BETA


2016/0373(NLE) EU/Canada Strategic Partnership Agreement

Progress: Awaiting final decision

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead AFET TANNOCK Timothy Charles Ayrton (icon: ECR ECR)
Committee Opinion LIBE
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
Treaty on European Union TEU 37, TFEU 212, TFEU 218-p6a, TFEU 218-p8-a1

Events

2017/02/15
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2017/02/15
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2017/02/15
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 506 votes to 142, with 43 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Canada, of the other part.

In line with the recommendation made by the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement.

Documents
2017/02/07
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
Details

The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the report by Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK) on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Canada, of the other part.

In view of the strategic, political and economic benefits resulting from a successful conclusion of this Strategic Partnership Agreement and its positive contribution to multilateralism, international peace and security, economic and sustainable development, justice, freedom and security, the committee recommend that the European Parliament give consent to the conclusion of this Agreement.

This Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) aims to intensify this bilateral cooperation in areas such as foreign and security policy, counter-terrorism, the fight against organised crime, sustainable development, research and culture. It also provides for political dialogue and consultation mechanisms, such as Joint Ministerial Committee and Joint Cooperation Committee.

As indicated in the European Parliament’s resolution of 10 December 2013, the EU’s relations with Canada are based on shared values as illustrated by a long history of extensive political and economic cooperation.

Canada and the EU share a strong commitment to democracy, fundamental freedoms, the protection of human rights, liberal and open trade and multilateralism. Canada has been a Strategic Partner of the EU since 1996 and is an important ally on the international scene.

Canada and the EU have worked together closely on global challenges such as climate change, human rights, energy security, conflict resolution, counter terrorism and forced migration.

Canada regularly contributes to the EU’s civilian and military CSDP missions and is an important ally in NATO.

Since 2003, this partner committed financial and/or human resources in ten of 34 EU CSDP missions/operations, in eight countries and in three regions.

Documents
2017/01/31
   EP - Vote in committee
2016/12/20
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2016/12/15
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2016/12/13
   EP - TANNOCK Timothy Charles Ayrton (ECR) appointed as rapporteur in AFET
2016/11/24
   EC - Legislative proposal published
Details

PURPOSE: to conclude the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Canada, of the other part.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has approved the latter.

BACKGROUND: the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Canada, of the other part, was signed on 30 October 2016, subject to its conclusion at a later date.

The Agreement should now be approved.

CONTENT: the draft Council decision is aimed at approving, on behalf of the Union , the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Canada, of the other part.

The objective of the Agreement is to strengthen cooperation across a wide spectrum of policy fields including (i) human rights and fundamental freedoms, (ii) democracy and the rule of law, (iii) international peace and security and effective multilateralism, (iv) economic and sustainable development, (v) justice, freedom and security.

The Agreement will strengthen political dialogue and consultation and will establish a Joint Ministerial Committee and a Joint Cooperation Committee with the objective of monitoring the development in the strategic relationship between the Parties.

For more details on the content of the Agreement, please refer to the summary of the initial joint proposal of the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, dated 23.11.2016.

Documents
2016/11/23
   EP - Preparatory document
Details

PURPOSE: to conclude the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Canada, of the other part.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has approved the latter.

BACKGROUND: on 8 December 2010, the Council adopted a Decision authorising the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to negotiate a Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, on the one part, and Canada, of the other part.

The negotiations on the Agreement commenced in September 2011 and concluded in September 2014 with initialling of the Agreement. Following the adoption of the Council Decision on the signing and provisional application of the Agreement on 28 October 2016, the Agreement was signed on 30 October 2016 at the 16th EU-Canada Summit.

The present joint proposal concerns the legal instrument concluding the Agreement.

Note on legal basis : Article 218(6)(a)(iii) TFEU states that, where an agreement establishes a specific institutional framework by organising cooperation procedures, the Council shall adopt a decision concluding the agreement after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament . Moreover, the second subparagraph of Article 218(8) TFEU states that the Council shall act unanimously when the agreement covers a field for which unanimity is required for the adoption of a Union act.

