PURPOSE: to include Bulgaria and Romania in the partnership agreement between the European Community and its Member States, on the one hand, and Mexico, on the other.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2008/271/EC 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, on the one hand, and the United Mexican States, on the other, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union.

CONTENT: the purpose of the Decision is to approve a Second Additional Protocol to the Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, on the one hand, and the United Mexican States, on the other, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union, on behalf of the European Community and its Member States.

Recall that the EU-Mexico Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement (see AVC/1997/0289 ) had been concluded in 2000, in other words, before the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union. Therefore, these two countries must be included in the agreement via a protocol.

This was signed on behalf of the European Community and its Member States on 21 February 2007.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Helmuth MARKOV (GUE/NGL, DE) making one amendment to 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.

The amendment in question seeks to modify the procedure of adoption of the protocol itself. Parliament felt that the agreement should be approved using the same procedure as was used to approve the main agreement. The Commission was proposing to conclude the Additional Protocol on a legal basis different to that used as a legal basis for the Main Agreement.

As a result, Parliament proposes replacing the first citation of the 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.

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.

This document constitutes the draft definitive protocol under negotiation between the European Community and Mexico (for details about the content of the protocol, please refer to the summary dated 02/10/2006) with a view to 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.

PURPOSE: to sign and conclude the Second Additional Protocol to the Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Mexico to take account of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

CONTENT: under Article 6(2) of the Protocol concerning the conditions and arrangements for admission of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union, the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU-Mexico Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement is to be agreed by means of a Second Additional Protocol to the Agreement. The same article provides for a special 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.

On 23 October 2006, the Council approved a mandate for the Commission to negotiate such a Protocol with Mexico. These negotiations have since been completed to the satisfaction of the Commission.

The text of the Protocol is attached to this proposal. The most important aspects of the Protocol are provision for the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU-Mexico Agreement and inclusion of the new official languages of the EU.

It should be noted that the EU-Mexico free trade area was established by subsequent Decisions of the EU-Mexico Joint Council. Consequently the necessary adaptations to the trade provisions will also be made by means of Joint Council Decisions and are therefore not addressed in this Protocol.

PURPOSE: to sign and conclude the Second Additional Protocol to the Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Mexico to take account of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

CONTENT: under Article 6(2) of the Protocol concerning the conditions and arrangements for admission of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union, the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU-Mexico Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement is to be agreed by means of a Second Additional Protocol to the Agreement. The same article provides for a special 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.

On 23 October 2006, the Council approved a mandate for the Commission to negotiate such a Protocol with Mexico. These negotiations have since been completed to the satisfaction of the Commission.

The text of the Protocol is attached to this proposal. The most important aspects of the Protocol are provision for the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU-Mexico Agreement and inclusion of the new official languages of the EU.

It should be noted that the EU-Mexico free trade area was established by subsequent Decisions of the EU-Mexico Joint Council. Consequently the necessary adaptations to the trade provisions will also be made by means of Joint Council Decisions and are therefore not addressed in this Protocol.