PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the Union and the Member States, a Protocol amending the Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and China, of the other part, on maritime transport, to take account of Croatia's accession to the European Union.

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision (EU) 2019/659 on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union and of the Member States, of the Protocol amending the Agreement on maritime transport between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the government of the People's Republic of China, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union.

CONTENT: the Council adopted a Decision on the approval, on behalf of the Union, of the Protocol amending the Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Government of the People's Republic of China, of the other part, on maritime transport, to take account of Croatia's accession to the European Union.

The Agreement on Maritime Transport between the European Community and its Member States and the Government of the People's Republic of China was signed in Brussels on 6 December 2002, concluded by the Council Decision of 28 January 2008 and entered into force on 1 March 2008.

In accordance with Croatia's Act of Accession, Croatia is to accede to the Agreement by means of a Protocol between the Council and the People's Republic of China.

On 14 September 2012, the Council authorised the Commission to negotiate a Protocol amending the Agreement to take account of Croatia's accession to the Union. The Protocol was signed in Brussels on 21 December 2018. By this Protocol, Croatia becomes a party to the Agreement. The Protocol outlines the linguistic adaptations to be made to the Agreement by reason of Croatia's accession.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 8.4.2019.

The European Parliament adopted by 628 votes to 23 with 16 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union and of the Member States, of the Protocol amending the Agreement on maritime transport between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the government of the People's Republic of China, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union.

Parliament gave its consent to conclusion of the Protocol through which Croatia becomes a party to the Agreement on Maritime Transport between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Government of the People's Republic of China, of the other part.

The Committee on Transport and Tourism adopted the report by Francisco ASSIS (S&D, PT) on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union and of the Member States, of the Protocol amending the Agreement on maritime transport between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the government of the People's Republic of China, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union.

The committee recommended that Parliament give its approval to the conclusion of the Agreement.

The Agreement on Maritime Transport between the European Community and its Member States and the Government of the People's Republic of China was signed in Brussels on 6 December 2002, concluded by the Council Decision of 28 January 2008 and entered into force on 1 March 2008.

The main aims of the Agreement are to:

- strengthen and consolidate the relations, on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, in the field of international maritime transport;

- recognise the importance of maritime transport services and aim to promote even further multimodal transport involving a sea leg in order to increase efficiencies in the transport chain;

- recognise the importance of further developing a flexible and market-oriented approach and the benefits to economic operators of both Parties of controlling and operating their own international cargo transport services in the context of an efficient international maritime transport system.

On 1 July 2013, the Republic of Croatia acceded to the EU. The Act of Accession of the Republic of Croatia provides that the latter will accede to the agreements concluded or signed, before its accession, by the EU Member States and the Union with one or more third countries by means of a protocol to those agreements. By the Protocol, signed in Brussels on 21 December 2018, Croatia becomes party to the agreement. The Protocol defines the linguistic adaptations to the Agreement required as a result of Croatia's accession.

PURPOSE: to conclude a Protocol amending the Agreement on Maritime Transport between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and China, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union.

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 Agreement on maritime transport between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and China, of the other part entered into force on 1 March 2008.

In accordance with Article 6(2) of the Act of Accession of Croatia, Croatia is to accede to the Agreement by way of a protocol between the Council and China.

On 14 September 2012, the Commission was authorised by the Council to negotiate a Protocol amending the Agreement in order to take account of the accession of Croatia to the Union.

It is now necessary to approve the Protocol.

CONTENT: the Council seeks to approve, on behalf of the Union, of the Protocol amending the Agreement on maritime transport between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the government of the People’s Republic of China, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union.

PURPOSE: to conclude a Protocol amending the Agreement on Maritime Transport between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and China, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union.

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: in accordance with the Act of Accession of Croatia, Croatia will accede to the agreements concluded or signed before the accession of Croatia by the EU Member States and the Union with one or more third countries by means of a protocol to those agreements.

The Council decision of 14 September 2012 authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the third countries concerned, in order to conclude the relevant protocols.

The Agreement on Maritime Transport between the European Community and its Member States and China was signed in Brussels on 6 December 2002, and concluded by Council Decision of 28 January 2008 and entered into force on 1 March 2008.

Consequently, the Commission has negotiated a Protocol on the basis of Negotiating Directives adopted by the Council on 14 September 2012, and in consultation with a special committee appointed by the Council.

The Protocol was signed by the Commission and the Chinese representatives in Brussels.

It is now necessary to conclude the Protocol, on behalf of the European Union.

CONTENT: under this proposal, the Council is invited to adopt a decision seeking to approve, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, the Protocol amending the Agreement on Maritime Transport between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and China, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union.

is hereby approved on behalf of the Union and its Member

The Protocol makes Croatia a party to the Agreement and provides for the necessary linguistic adaptations of the Agreement that ensue from the accession of Croatia. No changes to the substance of the agreement are made.

The Protocol is attached to the proposal.