The Agreement pursues objectives and has components in the areas of the common foreign and security policy and technical cooperation with developed countries. These aspects of the Agreement are inseparably linked without one being incidental to the other.

The common foreign and security policy is a field for which unanimity is required for adopting a Union act. The Agreement establishes an institutional framework for cooperation between the EU and Canada.

The legal basis of the proposed decision should therefore be Article 37 TEU and Article 212(1) TFEU read in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a) TFEU and the second subparagraph of Article 218(8) TFEU.

CONTENT : the Commission and of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy jointly propose that the Council adopt a decision approving the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Canada, of the other part, on behalf of the Union.

The text of the Agreement is attached to the Decision.

The aim of the Agreement is to strengthen existing cooperation between the Parties, which is based on the 1976 Framework Agreement for commercial and economic cooperation, in order to cover political dialogue and common foreign and security policy-related issues, and a broad range of sectors including environment, justice and security, migration and integration, fisheries, education, culture, human rights, northern development and indigenous issues, youth exchanges and transport security.

The Agreement (SPA) envisages several kinds of cooperation:

Political cooperation : the aim of the SPA is to strengthen EU - Canada political ties and cooperation on foreign and security issues, and to advance cooperation on a large number of policy areas besides trade and economics.

The Agreement enshrines EU-Canada common democratic values and will advance cooperation on a bilateral and multilateral level. The SPA will strengthen political dialogue in fields such as:

climate change, energy, environment, development, research and innovation, education and culture, migration, counter-terrorism and the fight against organised crime and cybercrime.

It reaffirms the Parties' commitment to safeguarding international peace and security by preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and undertaking measures to deal with the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.

Institutional cooperation : the SPA provides the mechanism for conducting political dialogue by organising annual summits at leaders level and consultations at ministerial level. It also establishes a Joint Ministerial Committee, which replaces the previous Transatlantic Dialogue, and a Joint Cooperation Committee with the objective of monitoring the development of the strategic relationship between the Parties.

Suspension mechanism : the Agreement provides for the possibility of suspending its application in case of a violation of essential elements of the Agreement such as human rights and non-proliferation. In addition, the Parties recognise that a particularly serious and substantial violation of human rights or non-proliferation could also serve as grounds for the termination of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). The SPA, in conjunction with the CETA, is expected to provide tangible benefits and opportunities to the citizens of the EU and Canada.

Documents
2016/08/05
   CSL - Document attached to the procedure
Documents

Documents

Votes

A8-0028/2017 - Charles Tannock - approbation #

2017/02/15 Outcome: +: 506, -: 142, 0: 43
DE GB ES RO PL BE SE CZ HU HR PT SK LT NL BG IT DK AT FI EE SI LU FR LV MT CY IE EL
Total
91
53
51
31
50
20
19
21
18
11
21
12
10
24
14
65
11
18
12
6
8
6
71
7
6
6
9
20
icon: PPE PPE
205

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE

3

Cyprus PPE

1
3
icon: S&D S&D
175

Belgium S&D

3

Croatia S&D

2

Slovakia S&D

Abstain (1)

3

Netherlands S&D

2

Bulgaria S&D

3

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1

Slovenia S&D

For (1)

1

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Latvia S&D

Against (1)

1

Malta S&D

Against (1)

3

Cyprus S&D

2

Ireland S&D

Against (1)

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
64

United Kingdom ALDE

1

Romania ALDE

3

Croatia ALDE

2

Portugal ALDE

1

Denmark ALDE

2

Austria ALDE

For (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

3

Slovenia ALDE

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
67

Romania ECR

For (1)

1

Czechia ECR

2

Croatia ECR

For (1)

1

Lithuania ECR

1

Netherlands ECR

2

Bulgaria ECR

1

Italy ECR

2

Finland ECR

For (1)

2

Latvia ECR

For (1)

1

Cyprus ECR

1

Greece ECR

Against (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
48

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Hungary Verts/ALE

2

Croatia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

Italy Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Estonia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Slovenia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

France Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

5

Latvia Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1
icon: NI NI
17

Germany NI

Against (1)

1

United Kingdom NI

For (1)

Against (2)

3

Poland NI

Against (1)

1
3

Italy NI

For (1)

1
icon: EFDD EFDD
27

Germany EFDD

Abstain (1)

1
5

Poland EFDD

1

Sweden EFDD

2

Czechia EFDD

Abstain (1)

1

Lithuania EFDD

For (1)

1

France EFDD

1
icon: ENF ENF
40

Germany ENF

Against (1)

1

United Kingdom ENF

Against (1)

1

Romania ENF

Against (1)

1

Poland ENF

2

Belgium ENF

Against (1)

1

Netherlands ENF

4
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
48

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

3

Italy GUE/NGL

3

Denmark GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Finland GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2
4

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

procedure/Other legal basis
Old
Rules of Procedure EP 159
New
Rules of Procedure EP 165
procedure/Other legal basis
Old
Rules of Procedure EP 159
New
Rules of Procedure EP 165
docs/1
date
2016-11-24T00:00:00
docs
url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=ADV&RESULTSET=1&DOC_ID=14765%2F16&DOC_LANCD=EN&ROWSPP=25&NRROWS=500&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC title: 14765/2016
summary
type
Legislative proposal
body
CSL
events/1/date
Old
2016-11-23T00:00:00
New
2016-11-24T00:00:00
docs/1
date
2016-11-24T00:00:00
docs
url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=ADV&RESULTSET=1&DOC_ID=14765%2F16&DOC_LANCD=EN&ROWSPP=25&NRROWS=500&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC title: 14765/2016
summary
type
Legislative proposal
body
CSL
events/1/date
Old
2016-11-24T00:00:00
New
2016-11-23T00:00:00
docs/1
date
2016-11-24T00:00:00
docs
url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=ADV&RESULTSET=1&DOC_ID=14765%2F16&DOC_LANCD=EN&ROWSPP=25&NRROWS=500&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC title: 14765/2016
summary
type
Legislative proposal
body
CSL
events/1/date
Old
2016-11-23T00:00:00
New
2016-11-24T00:00:00
docs/1
date
2016-11-24T00:00:00
docs
url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=ADV&RESULTSET=1&DOC_ID=14765%2F16&DOC_LANCD=EN&ROWSPP=25&NRROWS=500&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC title: 14765/2016
summary
type
Legislative proposal
body
CSL
events/1/date
Old
2016-11-24T00:00:00
New
2016-11-23T00:00:00
events/6/docs
  • url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/CRE-8-2017-02-15-TOC_EN.html title: Debate in Parliament
docs/1/docs/0/url
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/AFET-PR-595740_EN.html
events/2/body
EP
events/3/body
EP
events/7/body
EP
docs/1/docs/0/url
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE595.740
events/2
date
2016-12-15T00:00:00
type
Committee referral announced in Parliament
events/2
date
2016-12-15T00:00:00
type
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
events/3
date
2017-01-31T00:00:00
type
Vote in committee
events/3
date
2017-01-31T00:00:00
type
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
events/6/docs
  • url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20170215&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament
events/7
date
2017-02-15T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2017-0031_EN.html title: T8-0031/2017
summary
events/7
date
2017-02-15T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2017-0031_EN.html title: T8-0031/2017
summary
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Foreign Affairs
committee
AFET
rapporteur
name: TANNOCK Timothy Charles Ayrton date: 2016-12-13T00:00:00 group: European Conservatives and Reformists abbr: ECR
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Foreign Affairs
committee
AFET
rapporteur
name: TANNOCK Timothy Charles Ayrton date: 2016-12-13T00:00:00 group: ??? abbr: Unknown Group
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Foreign Affairs
committee
AFET
rapporteur
name: TANNOCK Timothy Charles Ayrton date: 2016-12-13T00:00:00 group: ??? abbr: Unknown Group
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Foreign Affairs
committee
AFET
rapporteur
name: TANNOCK Charles date: 2016-12-13T00:00:00 group: European Conservatives and Reformists abbr: ECR
docs/1/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE595.740
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE595.740
events/4/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-8-2017-0028_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-8-2017-0028_EN.html
events/6/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20170215&type=CRE
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20170215&type=CRE
events/7/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2017-0031_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2017-0031_EN.html
procedure/Modified legal basis
Rules of Procedure EP 159
