PURPOSE: to include Romania and Bulgaria in the Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and Azerbaijan.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision 2009/816/EC, Euratom of the Council and the Commission on the conclusion of the Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Azerbaijan, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union.

CONTENT: the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Azerbaijan ( see AVC/1996/0094 ), of the other part, is a “mixed” agreement, which entered into force on 1 July 1999, i.e. before the enlargement of the Union to include the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania.

The purpose of this agreement is therefore to conclude a protocol to the PCA to allow these new Member States to accede to the Agreement, in accordance with the Treaty of Accession of 25 April 2005 and to conclude the protocol in the name of the European Community and the European Atomic Energy Community, as well as the Member States.

It should be noted that the protocol was signed in the name of the European Community and its Member States on 9 December 2008 in accordance with Council Decision 2009/173/EC. Pending its entry into force, the Protocol has been applied on a provisional basis as from 1 January 2007.

The European Parliament adopted the resolution by Jacek SARYUSZ-WOLSKI (EPP-ED, PL) approving, without modification, the proposed Council and Commission Decision on the conclusion of the Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and Azerbaijan to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union.

The committee adopted the report by Jacek SARYUSZ-WOLSKI (EPP-ED, PL) approving unamended, under the consultation procedure, the proposed Council and Commission Decision on the conclusion of the Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Azerbaijan , of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union.

PURPOSE: to include Romania and Bulgaria in the Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and Azerbaijan.

PROPOSED ACT: Council and Commission Decision.

CONTENT: the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Azerbaijan ( AVC/1996/0094 ), of the other part, is a “mixed” agreement, which entered into force on 1 July 1999, i.e. before the enlargement of the Union to include the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania.

A Protocol to the PCA therefore needs to be drawn up to allow the new Member States to accede to the Agreement, in accordance with Article 6(2) of the Act of Accession annexed to the Treaty of Accession of 25 April 2005.

On 23 October 2006, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations, on behalf of the Community and its Member States, with the Republic of Azerbaijan with a view to concluding a Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. The negotiations with the Republic of Azerbaijan have subsequently been completed. The text of the negotiated protocol is attached.

The Commission proposes that the Council should conclude the Protocol on behalf of the European Community and its Member States and gives its approval for conclusion of the Protocol by the European Atomic Energy Community.

PURPOSE: to include Romania and Bulgaria in the Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and Azerbaijan.

PROPOSED ACT: Council and Commission Decision.

CONTENT: the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Azerbaijan ( AVC/1996/0094 ), of the other part, is a “mixed” agreement, which entered into force on 1 July 1999, i.e. before the enlargement of the Union to include the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania.

A Protocol to the PCA therefore needs to be drawn up to allow the new Member States to accede to the Agreement, in accordance with Article 6(2) of the Act of Accession annexed to the Treaty of Accession of 25 April 2005.

On 23 October 2006, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations, on behalf of the Community and its Member States, with the Republic of Azerbaijan with a view to concluding a Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. The negotiations with the Republic of Azerbaijan have subsequently been completed. The text of the negotiated protocol is attached.

The Commission proposes that the Council should conclude the Protocol on behalf of the European Community and its Member States and gives its approval for conclusion of the Protocol by the European Atomic Energy Community.