EC/Ukraine Cooperation Agreement on a Civil Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS): accession of Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania to the EU. Protocol

PURPOSE: to conclude, on the signing, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, of the Protocol to the Cooperation Agreement on a Civil Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) between the European Community and its Member States and Ukraine to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Republic of Croatia and Romania 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: the Cooperation Agreement on a Civil Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) between the the European Community and its Member States and Ukraine was signed on 1 December 2005 and entered into force on 1 December 2013.

Bulgaria and Romania became Member States of the Union on 1 January 2007 and Croatia on 1 July 2013. In accordance with Article 6(2) of the Acts of Accession of Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania, respectively, accession to the Agreement is to be agreed by means of a protocol to that Agreement.

On 23 October 2006 and on 14 September 2012, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the third countries concerned in order to conclude protocols to international agreements concluded by the Union and its Member States.

The Commission concluded successfully the negotiations with Ukraine on the Protocol to the Cooperation Agreement on a Civil Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) between the European Community and its Member States and Ukraine to take account of the accession of Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania to the European Union.

The Protocol having been signed subject to its conclusion at a later date, it is now necessary to approve it.

CONTENT: the Commission proposes to the Council to authorise the signature, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States of a Protocol to the Cooperation Agreement on A Civil Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) between the European Community and its Member States and Ukraine to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Republic of Croatia and Romania to the European Union.

The proposed Protocol makes the Republic of Bulgaria, Romania and the Republic of Croatia contracting parties to the Agreement and commits the EU to providing an authentic version of the Agreement in Bulgarian, Romanian and Croatian.