EC/Mexico Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement: accession of Bulgaria and Romania. Protocol

The Committee on International Trade unanimously adopted the report drafted by Mr. Helmuth MARKOV (GUE/NGL, DE) amending – in the context of the consultation procedure - the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of a Second 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 Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union.

Overall, members of the Committee approve the amendment of the Additional Protocol. The only amendment called for by Members is of a legal nature and seeks to modify the procedure of adoption of the protocol itself. In their view, the agreement should be approved using the same procedure as was used to approve the main agreement.  As a result, the parliamentary committee proposes to replace the first citation of the proposed decision so that the amending PCA protocol is approved according to the assent procedure (in accordance with Article 300 (3) TEC) thereby requiring the assent of Parliament instead of simple consultation.