procedure/Other legal basis
Rules of Procedure EP 159
events/0/body
EP
events/4/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A8-2017-0028&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-8-2017-0028_EN.html
events/7/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/EN&reference=P8-TA-2017-0031
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2017-0031_EN.html
events/0
date
2016-11-23T00:00:00
type
Preparatory document
docs
url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=JOIN:2016:0056:FIN:EN:PDF title: JOIN(2016)0056
summary
events/0
date
2016-11-23T00:00:00
type
Initial legislative proposal published
body
EC
docs
url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=JOIN:2016:0056:FIN:EN:PDF title: JOIN(2016)0056
summary
events/4/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2017-0028&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A8-2017-0028&language=EN
events/7/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2017-0031
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/EN&reference=P8-TA-2017-0031
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Foreign Affairs
committee
AFET
rapporteur
name: TANNOCK Charles date: 2016-12-13T00:00:00 group: European Conservatives and Reformists abbr: ECR
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Foreign Affairs
committee
AFET
date
2016-12-13T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: TANNOCK Charles group: European Conservatives and Reformists abbr: ECR
activities
  • date: 2016-11-23T00:00:00 docs: url: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=JOIN:2016:0056:FIN:EN:PDF type: Initial legislative proposal published title: JOIN(2016)0056 body: EC commission: type: Initial legislative proposal published
  • date: 2016-11-24T00:00:00 docs: url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=ADV&RESULTSET=1&DOC_ID=14765%2F16&DOC_LANCD=EN&ROWSPP=25&NRROWS=500&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC type: Legislative proposal published title: 14765/2016 body: EC commission: type: Legislative proposal published
  • date: 2016-12-15T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: AFET date: 2016-12-13T00:00:00 committee_full: Foreign Affairs rapporteur: group: ECR name: TANNOCK Charles body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs committee: LIBE
  • date: 2017-01-31T00:00:00 body: EP type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: AFET date: 2016-12-13T00:00:00 committee_full: Foreign Affairs rapporteur: group: ECR name: TANNOCK Charles body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs committee: LIBE
  • body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2017-0028&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading title: A8-0028/2017 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: AFET date: 2016-12-13T00:00:00 committee_full: Foreign Affairs rapporteur: group: ECR name: TANNOCK Charles body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs committee: LIBE date: 2017-02-07T00:00:00
  • date: 2017-02-15T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=28151&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20170215&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2017-0031 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T8-0031/2017 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Foreign Affairs
committee
AFET
date
2016-12-13T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: TANNOCK Charles group: European Conservatives and Reformists abbr: ECR
committees/0
body
EP
responsible
True
committee
AFET
date
2016-12-13T00:00:00
committee_full
Foreign Affairs
rapporteur
group: ECR name: TANNOCK Charles
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
committee
LIBE
opinion
False
committees/1
body
EP
responsible
False
committee_full
Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
committee
LIBE
docs
  • date: 2016-08-05T00:00:00 docs: url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=ADV&RESULTSET=1&DOC_ID=5368%2F16&DOC_LANCD=EN&ROWSPP=25&NRROWS=500&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC title: 05368/2016 type: Document attached to the procedure body: CSL
  • date: 2016-12-20T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE595.740 title: PE595.740 type: Committee draft report body: EP
events
