PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union, a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Arab Republic of Egypt on the general principles for the participation of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Union programmes.

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 a Council Decision, the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Arab Republic of Egypt on the general principles for the participation of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Union programmes was signed on behalf of the Union.

It is now necessary to approve the Protocol on behalf of the Union.

CONTENT: the Council draft concerns the approval, on behalf of the Union, of the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Arab Republic of Egypt on the general principles for the participation of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Union programmes.

The objective of the Protocol is to lay down the financial and technical rules enabling the Arab Republic of Egypt to participate in certain Union programmes. The horizontal framework established by the Protocol sets out principles for economic, financial and technical cooperation measures and allows the Arab Republic of Egypt to receive assistance, in particular financial assistance, from the Union pursuant to those programmes.

The framework set up by the Protocol applies only to those programmes for which the relevant constitutive legal acts provide for the possibility of the participation of Egypt. The signing and provisional application of the Protocol does not, therefore, entail the exercise of powers under the various sectoral policies which are exercised when establishing the programmes.

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union, a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Arab Republic of Egypt on the general principles for the participation of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Union programmes.

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 Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, was signed in Luxembourg on 25 June 2001 and entered into force on 1 June 2004.

As part of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), the gradual opening up of certain European Union programmes and agencies to ENP partner countries is one of many measures to promote reform, modernisation and transition in the European Union’s neighbourhood.

The revised European Neighbourhood Policy spelt out in the new EU Agenda for the Mediterranean and the Council Conclusions on a renewed Partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood of 16 April 2021, the intention to op en up and facilitate access to EU programmes for the EU’s Southern Partners and to enhance cooperation in Research and Innovation, including through association with the Horizon Europe Programme.

In October 2021, during the EU-Egypt Association Committee, Egypt expressed its interest in signing a Protocol to a Framework Agreement for their association to Horizon Europe and potential full participation in further selected EU programmes.

To date, similar protocols have been signed with Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Moldova, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Tunisia, and Ukraine.

CONTENT : the Commission proposes that the Council should decide to approve, on behalf of the Union, the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Arab Republic of Egypt on the general principles for the participation of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Union programmes.

The objective of the Protocol is to lay down the financial and technical rules enabling the Arab Republic of Egypt to participate in EU programmes . This framework applies only to these programmes for which the relevant constitutive legal acts provide the possibility of the participation of the Arab Republic of Egypt. The horizontal framework established by the Protocol sets out principles for economic, financial and technical cooperation and allows the Arab Republic of Egypt to receive assistance, in particular financial assistance, from the European Union to participate in the programmes.

The specific terms and conditions regarding the participation of Egypt in each particular Union programme, in particular, the financial contribution to be paid by Egypt as well as reporting and evaluation procedures, should be determined by agreement between the European Commission and the competent authorities of Egypt.

No later than three years after the date of entry into force of this Protocol, and every three years thereafter, both Parties may review the implementation of this Protocol on the basis of the actual participation of Egypt in Union programmes.