11.4.2015 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 96/1
COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2015/575
of 17 December 2014
on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and provisional application 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(5) and (7) thereof,
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 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 (1), 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’).
(2) The negotiations have been concluded.
(3) The objective of the Protocol is to lay down the financial and technical rules enabling the Republic of 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 those Union programmes. That 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 Tunisia. 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.
(4) The Protocol should be signed on behalf of the Union and should be applied on a provisional basis, pending the completion of the procedures for its conclusion,
The signing on behalf of the Union 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 is hereby authorised, subject to the conclusion of the said Protocol.
The text of the Protocol is attached to this Decision.
The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the Protocol on behalf of the Union.
The Protocol shall be applied on a provisional basis from its signature, pending the completion of the procedures for its conclusion.
The Commission is authorised to determine, on behalf of the Union, the specific terms and conditions applicable to the participation of the Republic of Tunisia in any particular Union programme, including the financial contribution to be paid. The Commission shall keep the relevant Council working party informed.
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.