EU/Macao Agreement: air services

PURPOSE: to conclude an Agreement on certain aspects of air services between the European Union and the Macao Special Administrative Region of China.

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: by its Decision of 5 June 2003, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with third countries on the replacement of certain provisions in existing bilateral agreements with an agreement at Union level.

On behalf of the Union, the Commission negotiated an Agreement on certain aspects of air services with the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China in accordance with the mechanisms and directives in the Annex to the Council Decision of 5 June 2003.

The Agreement was signed on behalf of the Union on 23 November 2013 subject to its possible conclusion at a later date, in conformity with a Decision.

The Agreement should be approved on behalf of the European Union.

CONTENT: under this proposed Decision, the Council is requested to conclude the Agreement on certain aspects of air services between the European Union and the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, on behalf of the European Union.

For further details of the Agreement, please refer to the summary of the Commission’s initial legislative proposal dated 02/02/2012.