EU/Vietnam Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation: accession of Croatia to the EU. Protocol

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, of the Protocol to the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Vietnam, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia 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: in accordance with a Council Decision, the Protocol to the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Vietnam, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union has been signed, subject to its conclusion at a later date.

The Protocol should now be approved on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

CONTENT: under this proposal, the Council is invited to adopt a decision seeking to approve the Protocol to the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Vietnam, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union.

The proposed Protocol incorporates Croatia as contracting party to the Agreement and commits the EU to providing the authentic version of the Agreement in the Croatian language.