The European Parliament adopted by 653 votes to 10, with 25 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, of the other part.

In line with the recommendation made by the Committee on Transport and Tourism, the European Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement.

The Agreement was signed on 15 December 2010, subject to its conclusion at a later date. Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement on 15 November 2011. In order to take account of the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon and of the legal changes resulting from the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union concerning the wording of Decision 2012/750/EU, the Council decided to consult Parliament again for its consent.

The Agreement forms part of the EU's neighbourhood policy. It builds on bilateral air transport agreements between EU Member States and Jordan and replaces them with the establishment of the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Area between the EU and its Mediterranean partners.

It provides for gradual market opening in terms of access to routes and capacity on a reciprocal basis, ensures level playing field for economic operators based on the EU principles and provides for alignment of the Jordanian aviation legislation with EU legislation on issues such as safety, security and air traffic management.

PURPOSE: to conclude the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, on the one hand, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, on the other hand.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

BACKGROUND: the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Jordan, of the other part, was signed on 15 December 2010, subject to its conclusion at a later date, in accordance with Decision 2012/750/EU of the Council and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council.

The Agreement has been ratified by all Member States, with the exception of Croatia, which is acceding to the Agreement in accordance with the 2012 Act of Accession. The Protocol amending the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Jordan, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union was signed on 3 May 2016.

The Agreement now needs to be approved on behalf of the Union. This amended legislative proposal takes into account the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon and the judgment of the Court of Justice of 28 April 2015 in Case C-28/12. The European Parliament is once again consulted on the draft Council Decision.

CONTENT: the draft Council Decision concerns the approval, on behalf of the Union, of the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, on the one hand, and Jordan, on the other hand.

The proposed decision provides that the position to be taken by the Union as regards decisions of the Joint Committee under the Agreement on the inclusion of Union legislation in Annex III to the Agreement, subject to any technical adjustments needed, shall be expressed by the Commission, after submitting it for consultation to the Council or its preparatory bodies, as the Council may decide.

The Council draft also terminates the application of Articles 3 and 4 of Decision 2012/750/EC, which contain decision-making and representation provisions on various issues contained in the Agreement in the light of the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union of 28 April 2015 in Case C-28/12.

PURPOSE: to conclude the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, on the one hand, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, on the other hand.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

BACKGROUND: the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Jordan, of the other part, was signed on 15 December 2010, subject to its conclusion at a later date, in accordance with Decision 2012/750/EU of the Council and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council.

The Agreement has been ratified by all Member States, with the exception of Croatia, which is acceding to the Agreement in accordance with the 2012 Act of Accession. The Protocol amending the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Jordan, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union was signed on 3 May 2016.

The Agreement now needs to be approved on behalf of the Union. This amended legislative proposal takes into account the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon and the judgment of the Court of Justice of 28 April 2015 in Case C-28/12. The European Parliament is once again consulted on the draft Council Decision.

CONTENT: the draft Council Decision concerns the approval, on behalf of the Union, of the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, on the one hand, and Jordan, on the other hand.

The proposed decision provides that the position to be taken by the Union as regards decisions of the Joint Committee under the Agreement on the inclusion of Union legislation in Annex III to the Agreement, subject to any technical adjustments needed, shall be expressed by the Commission, after submitting it for consultation to the Council or its preparatory bodies, as the Council may decide.

The Council draft also terminates the application of Articles 3 and 4 of Decision 2012/750/EC, which contain decision-making and representation provisions on various issues contained in the Agreement in the light of the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union of 28 April 2015 in Case C-28/12.

PURPOSE: to conclude the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, of the other part.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

BACKGROUND: the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, of the other, was signed on 15 December 2010, subject to its conclusion at a later date. As regards the EU side, both the Union and its Member States are parties to this Agreement.

The ratification process has been completed by all Member States, except for Croatia. Croatia accedes to the Agreement in accordance with the procedure provided for in the Act of accession annexed to the Treaty of Accession of 5 December 2011, and the relevant Protocol on the accession of Croatia to this Agreements was signed on 3 May 2016.

The Agreement must now be approved on behalf of the Union.

CONTENT: this proposal amends the Commission's original proposal, which was adopted on 24 June 2010 and submitted to the Council, in particular to take into account the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty and following the judgment of the Court of Justice of 28 April 2015 in Case C-28/12.

The Commission proposes that the Council decide to approve, on behalf of the Union, the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, andJordan, of the other part.

The Agreement consists of the main body including the main principles, and four annexes: Annex I on agreed services and specified routes, Annex II on transitional provisions, Annex III including list of civil aviation rules, and Annex IV with a list of other states referred to in Articles 3 and 4, and Annex I.

The proposed Decision provides that the position to be taken by the Union as regards decisions of the Joint Committee under Article 21 of the Agreement regarding merely the inclusion of Union legislation into Annex IV (Rules relating to civil aviation) to the Agreement, subject to any technical adjustments needed, shall be adopted by the Commission, after consultation of a Special Committee appointed by the Council.

