The European Parliament adopted by 513 votes to 85, with 67 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, of the other part.

The European Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the agreement. It also adopted a report containing a non-legislative resolution on the draft Council decision.

The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the report by Anna Elżbieta FOTYGA (ECR, PL) on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, of the other part.

The committee recommended that the European Parliament give its consent to the conclusion of the agreement. It also adopted a report containing a non-legislative motion for a resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the agreement.

In July 2011, the Foreign Affairs Council expressed its willingness to negotiate an agreement with Afghanistan that would reflect its long-term commitment to the country’s development. In November 2011, the Council adopted a Decision authorising the Commission and the High Representative to negotiate a Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development (CAPD) with Afghanistan.

After three rounds of negotiations that went on until November 2012, talks were resumed in 2015, with the new Afghan Government. The fourth and final round of negotiations took place in Brussels on 29 April 2015 and was concluded successfully. The two sides initialled the Agreement in Kabul on 2 July 2015.

The agreement is the first contractual relationship between the European Union and Afghanistan. It includes provisions on political dialogue and on cooperation in a broad range of areas. It draws on the EU’s standard political clauses on human rights and the International Criminal Court, and includes commitments related to the rights of women and children.

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union, the Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development between the European Union and Afghanistan.

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 Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, of the other part, was signed subject to its conclusion at a later date.

The Union and its Member States and Afghanistan are determined to continue and expand their cooperation, to strengthen existing links and to establish a close and lasting relationship based on reciprocity and mutual interest. The agreement must now be approved.

CONTENT: the draft Council decision seeks to approve, on behalf of the Union, of the Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Afghanistan, on the other hand.

The Agreement contains provisions on political dialogue and cooperation in a broad range of areas . It draws on the EU’s standard political clauses on human rights and the International Criminal Court, and includes commitments related to the rights of women and children.

The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy shall chair the Joint Committee established under the Agreement. The Union or, as the case may be, the Union and its Member States shall be represented in the Joint Committee depending on the subject matter.

NB : For more details on the substantive content of the Agreement, please refer to the summary of the joint proposal of the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, dated 17.12.2015.

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union, the Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

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

BACKGROUND: in July 2011, the Foreign Affairs Council1 expressed its willingness to negotiate an agreement with Afghanistan that would reflect its long-term commitment to the country’s development. In November 2011, the Council adopted a Decision authorising the Commission and the High Representative to negotiate a Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development (CAPD) with Afghanistan

After three rounds of negotiations that went on until November 2012, talks were resumed in 2015, with the new Afghan Government. The fourth and final round of negotiations took place in Brussels on 29 April 2015 and was concluded successfully. The two sides initialled the Agreement in Kabul on 2 July 2015.

CONTENT: the proposal requires the Council to adopt a decision to approve the Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development between the European Union and Afghanistan.

The Agreement is the first contractual relationship between the European Union and Afghanistan and underpins the EU’s commitment to supporting Afghanistan’s future development during its ‘decade of transformation’ agreed at the Bonn conference in 2011. The two parties are committed to pursuing and extending their cooperation, to strengthening existing links and to establishing a close and lasting relationship based on reciprocity and mutual interests.

The Agreement includes provisions on political dialogue and on cooperation in a broad range of areas. It draws on the EU’s standard political clauses on human rights and the International Criminal Court, and includes commitments related to the rights of women and children . It reiterates the willingness of the parties to address shared concerns, including:

the fight against terrorism, international crime and illegal trafficking; non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, disarmament and nuclear security; weapons of mass destruction (WMD); small arms and light weapons (SALW) ; and counter-narcotics.

The provisions on cooperation cover the following sectors:

infrastructure development, energy, transport, health, natural resources, tax, education and culture, employment and social affairs, science and technology, and environment and climate change.

The Agreement also emphasises the importance of legal cooperation and affirms the parties’ commitment to fighting organised crime, money laundering and corruption.