RECOMMENDATION on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, of the Additional Protocol to the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Korea, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union

29.9.2014 - (06035/2014 – C7‑0113/2014 – 2014/0019(NLE)) - ***

Committee on International Trade
Rapporteur: Jan Zahradil

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, of the Additional Protocol to the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Korea, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union

(06035/2014 – C7‑0113/2014 – 2014/0019(NLE))

(Consent)

The European Parliament,

–       having regard to the draft Council decision (06035/2014),

–       having regard to the draft Additional Protocol to the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Korea, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union (06037/2014),

–       having regard to the request for consent submitted by the Council in accordance with Articles 91, 100(2), 167(3), 207 and Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a)(v), of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (C7-0113/2014),

–       having regard to Rule 99(1), first and third subparagraphs, Rule 99(2), and Rule 108(7) of its Rules of Procedure,

–       having regard to the recommendation of the Committee on International Trade (A8-0012/2014),

1.      Gives its consent to the conclusion of the agreement;

2.      Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States and of the Republic of Korea.

SHORT JUSTIFICATION

On 06 March 2014, the Council of the European Union decided to conclude on behalf of the European Union (EU) and its Member States the Additional Protocol to the Free Trade Agreement that was signed on 15 October 2009 between the EU and its Member States, on the one part, and the Republic of Korea, on the other part. The European Parliament adopted a legislative resolution in which it gave its consent to the conclusion of this Agreement (hereafter referred to as 'the EU-Korea FTA') on 17 February 2011 by 465 in favour, 128 votes against and 19 abstentions.

On 1 July 2013, the Republic of Croatia acceded to the EU and became its 28th Member State. The Additional Protocol to the EU-Korea FTA taking account of Croatia's accession to the EU was signed, and has been provisionally applied as from 1 July 2013 too. Consequently, the current Council Decision seeks to ensure, in accordance with the Act of Accession of Croatia to the EU, that this Member State continues to fully participate in the EU-Korea FTA that remains in force.

The European Parliament's consent to this Council Decision is a mandatory component in the completion of the ratification process of the Additional Protocol, and it also contributes to safeguarding the integrity of the Union's internal market.

RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMITTEE

Date adopted	24.9.2014
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	33 3 2
Members present for the final vote	William (The Earl of) Dartmouth, Maria Arena, Tiziana Beghin, David Borrelli, David Campbell Bannerman, Daniel Caspary, Marielle de Sarnez, Santiago Fisas Ayxelà, Yannick Jadot, Ska Keller, Jude Kirton-Darling, Gabrielius Landsbergis, Bernd Lange, Marine Le Pen, David Martin, Emmanuel Maurel, Emma McClarkin, Anne-Marie Mineur, Alessia Maria Mosca, Franz Obermayr, Artis Pabriks, Franck Proust, Viviane Reding, Olli Rehn, Inmaculada Rodríguez-Piñero Fernández, Tokia Saïfi, Matteo Salvini, Marietje Schaake, Helmut Scholz, Joachim Schuster, Adam Szejnfeld, Jan Zahradil
Substitutes present for the final vote	Victor Boştinaru, Klaus Buchner, Georgios Epitideios, Georgios Katrougkalos, Costas Mavrides, Lola Sánchez Caldentey, Pedro Silva Pereira, Pablo Zalba Bidegain
Substitutes under Rule 200(2) present for the final vote	Paul Rübig, Joachim Zeller