EC/China Agreement on Maritime Transport: accession of Croatia to the EU. Protocol

PURPOSE: to conclude a Protocol amending the Agreement on Maritime Transport between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and China, 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 the Act of Accession of Croatia, Croatia will accede to the agreements concluded or signed before the accession of Croatia by the EU Member States and the Union with one or more third countries by means of a protocol to those agreements.

The Council decision of 14 September 2012 authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the third countries concerned, in order to conclude the relevant protocols.

The Agreement on Maritime Transport between the European Community and its Member States and China was signed in Brussels on 6 December 2002, and concluded by Council Decision of 28 January 2008 and entered into force on 1 March 2008.

Consequently, the Commission has negotiated a Protocol on the basis of Negotiating Directives adopted by the Council on 14 September 2012, and in consultation with a special committee appointed by the Council.

The Protocol was signed by the Commission and the Chinese representatives in Brussels.

It is now necessary to conclude the Protocol, on behalf of the European Union.

CONTENT: under this proposal, the Council is invited to adopt a decision seeking to approve, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, the Protocol amending the Agreement on Maritime Transport between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and China, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union.

 is hereby approved on behalf of the Union and its Member

The Protocol makes Croatia a party to the Agreement and provides for the necessary linguistic adaptations of the Agreement that ensue from the accession of Croatia. No changes to the substance of the agreement are made.

The Protocol is attached to the proposal.