EU/Korea Framework Agreement: accession of Croatia to the EU. Protocol

The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the report by Tokia SAÏFI (EPP, FR) on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, of a Protocol to the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, on the one part, and the Republic of Korea, on the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union.

The committee recommended the European Parliament to give its consent to conclusion of the Protocol.

As a reminder, the Framework Agreement was signed on 10 May 2010 and entered into force on 1 June 2014, and is the first agreement of its kind between the European Union and a country in Asia. Its aim being to create closer cooperation in a number of areas such as peace and security, human rights and the rule of law, the environment, combating terrorism and organised crime. 

On 1 July 2013, Croatia joined the European Union. In accordance with Article 6(2) of the Act of Accession of the Republic of Croatia, Croatia must accede to all agreements concluded or signed before this date by the European Union and its Member States with one or more third countries, by means of a protocol to those agreements.

The protocol to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union has been negotiated between the Commission and the Korean authorities. The protocol makes no substantive changes to the Framework Agreement. The protocol was signed on 21 June 2017.

The Council needs the consent of the European Parliament to conclude the protocol.