  • date: 2016-11-23T00:00:00 type: Initial legislative proposal published body: EC docs: url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=JOIN:2016:0056:FIN:EN:PDF title: JOIN(2016)0056 summary: PURPOSE: to conclude the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Canada, of the other part. PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has approved the latter. BACKGROUND: on 8 December 2010, the Council adopted a Decision authorising the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to negotiate a Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, on the one part, and Canada, of the other part. The negotiations on the Agreement commenced in September 2011 and concluded in September 2014 with initialling of the Agreement. Following the adoption of the Council Decision on the signing and provisional application of the Agreement on 28 October 2016, the Agreement was signed on 30 October 2016 at the 16th EU-Canada Summit. The present joint proposal concerns the legal instrument concluding the Agreement. Note on legal basis : Article 218(6)(a)(iii) TFEU states that, where an agreement establishes a specific institutional framework by organising cooperation procedures, the Council shall adopt a decision concluding the agreement after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament . Moreover, the second subparagraph of Article 218(8) TFEU states that the Council shall act unanimously when the agreement covers a field for which unanimity is required for the adoption of a Union act. The Agreement pursues objectives and has components in the areas of the common foreign and security policy and technical cooperation with developed countries. These aspects of the Agreement are inseparably linked without one being incidental to the other. The common foreign and security policy is a field for which unanimity is required for adopting a Union act. The Agreement establishes an institutional framework for cooperation between the EU and Canada. The legal basis of the proposed decision should therefore be Article 37 TEU and Article 212(1) TFEU read in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a) TFEU and the second subparagraph of Article 218(8) TFEU. CONTENT : the Commission and of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy jointly propose that the Council adopt a decision approving the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Canada, of the other part, on behalf of the Union. The text of the Agreement is attached to the Decision. The aim of the Agreement is to strengthen existing cooperation between the Parties, which is based on the 1976 Framework Agreement for commercial and economic cooperation, in order to cover political dialogue and common foreign and security policy-related issues, and a broad range of sectors including environment, justice and security, migration and integration, fisheries, education, culture, human rights, northern development and indigenous issues, youth exchanges and transport security. The Agreement (SPA) envisages several kinds of cooperation: Political cooperation : the aim of the SPA is to strengthen EU - Canada political ties and cooperation on foreign and security issues, and to advance cooperation on a large number of policy areas besides trade and economics. The Agreement enshrines EU-Canada common democratic values and will advance cooperation on a bilateral and multilateral level. The SPA will strengthen political dialogue in fields such as: climate change, energy, environment, development, research and innovation, education and culture, migration, counter-terrorism and the fight against organised crime and cybercrime. It reaffirms the Parties' commitment to safeguarding international peace and security by preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and undertaking measures to deal with the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. Institutional cooperation : the SPA provides the mechanism for conducting political dialogue by organising annual summits at leaders level and consultations at ministerial level. It also establishes a Joint Ministerial Committee, which replaces the previous Transatlantic Dialogue, and a Joint Cooperation Committee with the objective of monitoring the development of the strategic relationship between the Parties. Suspension mechanism : the Agreement provides for the possibility of suspending its application in case of a violation of essential elements of the Agreement such as human rights and non-proliferation. In addition, the Parties recognise that a particularly serious and substantial violation of human rights or non-proliferation could also serve as grounds for the termination of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). The SPA, in conjunction with the CETA, is expected to provide tangible benefits and opportunities to the citizens of the EU and Canada.
