(Consent)

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the draft Council decision (13806/2015),

–  having regard to the International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea 1996 (the '1996 HNS Convention'),

–  having regard to the Protocol of 2010 to the 1996 HNS Convention,

–  having regard to the request for consent submitted by the Council in accordance with Article 100(2) and Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a) (v), of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (C8-0410/2015),

–  having regard to Council Decision 2002/971/EC of 18 November 2002 authorising the Member States, in the interest of the Community, to ratify or accede to the International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea, 1996 (the HNS Convention)(1),

–  having regard to the opinion of the Court of Justice of 14 October 2014(2),

–  having regard to its interim resolution of 8 June 2016 on the draft Council decision(3),

–  having regard to the Commission follow up of 4 October 2016 to the interim resolution,

–  having regard to the opinion in letter form on the appropriate legal basis for the draft Council Decision above adopted by the Committee on Legal Affairs on 19 February 2016(4) and annexed to the interim report of the Committee on Legal Affairs (A8-0191/2016),

–  having regard to Rule 99(1) and (4) and Rule 108(7) of its Rules of Procedure,

–  having regard to the recommendation of the Committee on Legal Affairs (A8-0076/2017),

1.  Gives its consent to the ratification and accession by Member States, in the interest of the European Union, to the Protocol of 2010 to the International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea, with the exception of the aspects related to judicial cooperation in civil matters;

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

(1) OJ L 337, 13.12.2002, p. 55. (2) Opinion of the Court of Justice of 14 October 2014, 1/13, ECLI:EU:C:2014:2303. (3) Texts adopted, P8_TA(2016)0259. (4) PE576.992.