EC/Mexico Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement: accession of Croatia to the EU. Protocol

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, a Third Additional Protocol to the Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, on the one part, and the United Mexican States, on the other hand, to take into account Croatia’s accession 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: the Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, and the United Mexican States, of the other part, was signed on 8 December 1997 and entered into force on 1 October 2000. 

Croatia undertook to accede to the existing agreements concluded or signed by the Member States and the European Union with third countries. Unless otherwise provided for in specific agreements, Croatia accedes to these existing agreements by means of protocols that the Council, acting unanimously on behalf of the Member States, concludes with the third countries concerned.

On 14 September 2012, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the third countries concerned with a view to concluding the relevant protocols. The negotiations with Mexico have been successfully concluded.

CONTENT: the aim of the Commission proposal is to invite the Council to adopt a decision approving, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, the Third Additional Protocol to the Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the United Mexican States, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union.

It is intended that the Third Additional Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the date on which the Parties have notified each other of the completion of the internal procedures necessary for that purpose.