The European Parliament adopted by 613 votes to 3, with 20 abstentions, a legislative resolution, on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, of the Protocol to the Cooperation Agreement on a Civil Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Korea, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Republic of Croatia and Romania to the European Union.

Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Protocol to the Cooperation Agreement.

The proposed protocol makes Bulgaria, the Republic of Croatia and Romania contracting parties to the Agreement. It aims to encourage, facilitate and improve cooperation between the parties in the field of civil global satellite navigation.

The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy adopted the report by Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO) on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, of the Protocol to the Cooperation Agreement on a Civil Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Korea, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Republic of Croatia and Romania to the European Union.

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

The proposed Protocol makes Bulgaria, Republic of Croatia and Romania contracting parties to the Agreement. It aims to encourage, facilitate and improve cooperation between the Parties in civil global satellite navigation.

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, the Protocol to the Cooperation Agreement on a Civil Global Navigation Satellite System between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Korea, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Republic of Croatia and Romania 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: the Cooperation Agreement on a Civil Global Navigation Satellite System between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Korea, of the other part, was signed on 9 September 2006 and entered into force on 1 July 2016.

Bulgaria and Romania became Member States of the Union on 1 January 2007, Croatia on 1 July 2013. According to the Act of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania, as well as the Act of Accession of Croatia, accession to the Agreement is to be agreed by the conclusion of a Protocol to the Agreement.

On 23 October 2006 and 14 September 2012, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the third country concerned with a view to concluding protocols to international agreements concluded by the Union and its Member States. The negotiations with the Republic of Korea were successful and were concluded by an exchange of notes verbales.

CONTENT: the draft Council Decision concerns the approval, on behalf of the Union and its Member States, of the Protocol to the Cooperation Agreement on a Civil Global Navigation Satellite System between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Korea, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Republic of Croatia and Romania to the European Union.

By virtue of the Protocol, Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania will be Parties to the Cooperation Agreement on a Civil Global Navigation Satellite System between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Korea, of the other part, and will respectively adopt and take note of the text of the Agreement in the same manner as the other Member States.

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, of the Protocol to the Cooperation Agreement on a Civil Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and Korea, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania 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: the Cooperation Agreement on a Civil Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) between the EU and Korea, was signed on 9 September 2006 and entered into force on 1 July 2016.

Bulgaria and Romania became Member States of the Union on 1 January 2007 and Croatia on 1 July 2013.

In accordance with Article 6(2) of the Acts of Accession of Bulgaria, Romania, and of Croatia, respectively, accession to the Cooperation Agreement on a Civil Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and Korea, of the other part is to be agreed by means of a Protocol to the Agreement. A simplified procedure is to apply to such accession, whereby a protocol is to be concluded by the Council, acting unanimously on behalf of the Member States, and by the third countries concerned.

On 23 October 2006 and on 14 September 2012, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the third countries concerned in order to conclude protocols to international agreements concluded by the European Union and its Member States. The negotiations with Korea were successfully concluded.

Following a Council Decision to sign a Protocol to the Agreement to take account of the accession of these countries to the European Union, the Protocol was signed.

CONTENT: following the signature of the Protocol, the Commission proposes to the Council to authorise the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, of a Protocol to the Cooperation Agreement on a Civil Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Korea, of the other part, the to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Republic of Croatia and Romania to the EU.

The proposed Protocol makes Bulgaria, Republic of Croatia and Romania contracting parties to the Agreement and commits the EU to providing an authentic version of the Agreement in Bulgarian, Croatia and Romanian.