  • date: 2016-11-24T00:00:00 type: Legislative proposal published body: EC docs: url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=ADV&RESULTSET=1&DOC_ID=14765%2F16&DOC_LANCD=EN&ROWSPP=25&NRROWS=500&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC title: 14765/2016 summary: PURPOSE: to conclude the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Canada, of the other part. PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has approved the latter. BACKGROUND: the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Canada, of the other part, was signed on 30 October 2016, subject to its conclusion at a later date. The Agreement should now be approved. CONTENT: the draft Council decision is aimed at approving, on behalf of the Union , the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Canada, of the other part. The objective of the Agreement is to strengthen cooperation across a wide spectrum of policy fields including (i) human rights and fundamental freedoms, (ii) democracy and the rule of law, (iii) international peace and security and effective multilateralism, (iv) economic and sustainable development, (v) justice, freedom and security. The Agreement will strengthen political dialogue and consultation and will establish a Joint Ministerial Committee and a Joint Cooperation Committee with the objective of monitoring the development in the strategic relationship between the Parties. For more details on the content of the Agreement, please refer to the summary of the initial joint proposal of the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, dated 23.11.2016.
  • date: 2016-12-15T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2017-01-31T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2017-02-07T00:00:00 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2017-0028&language=EN title: A8-0028/2017 summary: The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the report by Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK) on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Canada, of the other part. In view of the strategic, political and economic benefits resulting from a successful conclusion of this Strategic Partnership Agreement and its positive contribution to multilateralism, international peace and security, economic and sustainable development, justice, freedom and security, the committee recommend that the European Parliament give consent to the conclusion of this Agreement. This Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) aims to intensify this bilateral cooperation in areas such as foreign and security policy, counter-terrorism, the fight against organised crime, sustainable development, research and culture. It also provides for political dialogue and consultation mechanisms, such as Joint Ministerial Committee and Joint Cooperation Committee. As indicated in the European Parliament’s resolution of 10 December 2013, the EU’s relations with Canada are based on shared values as illustrated by a long history of extensive political and economic cooperation. Canada and the EU share a strong commitment to democracy, fundamental freedoms, the protection of human rights, liberal and open trade and multilateralism. Canada has been a Strategic Partner of the EU since 1996 and is an important ally on the international scene. Canada and the EU have worked together closely on global challenges such as climate change, human rights, energy security, conflict resolution, counter terrorism and forced migration. Canada regularly contributes to the EU’s civilian and military CSDP missions and is an important ally in NATO. Since 2003, this partner committed financial and/or human resources in ten of 34 EU CSDP missions/operations, in eight countries and in three regions.
  • date: 2017-02-15T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=28151&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2017-02-15T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20170215&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2017-02-15T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2017-0031 title: T8-0031/2017 summary: The European Parliament adopted by 506 votes to 142, with 43 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Canada, of the other part. In line with the recommendation made by the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement.
links
other
    procedure/Modified legal basis
    Old
    Rules of Procedure EP 150
    New
    Rules of Procedure EP 159
    procedure/dossier_of_the_committee
    Old
    AFET/8/08553
    New
    • AFET/8/08553
    procedure/legal_basis/0
    Treaty on European Union TEU 37
    procedure/legal_basis/0
    Treaty on European Union TEU 037
    procedure/subject
    Old
    • 6.40.11 Relations with industrialised countries
    New
    6.40.11
    Relations with industrialised countries
    procedure/Modified legal basis
    Old
    Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 150
    New
    Rules of Procedure EP 150
    activities/5/docs/0
    url
    http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=28151&l=en
    type
    Results of vote in Parliament
    title
    Results of vote in Parliament
    activities/5/type
    Old
    Debate in Parliament
    New
    Results of vote in Parliament
    activities/4/docs/0/text
    • The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the report by Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK) on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Canada, of the other part.

