Council Decision (EU) 2024/375 of 16 January 2024 on the conclusion of the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Interim Association Agreement on trade and cooperation between the European Community, of the one part, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip on the general principles for its participation in Union programmes

What it is

to conclude, on behalf of the European Union, a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Interim Association Agreement on trade and cooperation between the European Community, of the one part, and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip on the general principles for its participation in Union programmes. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act. BACKGROUND: the Euro-Mediterranean Interim Association Agreement on trade and cooperation between the European Community, of the one part, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, of the other part, was signed on 24 February 1997 and entered into force on 1 July 1997. 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 European Parliament adopted by 519 votes to 23 with 92 abstentions a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Interim Association Agreement on trade and cooperation between the European Community, of the one part, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip on the general principles for its participation in Union programmes. The European Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Protocol. The Palestinian Authority will contribute financially to the share of the general budget of the European Union corresponding to the specific programmes in which it participates. Projects and initiatives submitted by participants from the Palestinian Authority will be subject, as far as possible, to the same conditions, rules and procedures pertaining to the relevant Union programmes as are applied to Member States. The specific terms and conditions regarding the participation of the Palestinian Authority in each programme, in particular the financial contribution payable, will be determined in a Memorandum of Understanding between the Commission and the competent authorities of the Palestinian Authority on the basis of the criteria established by the programmes concerned. No later than three years after the date of entry into force of this Memorandum, and every three years thereafter, the Parties may review the implementation of this Memorandum in the light of the actual participation of the Palestinian Authority in Union programmes.

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