PURPOSE: to approve, on behalf of the Union and the Member States, the Protocol to the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, on the one hand, and the Republic of Korea, on the other hand, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union.

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision (EU) 2018/1041 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, of a Protocol to the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, on the one part, and the Republic of Korea, on the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union.

CONTENT: the Council decided to approve, on behalf of the European Union , the Protocol to the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, on the one hand, and the Republic of Korea, on the other hand, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union.

In accordance with its Act of Accession, Croatia's accession to the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Korea, of the other part, is to be agreed by means of a Protocol to the Agreement.

On 14 September 2012, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the third countries concerned. Negotiations with the Republic of Korea have been successfully concluded and the Protocol was signed on behalf of the Union and its Member States in Brussels on 21 June 2017.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 13.7.2018.

The European Parliament adopted by 572 votes to 49, with 25 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, of a Protocol to the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, on the one part, and the Republic of Korea, on 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.

The protocol to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union has been negotiated between the Commission and the Korean authorities. The Protocol, signed on 21 June 2017, makes no significant changes to the Framework Agreement.

The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the report by Tokia SAÏFI (EPP, FR) on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, of a Protocol to the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, on the one part, and the Republic of Korea, on the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union.

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

As a reminder, the Framework Agreement was signed on 10 May 2010 and entered into force on 1 June 2014, and is the first agreement of its kind between the European Union and a country in Asia. Its aim being to create closer cooperation in a number of areas such as peace and security, human rights and the rule of law, the environment, combating terrorism and organised crime.

On 1 July 2013, Croatia joined the European Union. In accordance with Article 6(2) of the Act of Accession of the Republic of Croatia, Croatia must accede to all agreements concluded or signed before this date by the European Union and its Member States with one or more third countries, by means of a protocol to those agreements.

The protocol to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union has been negotiated between the Commission and the Korean authorities. The protocol makes no substantive changes to the Framework Agreement. The protocol was signed on 21 June 2017.

The Council needs the consent of the European Parliament to conclude the protocol.

PURPOSE: to conclude a Protocol to the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Korea, 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: the Council adopts the act after consulting the European Parliament but without being obliged to follow its opinion.

BACKGROUND: under the terms of the Act of Accession, Croatia’s accession to the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Korea, of the other part, is to be agreed by means of a Protocol to the Agreement through a simplified procedure.

On 14 September 2012, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the third countries concerned. The negotiations with Korea were successfully concluded and the Protocol was signed on behalf of the Union and its Member States.

The protocol should now be concluded.

CONTENT: with this proposal, the Council is called upon to approve, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, the Protocol to the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Korea, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union.

PURPOSE: to conclude a Protocol to the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Korea, 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: the Council adopts the act after consulting the European Parliament but without being obliged to follow its opinion.

BACKGROUND: under the terms of the Act of Accession, Croatia’s accession to the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Korea, of the other part, is to be agreed by means of a Protocol to the Agreement through a simplified procedure.

On 14 September 2012, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the third countries concerned. The negotiations with Korea were successfully concluded and the Protocol was signed on behalf of the Union and its Member States.

The protocol should now be concluded.

CONTENT: with this proposal, the Council is called upon to approve, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, the Protocol to the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Korea, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union.

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, of a Protocol to the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, on the one hand, and the Republic of Korea, on the other hand, 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 the Republic of Croatia, Croatia will accede to the international agreements signed or concluded by the European Union and its Member States by means of a protocol to those agreements.

The Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, on the one hand, and Korea, on the other hand was signed on 10 May 2010.

On 14 September 2012, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the third countries with which Protocols should be concludes following the accession of Croatia.

Following a Council Decision, the Protocol was signed with the representative of the Republic of Korea.

It is now necessary to approve the Protocol.

CONTENT: with this proposal, the Council is invited to adopt a decision aiming to approve, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, a Protocol to the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, on the one hand, and the Republic of Korea, on the other hand, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union.

The text of the Protocol is attached to the proposal.