      In view of the strategic, political and economic benefits resulting from a successful conclusion of this Strategic Partnership Agreement and its positive contribution to multilateralism, international peace and security, economic and sustainable development, justice, freedom and security, the committee recommend that the European Parliament give consent to the conclusion of this Agreement.

      This Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) aims to intensify this bilateral cooperation in areas such as foreign and security policy, counter-terrorism, the fight against organised crime, sustainable development, research and culture. It also provides for political dialogue and consultation mechanisms, such as Joint Ministerial Committee and Joint Cooperation Committee.

      As indicated in the European Parliament’s resolution of 10 December 2013, the EU’s relations with Canada are based on shared values as illustrated by a long history of extensive political and economic cooperation.

      Canada and the EU share a strong commitment to democracy, fundamental freedoms, the protection of human rights, liberal and open trade and multilateralism. Canada has been a Strategic Partner of the EU since 1996 and is an important ally on the international scene.

      Canada and the EU have worked together closely on global challenges such as climate change, human rights, energy security, conflict resolution, counter terrorism and forced migration.

      Canada regularly contributes to the EU’s civilian and military CSDP missions and is an important ally in NATO.

      Since 2003, this partner committed financial and/or human resources in ten of 34 EU CSDP missions/operations, in eight countries and in three regions.

    activities/5/docs/1/text
    • The European Parliament adopted by 506 votes to 142, with 43 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Canada, of the other part.

      In line with the recommendation made by the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement.

    activities/5/docs
    • url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20170215&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament
    • url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2017-0031 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T8-0031/2017
    procedure/stage_reached
    Old
    Awaiting Parliament 1st reading / single reading / budget 1st stage
    New
    Awaiting final decision
    activities/5/type
    Old
    Debate in plenary scheduled
    New
    Debate in Parliament
    activities/5/type
    Old
    Vote in plenary scheduled
    New
    Debate in plenary scheduled
    activities/4
    date
    2017-02-07T00:00:00
    docs
    url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2017-0028&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading title: A8-0028/2017
    body
    EP
    committees
    type
    Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
    procedure/stage_reached
    Old
    Awaiting committee decision
    New
    Awaiting Parliament 1st reading / single reading / budget 1st stage
    activities/3
    date
    2017-01-31T00:00:00
    body
    EP
    type
    Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
    committees
    procedure/Modified legal basis
    Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 150
    activities/3/date
    Old
    2017-02-14T00:00:00
    New
    2017-02-15T00:00:00
    activities/3/type
    Old
    Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
    New
    Vote in plenary scheduled
    activities/1/docs/0/text
    • PURPOSE: to conclude the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Canada, of the other part.

      PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

      ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has approved the latter.

      BACKGROUND: the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Canada, of the other part, was signed on 30 October 2016, subject to its conclusion at a later date.

      The Agreement should now be approved.

      CONTENT: the draft Council decision is aimed at approving, on behalf of the Union, the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Canada, of the other part.

      The objective of the Agreement is to strengthen cooperation across a wide spectrum of policy fields including (i) human rights and fundamental freedoms, (ii) democracy and the rule of law, (iii) international peace and security and effective multilateralism, (iv) economic and sustainable development, (v) justice, freedom and security.

      The Agreement will strengthen political dialogue and consultation and will establish a Joint Ministerial Committee and a Joint Cooperation Committee with the objective of monitoring the development in the strategic relationship between the Parties.

      For more details on the content of the Agreement, please refer to the summary of the initial joint proposal of the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, dated 23.11.2016.

    activities/3/date
    Old
    2017-02-01T00:00:00
    New
    2017-02-14T00:00:00
    activities/0/docs/0/text
    • PURPOSE: to conclude the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Canada, of the other part.

      PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

      ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has approved the latter.

      BACKGROUND: on 8 December 2010, the Council adopted a Decision authorising the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to negotiate a Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, on the one part, and Canada, of the other part.

      The negotiations on the Agreement commenced in September 2011 and concluded in September 2014 with initialling of the Agreement. Following the adoption of the Council Decision on the signing and provisional application of the Agreement on 28 October 2016, the Agreement was signed on 30 October 2016 at the 16th EU-Canada Summit.

      The present joint proposal concerns the legal instrument concluding the Agreement.

      Note on legal basis: Article 218(6)(a)(iii) TFEU states that, where an agreement establishes a specific institutional framework by organising cooperation procedures, the Council shall adopt a decision concluding the agreement after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament. Moreover, the second subparagraph of Article 218(8) TFEU states that the Council shall act unanimously when the agreement covers a field for which unanimity is required for the adoption of a Union act.

      The Agreement pursues objectives and has components in the areas of the common foreign and security policy and technical cooperation with developed countries. These aspects of the Agreement are inseparably linked without one being incidental to the other.

      The common foreign and security policy is a field for which unanimity is required for adopting a Union act. The Agreement establishes an institutional framework for cooperation between the EU and Canada.

      The legal basis of the proposed decision should therefore be Article 37 TEU and Article 212(1) TFEU read in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a) TFEU and the second subparagraph of Article 218(8) TFEU.

