PURPOSE: the conclusion of a Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Armenia, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Armenia on the general principles for the participation of the Republic of Armenia in Union programmes.

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2014/347/EU on the conclusion of a Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Armenia, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Armenia on the general principles for the participation of the Republic of Armenia in Union programmes.

BACKGROUND: the Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Armenia, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Armenia on the general principles for the participation of the Republic of Armenia in Union programmes was signed on behalf of the Union on 17 December 2012.

It is now appropriate to approve the protocol on behalf of the European Union.

CONTENT: by means of this Decision, the Council approves on behalf of the European Union, with the consent of the European Parliament, a Protocol containing a Framework Agreement on the general principles for the participation of the Republic of Armenia in Union programmes.

Main provisions: the Protocol sets down, in particular, the specific terms and conditions regarding the participation of Armenia in each particular programme, in particular the financial contribution payable and reporting and evaluation procedures which shall be determined in the context of an agreement between the European Commission, on behalf of the Union, and Armenia.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 20.02.2014. The date of entry into force of the protocol will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union by the General Secretariat of the Council.

The European Parliament adopted a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of a Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Armenia, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Armenia on the general principles for the participation of the Republic of Armenia in Union programmes.

Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Protocol.

The European Parliament adopted a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of a Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Armenia, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Armenia on the general principles for the participation of the Republic of Armenia in Union programmes.

Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Protocol.

The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the report by Tomasz Piotr PORĘBA (ECR, PL) on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of a Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Armenia, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Armenia on the general principles for the participation of the Republic of Armenia in Union programmes.

Members recommended the European Parliament to give its consent to the conclusion of the Protocol. They considered that this Protocol would strengthen relations with Armenia in order to promote further cultural, educational, environmental, technical and scientific links, enhancing people-to-people contacts and sectoral cooperation, as well as strengthening the political and relations through the Eastern Partnership and the Association Agreement.

PURPOSE: to conclude a Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Armenia, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and Armenia on the general principles for the participation of Armenia in Union programmes.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND: in accordance with a Council Decision, a new Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Armenia, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and Armenia on the general principles for the participation of Armenia in Union programmes was signed on behalf of the Union.

The Protocol should now be approved on behalf of the European Union.

LEGAL BASIS: Articles 114, 168, 169 and 172, Article 173(3), and Articles 188 and 192, in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

CONTENT: under this Council proposal, it is proposed to approve, on behalf of the European Union, a draft Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Armenia, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and Armenia on the general principles for the participation of Armenia in Union programmes.

The specific terms and conditions regarding the participation of Armenia in each particular programme, in particular the financial contribution payable and reporting and evaluation procedures, shall be determined in a Memorandum of Understanding between the European Commission and the competent authorities of Armenia on the basis of the criteria established by the programmes concerned.

For further details are regards the main provision of this draft Protocol, as well as the EU’s budgetary implication, please refer to the summary of the Commission’s initial legislative proposal dated 19/09/2012.

PURPOSE: to conclude a Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Armenia, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and Armenia on the general principles for the participation of Armenia in Union programmes.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND: in accordance with a Council Decision, a new Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Armenia, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and Armenia on the general principles for the participation of Armenia in Union programmes was signed on behalf of the Union.

The Protocol should now be approved on behalf of the European Union.

LEGAL BASIS: Articles 114, 168, 169 and 172, Article 173(3), and Articles 188 and 192, in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

CONTENT: under this Council proposal, it is proposed to approve, on behalf of the European Union, a draft Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Armenia, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and Armenia on the general principles for the participation of Armenia in Union programmes.

The specific terms and conditions regarding the participation of Armenia in each particular programme, in particular the financial contribution payable and reporting and evaluation procedures, shall be determined in a Memorandum of Understanding between the European Commission and the competent authorities of Armenia on the basis of the criteria established by the programmes concerned.

For further details are regards the main provision of this draft Protocol, as well as the EU’s budgetary implication, please refer to the summary of the Commission’s initial legislative proposal dated 19/09/2012.

PURPOSE: the conclusion of a Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Armenia, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Armenia on the general principles for the participation of the Republic of Armenia in Union programmes.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND: As part of the European Neighbourhood Policy, the gradual opening-up of certain Union programmes and agencies to the participation of European Neighbourhood Policy partner countries represents one of many measures to promote reform, modernisation and transition in the European Union's neighbourhood. This policy aspect is described more extensively in the Commission's Communication "on the general approach to enable European Neighbourhood Policy partner countries to participate in Community agencies and Community programmes". The Council endorsed this approach in its conclusions on 5 March 2007.

