The European Parliament adopted a legislative resolution in which it gives its consent 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 Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Bulgaria and of Romania to the European Union.

The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted, under the simplified procedure, the report drafted by Gabriele ALBERTINI (EPP, IT) recommending the European Parliament to give its consent 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 Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and of Romania to the European Union.

PURPOSE: the conclusion of the protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement between the Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Jordan, on the other, in order to take into account the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND: the protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement between the Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Jordan, on the other, in order to take into account the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU was signed on behalf of the European Community and its Member States on condition of its conclusion at a later date. In accordance with Article 8 (2) of the protocol, the protocol has applied on a provisional basis since 1 January 2007. It is now appropriate to approve the protocol on behalf of the EU.

IMPACT ANALYSIS: no impact assessment was undertaken.

LEGAL BASE: Article 217, in conjunction with Article 218 (6) (a) (i) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU).

CONTENT: with this proposed decision, the protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement between the Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Jordan, on the other, in order to take into account the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU is approved on behalf of the EU.

It should be noted that following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, on 1 December 2009, the European Union has replaced and succeeded the European Community and, since that date, exercises all the rights and assumes all the obligations of the European Community. As a result, the references to the ‘European Community’ or ‘the Community’ in the text of the protocol may be taken to mean ‘the European Union’. For further information on the content of the agreement, please refer to the text of the previous legislative document dated 06/11/2007.

FINANCIAL IMPACT: the proposal has no impact on the EU’s budget.

PURPOSE: to conclude a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Jordan, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

CONTENT: u nder the terms of Article 6(2) of the Act of Accession of new Member States to the EU, the accession of the new EU Member States to the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement with Jordan is to be agreed by means of a protocol to this 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 approved a mandate for the Commission to negotiate such a protocol with Jordan to take account of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania on 1 January 2007. During these negotiations it was concluded that no additional trade concessions in agriculture, processed agricultural and fishery products would be added to the existing Association Agreement.

The Commission presents proposals are for a Council Decision on the signature and provisional application of the Protocol and a Council Decision on the conclusion of the Protocol. The text of the protocol negotiated with Jordan is attached. The most important provision of the protocol concerns the accession of the new Member States to the EU-Jordan Association Agreement and the inclusion of the new official languages of the EU.