007, expressed support for the general and global approach outlined in the Commission’s Communication of 4 December 2006 to enable ENP partners to participate in Community agencies and Community programmes on their merits and where the legal bases so allow.
               
            
            
               Further to this Communication and the 5 March 2007 conclusions, the Council, on 18 June 2007, issued directives to the Commission to negotiate Framework Agreements with ENP countries, on the general principles for their participation in Community programmes
                  19
               . 
            
            
               The substantive legal basis for the signing of the Protocol is Article 209 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). The procedural legal basis is Article 218(5) and (7) of the TFEU. 
            
            
               The Protocol will be signed with the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, which is the EU counterpart for the implementation of the Interim Association Agreement
                  20
               . 
            
            
               3.RESULTS OF EX POST EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS
            
            
               
                  Not applicable.
               
            
            
               4.BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS
            
         
         
            
               The Palestinian Authority shall contribute financially to the general budget of the European Union corresponding to the specific programmes in which the Palestinian Authority participates. 
            
            
               The specific terms and conditions regarding the participation of the Palestinian Authority in each programme, in particular the financial contribution payable shall be determined in a Memorandum of Understanding between the Commission and the competent authorities of the Palestinian Authority on the basis of the criteria established by the programmes concerned.
            
            
               Each Memorandum of Understanding concluded pursuant to Article 5 of the Protocol, shall stipulate, in accordance with the  Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union, amending Regulations (EU) No 1296/2013, (EU) No 1301/2013, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 1304/2013, (EU) No 1309/2013, (EU) No 1316/2013, (EU) No 223/2014, (EU) No 283/2014, and Decision No 541/2014/EU and repealing Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012, that financial control, audits or other verifications, including administrative investigations will be carried out by or under the authority of, the Commission, the European Anti-Fraud Office and the Court of Auditors.
            
            
               Detailed provisions shall be adopted on financial control and auditing, administrative measures, penalties and recovery enabling the Commission, the European Anti-Fraud Office, and the Court of Auditors to be granted powers equivalent to their powers with regard to beneficiaries or contractors established in the Union. 
            
            
               5.OTHER ELEMENTS
            
            
               No later than three years after the date of entry into force of this Protocol and every three years thereafter, the Parties may review the implementation of this Protocol on the basis of the actual participation of the Palestinian Authority in Union programmes. 
            
            
               The specific terms and conditions regarding the participation of the Palestinian Authority in each programme, in particular the reporting and evaluation procedures, shall be determined in a Memorandum of Understanding between the Commission and the competent authorities of the Palestinian Authority on the basis of the criteria established by the programmes concerned.
            
            
               2019/0165 (NLE)
            
            
               Proposal for a
            
            
               COUNCIL DECISION
            
            
               on the signing and provisional application, on behalf of the European Union, of a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Interim Association Agreement on trade and cooperation between the European Community, of the one part, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip , of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip on the general principles for its participation 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 209, in conjunction with Article 218(5) and (7),
            
            
               Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
            
            
               Whereas:
            
            
               (1)On 18 June 2007 the Council authorised the Commission to negotiate a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Interim Association Agreement on trade and cooperation between the European Community, of the one part, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip on the general principles for its participation in Union programmes (‘the Protocol’).
            
            
               (2)The negotiations have been concluded.
            
            
               (3)The objective of the Protocol is to lay down the financial and technical rules enabling the Palestinian Authority 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 Palestinian Authority to receive assistance, in particular financial assistance, from the European Union pursuant to the programmes. This framework applies only to these programmes for which the relevant constitutive legal acts provide for the possibility of the participation of the Palestinian Authority. The signing and provisional application of the Protocol does not therefore entail the exercise of powers under the various sectoral policies, which are exercised when establishing the programmes.  
            
            
               (4)The Protocol should be signed on behalf of the European Union and it should be applied on a provisional basis pending the completion of the procedures for its conclusion,
            
            
               HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
            
         
         
            
               Article 1
            
            
               The signing, on behalf of the Union, of the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Interim Association Agreement on trade and cooperation between the European Community, of the one part, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip on the general principles for its participation in Union programmes  is hereby authorised, subject to the conclusion of the said Protocol.
            
            
               The text of the Protocol is attached to this Decision.
            
            
               Article 2
            
            
               The Council Secretariat General shall establish the instrument of full powers to sign the Protocol, subject to its conclusion, for the person(s) indicated by the negotiator of the Protocol.
            
            
               Article 3
            
            
               The Protocol shall be applied on a provisional basis, in accordance with Article 10, as from the date of its signature, pending the procedures necessary for its conclusion.
            
            
               The date of signature of the Protocol will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
            
            
               Article 4
            
            
               The Commission is authorised to determine, on behalf of the Union, the specific terms and conditions applicable to the participation of the Palestinian Authority in any given programme, including the financial contribution payable. The Commission shall keep the relevant working party of the Council informed.
            
            
               Article 5
            
            
               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 L 14/2, of 18.1.2017
               
               
                  
                     (9)
                  
                        OJ L 174/1, of 13.6.2014
               
               
                  
                     (10)
                  
                        OJ L 199/1, of 26.7.2016
               
               
                  
                     (11)
                  
                        OJ L 165/16, of 4.6.2014
               
               
                  
                     (12)
                  
                        OJ L 129/39, of 17.5.2008
               
               
                  
                     (13)
                  
                        OJ L 89/6, of 25.3.2014
               
               
                  
                     (14)
                  
                        OJ L 202/3, of 28.7.2016
               
               
                  
                     (15)
                  
                        OJ L 131/1, of 18.5.2011
               
               
                  
                     (16)
                  
                        OJ L 90/1, of 28.3.2012
               
               
                  
                     (17)
                  