      CONTENT : the Commission and of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy jointly propose that the Council adopt a decision approving the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Canada, of the other part, on behalf of the Union.

      The text of the Agreement is attached to the Decision.

      The aim of the Agreement is to strengthen existing cooperation between the Parties, which is based on the 1976 Framework Agreement for commercial and economic cooperation, in order to cover political dialogue and common foreign and security policy-related issues, and a broad range of sectors including environment, justice and security, migration and integration, fisheries, education, culture, human rights, northern development and indigenous issues, youth exchanges and transport security.

      The Agreement (SPA) envisages several kinds of cooperation:

      Political cooperation: the aim of the SPA is to strengthen EU - Canada political ties and cooperation on foreign and security issues, and to advance cooperation on a large number of policy areas besides trade and economics.

      The Agreement enshrines EU-Canada common democratic values and will advance cooperation on a bilateral and multilateral level. The SPA will strengthen political dialogue in fields such as:

      • climate change,
      • energy,
      • environment,
      • development,
      • research and innovation,
      • education and culture,
      • migration,
      • counter-terrorism and the fight against organised crime and cybercrime.

      It reaffirms the Parties' commitment to safeguarding international peace and security by preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and undertaking measures to deal with the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.

      Institutional cooperation: the SPA provides the mechanism for conducting political dialogue by organising annual summits at leaders level and consultations at ministerial level. It also establishes a Joint Ministerial Committee, which replaces the previous Transatlantic Dialogue, and a Joint Cooperation Committee with the objective of monitoring the development of the strategic relationship between the Parties.

      Suspension mechanism: the Agreement provides for the possibility of suspending its application in case of a violation of essential elements of the Agreement such as human rights and non-proliferation. In addition, the Parties recognise that a particularly serious and substantial violation of human rights or non-proliferation could also serve as grounds for the termination of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). The SPA, in conjunction with the CETA, is expected to provide tangible benefits and opportunities to the citizens of the EU and Canada.

    activities/2/committees/0/date
    2016-12-13T00:00:00
    activities/2/committees/0/rapporteur
    • group: ECR name: TANNOCK Charles
    activities/3
    date
    2017-02-01T00:00:00
    body
    EP
    type
    Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
    committees/0/date
    2016-12-13T00:00:00
    committees/0/rapporteur
    • group: ECR name: TANNOCK Charles
    activities/2
    date
    2016-12-15T00:00:00
    body
    EP
    type
    Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
    committees
    procedure/dossier_of_the_committee
    AFET/8/08553
    procedure/stage_reached
    Old
    Preparatory phase in Parliament
    New
    Awaiting committee decision
    committees/1
    body
    EP
    responsible
    False
    committee_full
    Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
    committee
    LIBE
    activities/0/docs/0/type
    Old
    Legislative proposal published
    New
    Initial legislative proposal published
    activities/0/type
    Old
    Legislative proposal published
    New
    Initial legislative proposal published
    activities/1
    date
    2016-11-24T00:00:00
    docs
    url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=ADV&RESULTSET=1&DOC_ID=14765%2F16&DOC_LANCD=EN&ROWSPP=25&NRROWS=500&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC type: Legislative proposal published title: 14765/2016
    type
    Legislative proposal published
    body
    EC
    commission
    activities
    • date: 2016-11-23T00:00:00 docs: url: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=JOIN:2016:0056:FIN:EN:PDF type: Legislative proposal published title: JOIN(2016)0056 type: Legislative proposal published body: EC commission:
    committees
    • body: EP responsible: True committee_full: Foreign Affairs committee: AFET
    links
    other
      procedure
      legal_basis
      reference
      2016/0373(NLE)
      title
      EU/Canada Strategic Partnership Agreement
      geographical_area
      Canada
      stage_reached
      Preparatory phase in Parliament
      subtype
      Consent by Parliament
      type
      NLE - Non-legislative enactments
      subject
      6.40.11 Relations with industrialised countries