RECOMMENDATION on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of a Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and Georgia on the general principles for the participation of Georgia in Union programmes
20.3.2014 - (16612/2013 – C7‑0486/2013 – 2013/0257(NLE)) - ***
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Rapporteur: Krzysztof Lisek
DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION
on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of a Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and Georgia on the general principles for the participation of Georgia in Union programmes
(16612/2013 – C7‑0486/2013 – 2013/0257(NLE))
(Consent)
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the draft Council decision (16612/2013),
– having regard to the Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and Georgia, on the general principles for the participation of Georgia in Union programmes (16613/2013),
– having regard to the request for consent submitted by the Council in accordance with Article 212 and Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a), of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (C7‑0486/2013),
– having regard to Rule 81(1), first and third subparagraphs, Rule 81(2), and Rule 90(7) of its Rules of Procedure,
– having regard to the recommendation of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (A7-0191/2014),
1. Gives its consent to conclusion of the Protocol;
2. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States and of Georgia.
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between Georgia and the European Communities entered into force on 1 July 1999. Georgia has participated actively in the European Neighbourhood Policy since 2004 and in the Eastern Partnership since its launch in 2009.
The Protocol to the PCA under consideration has been signed on 12 December 2013. Its objective is to lay down the financial and technical rules to enable Georgia to participate in certain Union programmes. The Protocol contains a Framework agreement on the general participation of Georgia in Union programmes and includes standard provisions contained in such protocols for ENP countries. The participation in each programme requires the drafting of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to be signed by both parties. Furthermore the participation of ENP countries concerns only those Union programmes, whose statutes and objectives permit for such participation.
The Commission Communication “on the general approach to enable ENP partner countries to participate in Community agencies and Community programmes"[1] of December 2006 outlined the approach envisaging the possibility for the ENP countries to participate in selected Community programmes and agencies as a measure to promote reform, modernisation and transition in the Neighbourhood. The Council endorsed the approach on 5 March 2007[2] and on 18 June 2007, it issued directives for the Commission to negotiate Framework Agreements on the general principles for the participation of Community programmes with thirteen Neighbourhood countries.
The intention to further facilitate partner countries' participation in Union programmes was stressed in the Joint Communication by the Commission and the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on "A new response to a challenging Neighbourhood"[3]. The Declaration of Warsaw Summit of the Eastern Partnership that took place on 29-30 September 2011, highlights once more interest of the Partner countries and the EU to facilitate the participation of the Partners in Union programmes and agencies and welcomes the increased sectoral cooperation.
Georgia shall contribute financially to the specific programmes it participates in. The financial implications vary from programme to programme and are determined in the MoUs.
The conclusion of the Protocol will permit the gradual opening of or reinforced participation in certain Union programmes for Georgia, offering an opportunity to promote further cultural, educational, environmental, technical and scientific links, enhancing people-to-people contacts and sectoral cooperation, in addition to the strengthening of the political and relations through the Eastern Partnership and the conclusion of the Association Agreement.
RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMITTEE
|
Date adopted |
18.3.2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
Result of final vote |
+: –: 0: |
57 0 0 |
|||
|
Members present for the final vote |
Sir Robert Atkins, Hiltrud Breyer, Elmar Brok, Tarja Cronberg, Susy De Martini, Mark Demesmaeker, Richard Howitt, Anna Ibrisagic, Anneli Jäätteenmäki, Jelko Kacin, Tunne Kelam, Andrey Kovatchev, Paweł Robert Kowal, Wolfgang Kreissl-Dörfler, Eduard Kukan, Vytautas Landsbergis, Ryszard Antoni Legutko, Krzysztof Lisek, Sabine Lösing, Marusya Lyubcheva, Francisco José Millán Mon, Alexander Mirsky, María Muñiz De Urquiza, Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck, Raimon Obiols, Kristiina Ojuland, Ioan Mircea Paşcu, Alojz Peterle, Tonino Picula, Mirosław Piotrowski, Bernd Posselt, Hans-Gert Pöttering, Cristian Dan Preda, Libor Rouček, Tokia Saïfi, José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Nikolaos Salavrakos, Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, Werner Schulz, Davor Ivo Stier, Charles Tannock, Inese Vaidere, Johannes Cornelis van Baalen, Geoffrey Van Orden, Nikola Vuljanić, Sir Graham Watson, Boris Zala |
||||
|
Substitute(s) present for the final vote |
Laima Liucija Andrikienė, Marije Cornelissen, Tanja Fajon, Jo Leinen, Barbara Lochbihler, Jacek Protasiewicz, Potito Salatto, Marietje Schaake, Alejo Vidal-Quadras |
||||
|
Substitute(s) under Rule 187(2) present for the final vote |
Judith Sargentini |
||||