Based upon this Communication and those conclusions, the Council, on 18 June 2007, issued directives to the Commission to negotiate Framework Agreements with Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Moldova, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Tunisia and Ukraine, on the general principles for their participation in Community programmes. A number of protocols were then signed with some of these countries.

In April 2012, Armenia expressed its interest to participate in the broad range of programmes open to partner countries of the European Neighbourhood Policy. The text of the Protocol negotiated with Armenia is the subject of this proposal and is attached in the annex. It is now appropriate to conclude this Protocol on behalf of the European Union.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT: no impact assessment was undertaken.

LEGAL BASIS: Articles 114, 168, 169, 172, 173(3), 188 and 192 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a) thereof.

CONTENT: the Commission presents a proposal for a Council Decision on the conclusion of a Protocol containing a Framework Agreement on the general principles for the participation of Armenia in Union programmes. It contains standard stipulations that are intended to be applied to all European Neighbourhood Policy partner countries with which such protocols are to be concluded.

The Protocol sets down, in particular, the specific terms and conditions regarding the participation of Armenia in each particular programme, in particular the financial contribution payable and reporting and evaluation procedures which shall be determined in the context of an agreement between the European Commission, on behalf of the Union, and Armenia.

The negotiated text also envisages that the Parties apply the Protocol's provisions provisionally from the date of its signature.

According to 218(6)(a) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the European Parliament shall be requested to give its consent to the conclusion of this Protocol. In parallel, the Commission submits a proposal for a Council Decision on the signature of the said Protocol.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: the proposal has no impact on the EU's budget. Armenia shall contribute financially to the Union's budget according to the specific programmes in which it participates. To finance its participation, Armenia may request assistance under the Regulation laying down general provisions establishing a European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument or under any other similar Regulation governing Union external assistance in favour of Armenia.

PURPOSE: the conclusion of a Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Armenia, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Armenia on the general principles for the participation of the Republic of Armenia in Union programmes.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND:

As part of the European Neighbourhood Policy, the gradual opening-up of certain Union programmes and agencies to the participation of European Neighbourhood Policy partner countries represents one of many measures to promote reform, modernisation and transition in the European Union’s neighbourhood. This policy aspect is described more extensively in the Commission’s Communication “on the general approach to enable European Neighbourhood Policy partner countries to participate in Community agencies and Community programmes”. The Council endorsed this approach in its conclusions on 5 March 2007.

Based upon this Communication and those conclusions, the Council, on 18 June 2007, issued directives to the Commission to negotiate Framework Agreements with Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Moldova, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Tunisia and Ukraine, on the general principles for their participation in Community programmes. A number of protocols were then signed with some of these countries.

In April 2012, Armenia expressed its interest to participate in the broad range of programmes open to partner countries of the European Neighbourhood Policy. The text of the Protocol negotiated with Armenia is the subject of this proposal and is attached in the annex. It is now appropriate to conclude this Protocol on behalf of the European Union.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT: no impact assessment was undertaken.

LEGAL BASIS: Articles 114, 168, 169, 172, 173(3), 188 and 192 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a) thereof.

CONTENT: the Commission presents a proposal for a Council Decision on the conclusion of a Protocol containing a Framework Agreement on the general principles for the participation of Armenia in Union programmes. It contains standard stipulations that are intended to be applied to all European Neighbourhood Policy partner countries with which such protocols are to be concluded.

The Protocol sets down, in particular, the specific terms and conditions regarding the participation of Armenia in each particular programme, in particular the financial contribution payable and reporting and evaluation procedures which shall be determined in the context of an agreement between the European Commission, on behalf of the Union, and Armenia.

The negotiated text also envisages that the Parties apply the Protocol’s provisions provisionally from the date of its signature.

According to 218(6)(a) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the European Parliament shall be requested to give its consent to the conclusion of this Protocol. In parallel, the Commission submits a proposal for a Council Decision on the signature of the said Protocol.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: the proposal has no impact on the EU’s budget. Armenia shall contribute financially to the Union’s budget according to the specific programmes in which it participates. To finance its participation, Armenia may request assistance under the Regulation laying down general provisions establishing a European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument or under any other similar Regulation governing Union external assistance in favour of Armenia.