                        OJ L 297/1, of 13.11.2015
               
               
                  
                     (18)
                  
                        OJ L 133/1, of 20.5.2011
               
               
                  
                     (19)
                  
                        Council Decision (restricted) authorising the Commission to negotiate Protocols […], Doc 10412/07
               
               
                  
                     (20)
                  
                        See also the Action Plan signed with the Palestinian Authority, as per Council Decision (EU) 2019/222 of 20 December 2018
               
            
      
    ---documentbreak--- 
      
         
               EUROPEAN COMMISSION
            Brussels, 2.8.2019
            COM(2019) 362 final
            ANNEX
            to the
            Proposal for a Council Decision
            on the signing and provisional application, on behalf of the European Union, of a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Interim Association Agreement on trade and cooperation between the European Community, of the one part, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip on the general principles for its participation in Union programmes
            
               
         
         
            
               ANNEX 
            
            
            
               Protocol 
                  to the Euro-Mediterranean Interim Association Agreement
            
            
               on trade and cooperation between the European Community, of the one part, 
            
            
               and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, of the other part, 
            
            
               on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip 
            
            
               on the general principles for its participation in Union programmes
            
            
            
               THE EUROPEAN UNION, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Union’, of the one part,
            
            
               and 
            
            
               the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Palestinian Authority’, of the other part,
            
            
               hereinafter referred to as ‘the Parties’,
            
            
               Whereas:
            
            
               1.The Euro-Mediterranean Interim Association Agreement on trade and cooperation between the European Community, of the one part, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, of the other part (the ‘Interim Association Agreement’), was signed on 24 February 1997 and entered into force on 1 July 1997.
            
            
               2.The European Council of 17 and 18 June 2004 welcomed the European Commission’s proposals for a European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and endorsed the Council conclusions of 14 June 2004.
            
            
               3.The Council has repeatedly concluded in favour of this policy.
            
            
               4.The Council, on 5 March 2007, expressed support for the general and global approach outlined in the European Commission’s Communication of 4 December 2006 to enable ENP partners to participate in Community agencies and Community programmes on their merits and where the legal bases so allow.
            
            
               5.The Palestinian Authority has expressed its wish to participate in a number of Union programmes.
            
            
               6.The specific terms and conditions, in particular, financial contribution as well as reporting and evaluation procedures, regarding the participation of the Palestinian Authority in each programme should be determined in a Memorandum of Understanding between the European Commission and the competent authorities of the Palestinian Authority,
            
         
         
            
            
               HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
            
            
               Article 1
            
            
               The Palestinian Authority shall be allowed to participate in all current and future programmes of the Union opened to the participation of the Palestinian Authority in accordance with the relevant provisions adopting these programmes.
            
            
               Article 2
            
            
               The Palestinian Authority shall contribute financially to the general budget of the European Union corresponding to the specific programmes in which the Palestinian Authority participates. 
            
            
               Article 3
            
            
               Representatives of the Palestinian Authority shall be allowed to take part, as observers and for the points which concern the Palestinian Authority, in the management committees responsible for monitoring the programmes to which the Palestinian Authority contributes financially. 
            
            
               Article 4
            
            
               Projects and initiatives submitted by participants from the Palestinian Authority 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 the Palestinian Authority in each programme, in particular the financial contribution payable as well as reporting and evaluation procedures, shall be determined in a Memorandum of Understanding between the Commission and the competent authorities of the Palestinian Authority on the basis of the criteria established by the programmes concerned.
            
            
               If the Palestinian Authority applies for external assistance of the Union to participate in a given Union programme on the basis 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 external assistance of the Union to the Palestinian Authority that may be adopted in the future, the conditions governing the use by the Palestinian Authority of external assistance of the Union shall be determined in a financing agreement, respecting Regulation (EC)No 232/2014.
            
            
               Article 6
            
            
               Each Memorandum of Understanding concluded pursuant to Article 5, shall stipulate, in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) No. 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union, amending Regulations (EU) No 1296/2013, (EU) No 1301/2013, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 1304/2013, (EU) No 1309/2013, (EU) No 1316/2013, (EU) No 223/2014, (EU) No 283/2014, and Decision No 541/2014/EU and repealing Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012, that financial control, 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 on financial control and auditing, administrative investigations, recovery, financial penalties and other administrative sanctions,  granting the European Commission, the European Anti-Fraud Office, and the Court of Auditors to be granted powers equivalent to their powers with regard to beneficiaries or contractors established in the Union. 
            
            
               Article 7
            
            
               This Protocol shall apply for the period for which the Interim Association 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 Party. This Protocol shall cease to apply six months after the date of such notification. 
            
         
         
            
               Termination of the Protocol following denunciation by any of the Parties shall have no influence on the checks and controls to be carried out, where necessary, under Articles 5 and 6.
            
            
               Article 8
            
            
               No later than three years after the date of entry into force of this Protocol, and every three years thereafter, the Parties may review the implementation of this Protocol on the basis of the actual participation of the Palestinian Authority in Union programmes. 
            
            
               Article 9
            
            
               This Protocol shall apply, on the one hand, to the territories in which the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union is applied and under the conditions laid down in this Treaty, and, on the other hand, to the territory of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
            
            
               Article 10
            
            
               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 their procedures necessary for this purpose. 
            
            
               Pending its entry into force, the Parties agree to provisionally apply this Protocol from the date of its signature, subject to its conclusion at a later date.
            
            
               Article 11
            
            
               This Protocol shall form an integral part of the Agreement.
            
            
               Article 12
            
            
               This Protocol shall be drawn up in duplicate in the Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Irish, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish and Arabic languages, each of these texts being equally authentic.
            
            
            
               Done at Brussels, this…day of …in the year…
            
            
            
               For the European Union
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     For the Palestinian Authority