EC/Chile Association Agreement: accession of Croatia to the EU. Protocol

PURPOSE: to conclude an Additional Protocol to the Agreement establishing an Association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and Chile, 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: the Council adopts the act after consulting the European Parliament but without being obliged to follow its opinion.

BACKGROUND: in accordance with the Act of Accession of Croatia, the accession of Croatia to, inter alia, the Agreement establishing an association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and Chile, of the other part is to be agreed by means of a protocol to that Agreement through a simplified procedure.

On 14 September 2012, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the third countries concerned in view of the accession of Croatia to the Union. The negotiations with Chile were successfully concluded and the Protocol was signed, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Protocol should now be approved.

CONTENT: with this proposal, the Council is required to approve, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, the 3rd Additional Protocol to the Agreement establishing an Association between the European Community and its Member States, and Chile, on the other, to take account of Croatia's accession to the European Union.