EU/Moldova Common Aviation Area Agreement: accession of Croatia to the EU. Protocol

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, of a Protocol amending the Common Aviation Area Agreement between the EU and Moldova, to take account of the accession to the European Union of the Croatia.

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 Common Aviation Area Agreement between the European Union and its Member States and Moldova was negotiated on the basis of the Council Decision of 16 June 2011 authorising the opening of negotiations.

The Agreement was signed on 26 June 2012.

Croatia acceded to the European Union on 1 July 2013.

Pursuant to Article 6(2) of the Act concerning the Conditions of Accession, Croatia undertook to accede to the agreements concluded or signed by the Member States and the Union with one or more third counties or an international organisation.

It is now necessary to approve the Protocol.

CONTENT: under this proposal, the Council is called upon to approve the Protocol amending the Common Aviation Area Agreement between the EU, its Member States and Moldova.

The Protocol ensures the necessary amendment to be made to the Common Aviation Area Agreement between the EU and Moldova following the accession of Croatia to the EU on 1 July 2013.