EC/Mexico Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement: accession of Croatia to the EU. Protocol
The Committee on International Trade adopted the report by Inmaculada RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO FERNÁNDEZ (S&D, ES) on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, of 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 the Republic of Croatia to the European Union.
The committee recommended that the European Parliament give its approval to the conclusion of the agreement.
In the explanatory memorandum accompanying the recommendation, it is recalled that, in accordance with Croatia's Act of Accession, Croatia has undertaken to accede to the existing agreements concluded or signed by the European Union and its Member States with third countries. Unless otherwise provided for in specific agreements, Croatia shall accede to these agreements by means of protocols concluded between the Council, acting unanimously on behalf of the Member States, and 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. A 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, was signed in Brussels on 8 December 1997 and entered into force on 1 October 2000.
The third protocol was successfully finalised and signed on 27 November 2018 in Brussels and was then referred to Parliament for its consent.
The rapporteur called for (i) enhanced information sharing with the Committee on International Trade (INTA) throughout the full life-cycle of international agreements, (ii) improved information to the general public and stakeholders on the effects of international agreements, (iii) the avoidance of the use of provisional application before Parliament's consent and (iv) communicate ex ante and ex post information by the Council and the Commission to the European Parliament, economic operators, social partners and civil society organisations concerned, as regards all relevant decisions taken in the context of international trade agreements.