The proposal also puts an end to Articles 3, 4 and 5 of Decision 2012/750/EC which contain provisions on decision making and representation with regard to various matters set out in the Agreement, in view of the judgment of the European Court of Justice of 28 April 2015 in Case C-28/12.

The European Parliament adopted a legislative resolution on the draft decision of the Council and the representatives of the governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, on the conclusion of the Euro Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, of the other part.

Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement.

The Committee on Transport and Tourism adopted the report drafted by Olga SEHNALOVÁ (S&D, CZ) in which it recommends the European Parliament to give its consent to the conclusion of the Euro Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, of the other part.

PURPOSE: the conclusion of the Euro Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, of the other part.

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the Council and the representatives of the Governments of the Member States of the European Union, meeting within the Council.

BACKGROUND: the Commission has negotiated on behalf of the Union and its Member States, the Euro Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the Union and Jordan. This agreement was signed on 15 December 2010, in accordance with Decision 2011/181/EU of the Council and the representatives of the Governments of the Member States of the European Union, meeting within the Council of 15 October 2010.

It is now appropriate to approve the agreement, on behalf of the EU.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT: no impact assessment was undertaken.

LEGAL BASIS: Article 100(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a)(v) and Article 218(8), first subparagraph thereof.

CONTENT: with this proposal, it is envisaged to approve the Euro Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the Union and Jordan.

The text of the agreement is attached to the proposed Decision.

This proposed agreement also lays down procedural arrangements for deciding, if appropriate, how to terminate the Agreement and for the participation of the Union and the Member States in the Joint Committee set up under the Agreement. It also covers the dispute settlement procedures and procedures for implementing certain provisions of the Agreement concerning security and safety.

For further information regarding the content of this agreement, please refer to the summary of the previous initial legislative document dated 24/06/2010.

It should be noted that for the agreement to enter into force, each Member State has to ratify it at national level. Once the ratification procedures have been completed, each Member State is required to notify the Secretariat-General of the Council.

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

PURPOSE: the conclusion of the Euro Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, of the other part.

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the Council and the representatives of the Governments of the Member States of the European Union, meeting within the Council.

BACKGROUND: the Commission has negotiated on behalf of the Union and its Member States, the Euro Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the Union and Jordan. This agreement was signed on 15 December 2010, in accordance with Decision 2011/181/EU of the Council and the representatives of the Governments of the Member States of the European Union, meeting within the Council of 15 October 2010.

It is now appropriate to approve the agreement, on behalf of the EU.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT: no impact assessment was undertaken.

LEGAL BASIS: Article 100(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a)(v) and Article 218(8), first subparagraph thereof.

CONTENT: with this proposal, it is envisaged to approve the Euro Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the Union and Jordan.

The text of the agreement is attached to the proposed Decision.

This proposed agreement also lays down procedural arrangements for deciding, if appropriate, how to terminate the Agreement and for the participation of the Union and the Member States in the Joint Committee set up under the Agreement. It also covers the dispute settlement procedures and procedures for implementing certain provisions of the Agreement concerning security and safety.

For further information regarding the content of this agreement, please refer to the summary of the previous initial legislative document dated 24/06/2010.

It should be noted that for the agreement to enter into force, each Member State has to ratify it at national level. Once the ratification procedures have been completed, each Member State is required to notify the Secretariat-General of the Council.

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

PURPOSE: to conclude the Euro Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the EU and its Member States, and Jordan.

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the Council and the representatives of the Governments of the Member States of the EU, meeting within the Council.

BACKGROUND: air services between the European Union and Jordan presently operate on the basis of bilateral agreements between individual Member States and Jordan. The conclusion of a Euro Mediterranean Aviation Agreement with Jordan has been a priority for the EU and is an important element in the development of the European Neighbourhood Policy. The negotiating mandate received from the Council in June 2007 set the objective of establishing a Euro Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the EU and Jordan. This would extend the rules and provisions of the single market for air transport in the EU to a large extent to Jordan in which European and Jordanian air carriers would be able to provide air services without any restriction.

Based on the negotiating directives of the mandate, a draft Agreement with Jordan was initialled by the two sides on 17 March 2010.

LEGAL BASE: Article 207 (5), in conjunction with Article 218 paragraphs (2), (5), (6) and (7) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT: a report prepared for the Commission in 2008 by consultants, estimated that an Euro Mediterranean Aviation Agreement with Jordan would generate 54,000 extra passengers and consumer benefits of up to EUR 30 million in the first effective year of market opening.

