Council Decision (EU) 2015/2025 of 26 October 2015 on the conclusion of the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Tunisia on the general principles for the participation of the Republic of Tunisia in Union programmes

What it is

the conclusion of a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and Tunisia, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and Tunisia on the general principles for the participation of that country in Union programmes. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to it. BACKGROUND: as part of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), the gradual opening up of certain European Union programmes and agencies to ENP partner countries is one of many measures to promote reform, modernisation and transition in the European Union’s neighbourhood. The Commission has expanded on this in its Communication “on the general approach to enable European Neighbourhood Policy partner countries to participate in Community agencies and Community programmes”. The Council endorsed this approach in conclusions on 5 March 2007. 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. To date, Protocols have been signed with Armenia, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Moldova, Morocco and Ukraine. PURPOSE: to conclude the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Tunisia, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and Tunisia on the general principles for the participation of Tunisia in Union programmes. BACKGROUND: in accordance with a Council Decision, the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Tunisia, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and Tunisia on the general principles for the participation of Tunisia in Union programmes was signed on behalf of the Union. The objective of the Protocol is to lay down the financial and technical rules enabling Tunisia to participate in certain Union programmes. The horizontal framework established by the Protocol constitutes an economic, financial and technical cooperation measure which allows for access to assistance, in particular financial assistance, to be provided by the Union pursuant to those Union programmes. That framework applies only to those Union programmes for which the relevant constitutive legal acts provide for the possibility of the participation of Tunisia. CONTENT: under this proposed Decision, the Council is called upon to approve, on behalf of the Union, the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Tunisia, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and Tunisia on the general principles for the participation of Tunisia in Union programmes. For further…

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