PURPOSE : to sign and provisionally apply a Protocol between the Community and Egypt to take account of Bulgaria and Romania’s accession to the EU.

LEGISLATIVE ACT : Council Decision 2008/199/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 Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republics of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union.

CONTENT : this Decision approves the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, and Egypt, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU. The Protocol was signed on behalf of the Community and its Member States on 26 November 2007. The Euro-Mediterranean Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, and the Egypt entered into force in 2004 - that is before the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the EU. (See: AVC/2001/0092 ).

The European Parliament adopted a legislative resolution based on the report drafted by Jacek SARYUSZ-WOLSKI (EPP-ED, PL) and gave 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 Egypt, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU.

This text constitutes the final act in which the Council decides to approve, on behalf of the European Community and its Member States, the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union (see Council document 13198/07 ).

Council document 13198/2007 is the final version of the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union.

This text constitutes the final act in which the Council decides to approve, on behalf of the European Community and its Member States, the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union (see Council document 13198/07 ).

The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the report by Mr Jacek SARYUSZ-WOLSKI (EPP-ED, PL) under the simplified procedure (Article 43, para 1 of the Rules of Procedure), recommending that the European Parliament gives its assent to the proposal for a Council Decision regarding 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 Egypt, 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 provisionally apply a Protocol between the Community and Egypt to take account of Bulgaria and Romania’s accession to the EU.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

CONTENT: the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part entered into force in 2004 - that is before the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the EU. (See: AVC/2001/0092 )

According to the Act of Accession (Article 6 (2)) any new EU Member State, in this case Romania and Bulgaria, will have their accession to the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement agreed by means of a Protocol. The Protocol should be approved through a simplified procedure.

Negotiations to modify the Protocol commenced between the Commission and Arab Republic of Egypt in October 2006. The negotiations have now been concluded. The purpose of this proposal, therefore, is firstly, for the Council to sign the Protocol and secondly, to conclude the Protocol.

The most important aspects of the Protocol are the provisions for the accession of the new Member States to the EU-Egypt Association Agreement and the inclusion of the new official languages of the EU in order to take account of enlargement. Annex I of the Protocol also sets out arrangements applicable to imports into the Community of agricultural products originating in Egypt.

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

PURPOSE: to sign and provisionally apply a Protocol between the Community and Egypt to take account of Bulgaria and Romania’s accession to the EU.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

CONTENT: the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part entered into force in 2004 - that is before the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the EU. (See: AVC/2001/0092 )

According to the Act of Accession (Article 6 (2)) any new EU Member State, in this case Romania and Bulgaria, will have their accession to the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement agreed by means of a Protocol. The Protocol should be approved through a simplified procedure.

Negotiations to modify the Protocol commenced between the Commission and Arab Republic of Egypt in October 2006. The negotiations have now been concluded. The purpose of this proposal, therefore, is firstly, for the Council to sign the Protocol and secondly, to conclude the Protocol.

The most important aspects of the Protocol are the provisions for the accession of the new Member States to the EU-Egypt Association Agreement and the inclusion of the new official languages of the EU in order to take account of enlargement. Annex I of the Protocol also sets out arrangements applicable to imports into the Community of agricultural products originating in Egypt.

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