CONTENT: the Euro Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the EU and its Member States, and Jordan has been negotiated under a mandate. By establishing a Euro Mediterranean Aviation Area, the Agreement will extend EU legislation in the field of aviation to Jordan. In particular, Jordan will take over EU

legislation in important fields such as safety, security and air traffic management. The Agreement will replace the existing arrangements made by individual Member States. It creates simultaneously for all Union air carriers uniform conditions for market access, and establishes new arrangements for regulatory co-operation between the EU and Jordan in fields essential for the safe, secure, and efficient operation of air services. These arrangements can only be achieved at Union level because they involve a number of areas of exclusive Union competence.

The Agreement allows for the simultaneous extension of its terms to the 27 Member States, applying the same rules without discrimination and benefiting all Union air carriers regardless of their nationality. These carriers can now operate freely from any point in the EU to any point in Jordan which is currently not the case.

Removal of all market access restrictions between the EU and Jordan will not only attract new entrants to the market and create opportunities to operate to underserved airports, but will also facilitate consolidation between EU air carriers.

The Agreement secures for all EU air carriers access to commercial opportunities, such as the possibility of freely establishing prices. One further objective of the mandate is to create a level playing field between all EU and Jordanian air carriers, and this requires strong regulatory co-operation which can only be delivered at Union level. The Agreement aims at:

gradual market opening in terms of access to routes and capacity on a reciprocal basis; non-discrimination and level playing field for economic operators based on the principles of the EU Treaties; alignment of the Jordanian aviation legislation with EU legislation on issues such as safety, security and air traffic management; the possibility of extending the Agreement in order to create with all the other Mediterranean Partners a Common Euro Mediterranean Aviation Area.

The Agreement consists of the main body including the main principles, and three annexes: Annex 1 on traffic rights, Annex 2 on transitional provisions and Annex 3 including the EU aviation legislation to be taken over by Jordan.

Lastly, it establishes a Joint Committee which will be responsible for reviewing the implementation of the Agreement and its effects.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the proposal has no implication for the Union budget.

PURPOSE: to conclude the Euro Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the EU and its Member States, and Jordan.

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the Council and the representatives of the Governments of the Member States of the EU, meeting within the Council.

BACKGROUND: air services between the European Union and Jordan presently operate on the basis of bilateral agreements between individual Member States and Jordan. The conclusion of a Euro Mediterranean Aviation Agreement with Jordan has been a priority for the EU and is an important element in the development of the European Neighbourhood Policy. The negotiating mandate received from the Council in June 2007 set the objective of establishing a Euro Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the EU and Jordan. This would extend the rules and provisions of the single market for air transport in the EU to a large extent to Jordan in which European and Jordanian air carriers would be able to provide air services without any restriction.

Based on the negotiating directives of the mandate, a draft Agreement with Jordan was initialled by the two sides on 17 March 2010.

LEGAL BASE: Article 207 (5), in conjunction with Article 218 paragraphs (2), (5), (6) and (7) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT: a report prepared for the Commission in 2008 by consultants, estimated that an Euro Mediterranean Aviation Agreement with Jordan would generate 54,000 extra passengers and consumer benefits of up to EUR 30 million in the first effective year of market opening.

CONTENT: the Euro Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the EU and its Member States, and Jordan has been negotiated under a mandate. By establishing a Euro Mediterranean Aviation Area, the Agreement will extend EU legislation in the field of aviation to Jordan. In particular, Jordan will take over EU

legislation in important fields such as safety, security and air traffic management. The Agreement will replace the existing arrangements made by individual Member States. It creates simultaneously for all Union air carriers uniform conditions for market access, and establishes new arrangements for regulatory co-operation between the EU and Jordan in fields essential for the safe, secure, and efficient operation of air services. These arrangements can only be achieved at Union level because they involve a number of areas of exclusive Union competence.

The Agreement allows for the simultaneous extension of its terms to the 27 Member States, applying the same rules without discrimination and benefiting all Union air carriers regardless of their nationality. These carriers can now operate freely from any point in the EU to any point in Jordan which is currently not the case.

Removal of all market access restrictions between the EU and Jordan will not only attract new entrants to the market and create opportunities to operate to underserved airports, but will also facilitate consolidation between EU air carriers.

The Agreement secures for all EU air carriers access to commercial opportunities, such as the possibility of freely establishing prices. One further objective of the mandate is to create a level playing field between all EU and Jordanian air carriers, and this requires strong regulatory co-operation which can only be delivered at Union level. The Agreement aims at:

gradual market opening in terms of access to routes and capacity on a reciprocal basis; non-discrimination and level playing field for economic operators based on the principles of the EU Treaties; alignment of the Jordanian aviation legislation with EU legislation on issues such as safety, security and air traffic management; the possibility of extending the Agreement in order to create with all the other Mediterranean Partners a Common Euro Mediterranean Aviation Area.

The Agreement consists of the main body including the main principles, and three annexes: Annex 1 on traffic rights, Annex 2 on transitional provisions and Annex 3 including the EU aviation legislation to be taken over by Jordan.

Lastly, it establishes a Joint Committee which will be responsible for reviewing the implementation of the Agreement and its effects.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the proposal has no implication for the Union budget.