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

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the Union and the Member States, a Protocol amending the Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and China, of the other part, on maritime transport, to take account of Croatia's accession to the European Union.

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision (EU) 2019/659 on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union and of the Member States, of the Protocol amending the Agreement on maritime transport between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the government of the People's Republic of China, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union.

CONTENT: the Council adopted a Decision on the approval, on behalf of the Union, of the Protocol amending the Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Government of the People's Republic of China, of the other part, on maritime transport, to take account of Croatia's accession to the European Union.

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

In accordance with Croatia's Act of Accession, Croatia is to accede to the Agreement by means of a Protocol between the Council and the People's Republic of China.

On 14 September 2012, the Council authorised the Commission to negotiate a Protocol amending the Agreement to take account of Croatia's accession to the Union. The Protocol was signed in Brussels on 21 December 2018. By this Protocol, Croatia becomes a party to the Agreement. The Protocol outlines the linguistic adaptations to be made to the Agreement by reason of Croatia's accession.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 8.4.2019.