EC/San Marino Cooperation and Customs Union Agreement: participation of Croatia following its accession to the EU. Protocol

PURPOSE: to conclude a Protocol to the Agreement on Cooperation and Customs Union between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of San Marino, of the other part, regarding the participation, as a contracting party, of Croatia, following its accession to the European Union.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

BACKGROUND: the Agreement on Cooperation and Customs Union between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of San Marino, of the other part, of 16 December 1991, entered into force on 1 April 2002.

On 14 September 2012, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations for the adaptation, through the negotiation of a Protocol, of the Agreement regarding Croatia's participation as a contracting party, in view of its accession to the European Union on 1 July 2013.

It is now necessary to conclude the Protocol on behalf of the European Union.

CONTENT: this proposed Decision calls on the Council to conclude, on behalf of the European Union, the Protocol to the Agreement on Cooperation and Customs Union between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and San Marino, of the other part, regarding the participation, as a contracting party, of Croatia, following its accession to the European Union.

For details as regards other essential elements to this Agreement, please refer to the summary of the Commission’s initial legislative proposal dated 02/08/2013.

The Protocol shall apply on a provisional basis from 1 July 2013, date of accession of Croatia to the EU.