Considerations on COM(2017)81 - Signing and provisional application of the Protocol to the partnership agreement with Iraq to take account of the accession of Croatia to the EU

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dossier COM(2017)81 - Signing and provisional application of the Protocol to the partnership agreement with Iraq to take account of the accession ...
document COM(2017)81 EN
date February 20, 2017
 
(1) The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Iraq, of the other part, was signed on 11 May 2012, and is presently undergoing ratification.

(2) In accordance with Article 6(2) of the Act of Accession of the Republic of Croatia, the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the Agreement is to be agreed by means of a protocol to the Agreement (‘the Protocol’). A simplified procedure is to apply to such accession, whereby a protocol is to be concluded between the Council, acting unanimously on behalf of the Member States, and the third country concerned.

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

(4) The Republic of Croatia became a Member State of the Union on 1 July 2013.

(5) Article 5(3) of the Protocol provides for its provisional application pending its entry into force.

(6) The Protocol should be signed on behalf of the Union and its Member States, subject to its conclusion at a later date, and should be applied provisionally pending the date of its entry into force.