EC/Jordan agreement: Euro-Mediterranean association agreement following the 2004 enlargement. Protocol

PURPOSE: to include the 10 new Member States in the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement between the European Union and the Kingdom of Jordan.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

CONTENT: according to the terms of Article 6(2) of the Act of Accession of the new EU Member States to the EU, accession of the new EU Member States to the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement is to be agreed by means of a protocol to this Agreement. This is the aim of this proposal which uses a specific and simplified procedure whereby the protocol is to be concluded by the Council acting unanimously on behalf of the Member States, and by the third country concerned. This procedure is without prejudice to the Community's own competences.

The text of the protocol negotiated with Jordan is attached. The most important aspects of the protocol are provision for the accession of the new Member States to the EU-Jordan Association Agreement and inclusion of the new official languages of the EU. Lastly, it should be noted that the European Parliament will be called upon to give its assent to the conclusion of this Protocol.

The text of the Protocol negotiated with Jordan, is attached to the proposal (see Council document 14994/2004).