PURPOSE: to conclude a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the EC and their Member States and Morocco, in order to take account of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2009/246/EC on the conclusion of a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Morocco, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union.

CONTENT: the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Morocco, of the other part, was signed in Brussels on 26 February 1996 and came into force on 1 March 2000 ( AVC/1995/0363 ). Following the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU in 2007, this Decision concludes a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States and Morocco, to take account of the accession of the Republics of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union.

The text of the protocol negotiated with Morocco is attached to the Decision. The most important provisions of the protocol concern the accession of the new Member States to the EU-Morocco Agreement, the inclusion of the new official languages of the EU to take account of the EU's enlargement, and Morocco's speeding-up of the dismantling of a number of duties and taxes on products originating in the EU.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: the Protocol shall enter into force when all of the necessary procedures have been completed.

The European Parliament adopted, by 497 votes to 18 with 7 abstentions a legislative resolution giving its assent to the conclusion of a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Morocco, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union. The report had been tabled for consideration in plenary by Jacek SARYUSZ- WOLSKI (EPP-ED, PL) on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

This proposal for a decision forms the legal act by which the European Communities and their Member States, on the one hand, and the Kingdom of Morocco, on the other hand, intend to conclude a Protocol to the EU-Morocco Euro-Mediterranean Agreement to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union.

The Decision requires the European Parliament’s assent.

The text of the Protocol is attached to the proposed decision and can be found in Council document 13102/07 .

Council document 13102/2007 contains the final version of the draft Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Morocco, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union.

This proposal for a decision forms the legal act by which the European Communities and their Member States, on the one hand, and the Kingdom of Morocco, on the other hand, intend to conclude a Protocol to the EU-Morocco Euro-Mediterranean Agreement to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union.

The Decision requires the European Parliament’s assent.

The text of the Protocol is attached to the proposed decision and can be found in Council document 13102/07 .

The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted, according to the simplified procedure – Rule 43(1) of the Rules of Procedure, the report drafted by Jacek SARYUSZ- WOLSKI (EPP-ED, PL) which calls on the European Parliament to give its assent to the conclusion of a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Morocco, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union.

PURPOSE: to include Bulgaria and Romania (2007 enlargement) to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement between the European Union and Morocco.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

CONTENT: the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Morocco, of the other part, was signed in Brussels on 26 February 1996 and came into force on 1 March 2000 ( AVC/1995/0363 ).

It is necessary to join a new Protocol to the initial Euro-Mediterranean Agreement to take account of the accession of these 2 new Member States. According to Article 6(2) of the Act annexed to the Treaty of Accession of 25 April 2005, accession of the new Member States to the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement is to be agreed by means of a protocol to that Agreement. The same article provides for a 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.

On 23 October 2006, the Council authorised the Commission, on behalf of the European Community and its Member States, to negotiate with Morocco a protocol amending the agreements concluded between the European Community and third countries, in particular the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Morocco, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the new Member States to the EU.

The negotiations with Morocco have since been completed to the satisfaction of the Commission. Morocco marked its agreement on 23 April in an exchange of letters.

The text of the protocol negotiated with Morocco is attached. The most important provisions of the protocol concern the accession of the new Member States to the EU-Morocco Agreement and the inclusion of the new official languages of the EU to take account of the EU's enlargement, plus Morocco's speeding-up of the dismantling of a number of duties and taxes on products originating in the EU.

Given that Morocco has indicated that it may again speed up tariff dismantling in future, provision should be made for a special mechanism to approve any such speeding-up of dismantling. Given that the speeding-up does not affect the nature of the provisions of the Agreement but, on the contrary, will help to achieve the Agreement's objectives more rapidly than foreseen.

The European Parliament will be called upon to give its assent to this Protocol.

PURPOSE: to include Bulgaria and Romania (2007 enlargement) to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement between the European Union and Morocco.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

CONTENT: the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Morocco, of the other part, was signed in Brussels on 26 February 1996 and came into force on 1 March 2000 ( AVC/1995/0363 ).

It is necessary to join a new Protocol to the initial Euro-Mediterranean Agreement to take account of the accession of these 2 new Member States. According to Article 6(2) of the Act annexed to the Treaty of Accession of 25 April 2005, accession of the new Member States to the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement is to be agreed by means of a protocol to that Agreement. The same article provides for a 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.

On 23 October 2006, the Council authorised the Commission, on behalf of the European Community and its Member States, to negotiate with Morocco a protocol amending the agreements concluded between the European Community and third countries, in particular the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Morocco, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the new Member States to the EU.

The negotiations with Morocco have since been completed to the satisfaction of the Commission. Morocco marked its agreement on 23 April in an exchange of letters.

The text of the protocol negotiated with Morocco is attached. The most important provisions of the protocol concern the accession of the new Member States to the EU-Morocco Agreement and the inclusion of the new official languages of the EU to take account of the EU's enlargement, plus Morocco's speeding-up of the dismantling of a number of duties and taxes on products originating in the EU.

Given that Morocco has indicated that it may again speed up tariff dismantling in future, provision should be made for a special mechanism to approve any such speeding-up of dismantling. Given that the speeding-up does not affect the nature of the provisions of the Agreement but, on the contrary, will help to achieve the Agreement's objectives more rapidly than foreseen.

The European Parliament will be called upon to give its assent to this Protocol.