EU/Afghanistan Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union, the Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development between the European Union and Afghanistan.

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 Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, of the other part, was signed subject to its conclusion at a later date.

The Union and its Member States and Afghanistan are determined to continue and expand their cooperation, to strengthen existing links and to establish a close and lasting relationship based on reciprocity and mutual interest. The agreement must now be approved.

CONTENT: the draft Council decision seeks to approve, on behalf of the Union, of the Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Afghanistan, on the other hand.

The Agreement contains provisions on political dialogue and cooperation in a broad range of areas. It draws on the EU’s standard political clauses on human rights and the International Criminal Court, and includes commitments related to the rights of women and children.

The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy shall chair the Joint Committee established under the Agreement. The Union or, as the case may be, the Union and its Member States shall be represented in the Joint Committee depending on the subject matter.

NB: For more details on the substantive content of the Agreement, please refer to the summary of the joint proposal of the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, dated 17.12.2015.