Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2012)518 - Conclusion of a Protocol on a Framework Agreement with Armenia on the participation of Armenia in Union programmes

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dossier COM(2012)518 - Conclusion of a Protocol on a Framework Agreement with Armenia on the participation of Armenia in Union programmes.
source COM(2012)518 EN
date 19-09-2012
As part of the European Neighbourhood Policy, the gradual opening-up of certain Union programmes and agencies to the participation of European Neighbourhood Policy partner countries represents one of many measures to promote reform, modernisation and transition in the European Union’s neighbourhood. The Commission outlined this policy aspect more extensively in its Communication of December 2006 “on the general approach to enable European Neighbourhood Policy partner countries to participate in Community agencies and Community programmes”[1].

The Council endorsed this approach on 5 March 2007 i.

Based upon this Communication and those conclusions, the Council, on 18 June 2007, issued directives to the Commission to negotiate Framework Agreements with Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Moldova, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Tunisia and Ukraine, on the general principles for their participation in Community programmes i.

The June 2007 European Council i reaffirmed the paramount importance of the European Neighbourhood Policy and endorsed a Presidency Progress Report i that had been submitted to the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) meeting on 18/19 June as well as the related Council Conclusions i. This report recalled the Council directives to negotiate relevant additional protocols.

The Joint Communication by the Commission and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy “A new response to a changing Neighbourhood”[7], endorsed by Council Conclusions on 20 June 2011, further stressed the EU’s intention to facilitate partner countries’ participation in EU programmes.

To date, Protocols were signed with Israel[8], Morocco[9], Moldova[10] and Ukraine[11]. A Protocol has also been negotiated, but not yet signed, with Jordan.

In April 2012, Armenia expressed its interest to participate in the broad range of programmes open to partner countries of the European Neighbourhood Policy. The text of the Protocol negotiated with Armenia is attached.

The Commission herewith submits a proposal for a Council Decision on the conclusion of the Protocol. This Protocol contains a Framework Agreement on the general principles for the participation of Armenia in Union programmes. It contains standard stipulations that are intended to be applied to all European Neighbourhood Policy partner countries with which such protocols are to be concluded.

According to 218(6)(a) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the European Parliament shall be requested to give its consent to the conclusion of this Protocol.

In parallel, the Commission submits a proposal for a Council Decision on the signature of the said Protocol.

The Council is invited to adopt the following proposed Decision.