PURPOSE: to conclude the Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Iraq, 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: the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Iraq, of the other part, was signed on 11 May 2012. It is presently undergoing ratification.

On 14 September 2012, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the third countries concerned in view of the accession of Croatia to the Union. The negotiations with Iraq were successfully concluded with the initialling of the Protocol on 24 August 2016.

It is proposed that Croatia be incorporated as a contracting party to the Agreement.

It is now necessary to conclude the Protocol on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

CONTENT: under this proposal, the Council is called on to approve, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, the Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Iraq, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union.

The proposed Protocol incorporates Croatia as a contracting party to the Agreement and commits the Union to providing an authentic version of the Agreement in Croatian.