The European Parliament adopted by 644 votes to 11, with 19 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union and its Member States, of a Protocol amending 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, to take into account the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union.

Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the protocol.

The purpose of the Protocol is to enable Croatia to become a party to the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Jordan, of the other part, and to define the linguistic adaptations to be made to the Agreement by reason of Croatia's accession. The Protocol makes no substantial amendments to the Agreement between the European Union and Jordan.

The Committee on Transport and Tourism adopted the report by Keith TAYLOR (Greens/EFA, UK) on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union and its Member States, of a Protocol amending 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, to take into account the accession to the European Union of the Republic of Croatia.

The committee recommended that the European Parliament give its consent to the conclusion of the protocol.

The Euro-Mediterranean Air Services Agreement between the European Union, its Member States and Jordan was signed on 15 December 2010. It opens up the respective markets and integrates Jordan into a common airspace with the Union, thus allowing all EU airlines to operate direct flights to Jordan from any EU airport and vice versa for Jordanian carriers. The agreement encourages cross-investment and removes all existing restrictions on prices, routes and flight quotas between Jordan and the EU.

The purpose of the Protocol is to enable Croatia to become a party to the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Jordan, of the other part, and to define the linguistic adaptations to be made to the Agreement by reason of Croatia's accession. The Protocol makes no substantial amendments to the Agreement between the European Union and Jordan.

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, of a Protocol amending the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, Jordan, of the other part, to take account of the accession to the European Union of Croatia.

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, its Member States and Jordan was negotiated on the basis of the Council Decision adopted in October 2007 authorising the opening of negotiations.

In accordance with a Council Decision, 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 to the European Union of Croatia has been signed, subject to its conclusion.

It is now necessary to approve the Protocol on behalf of the Union.

CONTENT: with this proposal, the Council is invited to approve the Protocol amending the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, and Jordan.

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, of a Protocol amending the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, Jordan, of the other part, to take account of the accession to the European Union of Croatia.

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, its Member States and Jordan was negotiated on the basis of the Council Decision adopted in October 2007 authorising the opening of negotiations.

In accordance with a Council Decision, 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 to the European Union of Croatia has been signed, subject to its conclusion.

It is now necessary to approve the Protocol on behalf of the Union.

CONTENT: with this proposal, the Council is invited to approve the Protocol amending the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, and Jordan.

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, of a Protocol amending the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, Jordan, of the other part, to take account of the accession to the European Union of Croatia.

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, its Member States and Jordan was negotiated on the basis of the Council Decision adopted in October 2007 authorising the opening of negotiations. The Agreement was signed on 15 December 2010.

The Agreement with Jordan forms part of the Union's external aviation policy framework established by the Commission Communication " Developing the agenda for the Community's external aviation policy " and recently reviewed by the Commission Communication " The EU's External Aviation Policy - Addressing Future Challenges " and the corresponding Council Conclusions.

Croatia acceded to the European Union on 1 July 2013 and undertook to accede to the agreements concluded or signed by the Member States and the Union with one or more third counties or an international organisation.

A protocol had been negotiated, containing the necessary linguistic adaptations of the Agreement that ensue from the accession of Croatia. The Protocol should now be approved.

CONTENT: under this proposal, the Council is requested to approve the Protocol amending the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union, its Member States and Jordan.

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, of a Protocol amending the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, Jordan, of the other part, to take account of the accession to the European Union of Croatia.

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, its Member States and Jordan was negotiated on the basis of the Council Decision adopted in October 2007 authorising the opening of negotiations. The Agreement was signed on 15 December 2010.

The Agreement with Jordan forms part of the Union's external aviation policy framework established by the Commission Communication " Developing the agenda for the Community's external aviation policy " and recently reviewed by the Commission Communication " The EU's External Aviation Policy - Addressing Future Challenges " and the corresponding Council Conclusions.

Croatia acceded to the European Union on 1 July 2013 and undertook to accede to the agreements concluded or signed by the Member States and the Union with one or more third counties or an international organisation.

A protocol had been negotiated, containing the necessary linguistic adaptations of the Agreement that ensue from the accession of Croatia. The Protocol should now be approved.

CONTENT: under this proposal, the Council is requested to approve the Protocol amending the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union, its Member States and Jordan.