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EU/Israel Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement: accession to the EU of Croatia. Protocol

2014/0187(NLE)

The Committee on Transport and Tourism adopted the report by Francisco ASSIS (S&D, PT) on the draft Council decision on conclusion, on behalf of the Union and its Member States, of a Protocol amending the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part and the government of the State of Israel, of the other part, to take account of the accession to the European Union of the Republic of Croatia.

The parliamentary committee recommended that the European Parliament approve the conclusion of the agreement.

In the short justification accompanying the report, it was recalled that the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union, its Member States and the State of Israel was negotiated on the basis of the Council Decision adopted in April 2008 authorising the opening of negotiations. The Agreement was signed on 10 June 2013. The Agreement with Israel, a key aviation partner in the Mediterranean region, is an important achievement in the process of establishing a Common Aviation Area between the EU and its Southern and Eastern neighbours. It forms part of the Union's external aviation policy framework established by the Commission.

In accordance with the Act of Accession of the Republic of Croatia, Croatia will accede to the agreements concluded or signed before the accession of Croatia by the EU Member States and the Union with one or more third countries by means of a protocol to those agreements. The Protocol to take account of the accession to the European Union of the Republic of Croatia has been negotiated between the Commission and the Israeli Authorities.

The purpose of the Protocol is to allow the Republic of Croatia to become a Party to the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union, its Member States and the State of Israel and to provide for the necessary ensuing linguistic adaptations. The Protocol, which was signed on 19 February 2015, will not introduce any changes to the substance of the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement.