Council Decision (EU) 2016/838 of 23 May 2016 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part

What it is

to conclude the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act. BACKGROUND: relations between the EU and Georgia are currently based on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement which entered into force in July 1999. On 10 May 2010, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations for a new Association Agreement, including its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) part, to replace the old PCA. Negotiations of this comprehensive and ambitious Agreement between the EU and Georgia were launched in July 2010. Negotiations on the DCFTA part of the Agreement were launched in February 2012. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act. BACKGROUND: on 10 May 2010, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with Georgia for the conclusion of a new Agreement between the Union and Georgia to replace the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. Those negotiations were successfully finalised, and the Association Agreement between the European Union and the EURATOM and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part was initialled on 29 November 2013. In accordance with a Council Decision, the Agreement was signed subject to its conclusion at a later date. It is now necessary to conclude this Agreement on behalf of the European Union. CONTENT: under this proposal, the Council is called upon to approve the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part on behalf of the Union. Objectives of the Association Agreement : the draft Agreement establishes an association between the Parties, aiming at political association and economic integration of Georgia and leaving open the way for further progressive developments. strengthening the framework for enhanced political dialogue; promoting, preserving and strengthening peace and stability in both the regional and international dimensions; promoting cooperation on peaceful conflict resolution; establishing conditions for enhanced economic and trade relations leading towards Georgia's gradual economic integration with the EU internal market in selected areas; enhancing justice, freedom and security cooperation with the aim of reinforcing the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and establishing conditions for increasingly close cooperation in other areas of mutual interest. For further details of the objectives of the Agreement, please refer to the summary of the initial Commission legislative proposal from 14/03/2014 . Geographical indications : the draft Agreement sets out the relevant procedures for the protection of geographical indications which are given protection pursuant to the Agreement. The Agreement should not be construed as conferring rights or imposing obligations which can be directly invoked before…

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