RECOMMENDATION on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, of a Protocol to the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, on the one part, and the Republic of Korea, on the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union

on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, of a Protocol to the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, on the one part, and the Republic of Korea, on the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union

(07817/2016 – C8-0218/2017 – 2015/0138(NLE))

(Consent)

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the draft Council decision (07817/2016),

–  having regard to the draft Protocol to the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, on the one part, and the Republic of Korea, on the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union (07730/2016),

–  having regard to request for consent submitted by the Council in accordance with Articles 207 and 212, and Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (C8-0218/2017),

–  having regard to Rule 99(1) and (4) and Rule 108(7) of its Rules of Procedure,

–  having regard to the recommendation of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (A8-0120/2018),

1.  Gives its consent to conclusion of the Protocol;

2.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States and of the Republic of Korea.

The Council is proposing to conclude a protocol to the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Korea, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union. Under the terms of the protocol, Croatia becomes a contracting party to the agreement.

The Framework Agreement was signed on 10 May 2010 and entered into force on 1 June 2014, and is the first agreement of its kind between the European Union and a country in Asia. It has made for closer cooperation between the EU and Korea, a key partner in the region, in many areas, such as peace and security, human rights and the rule of law, the environment, energy, combating terrorism, good governance and combating corruption and organised crime.

On 1 July 2013, Croatia joined the European Union. In accordance with Article 6(2) of the Act of Accession of the Republic of Croatia, Croatia must accede to all agreements concluded or signed before this date by the European Union and its Member States with one or more third countries, by means of a protocol to those agreements. Looking ahead to Croatia’s accession to the Union, Council Decision 13351/12 of 14 September 2012 authorises the Commission to negotiate protocols to amend agreements signed or concluded by the EU, or the EU and its Member States, with third countries. The protocol to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union has been negotiated between the Commission and the Korean authorities.

The purpose of the protocol is to enable the Republic of Croatia to become a party to the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Korea, of the other part, (Article 1) and to specify the linguistic changes required (Article 2). The protocol makes no substantive changes to the Framework Agreement.

The protocol was signed on 21 June 2017. The Council needs the consent of the European Parliament to conclude the protocol. In accordance with Rules 99 and 108(7) of its Rules of Procedure, Parliament takes a decision by means of a single vote.

On the basis of the above, the rapporteur is proposing that the Committee on Foreign Affairs deliver a favourable opinion on the conclusion of the protocol.

Key to symbols:

+  :  in favour

-  :  against

0  :  abstention