EC/Uzbekistan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement: accession of Croatia to the EU. Protocol

PURPOSE: to approve the conclusion, on behalf of the Union and of the Member States, of the Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Uzbekistan, 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 Partnership and Cooperation Agreement establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Uzbekistan, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union was signed, subject to its conclusion at a later date.

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

CONTENT: the Council draft concerns the approval, on behalf of the Union and the Member States, of the Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Uzbekistan, of the other part, to take account of Croatia’s accession to the EU.

As regards matters within the competence of the European Atomic Energy Community, the conclusion of the Protocol is subject to a separate procedure.