Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the EU and Croatia

Having completed the negotiating process the Commission proposes now to the Council to
approve the results of the negotiations and to engage the procedures aimed at the signature
and the conclusion of this agreement. To this regard the Commission presents two proposals,
which constitute the legal instruments for the signature and the conclusion of the Stabilisation
and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, on
the one part, and the Republic of Croatia, on the other part:
(i)
(ii)
Proposal for a Council Decision for the signature of the Agreement;
Proposal for a Council and Commission Decision for the conclusion of the
Agreement.
The procedures for the signature and the conclusion of the Agreement are different for the
three European Communities: (European Community, European Atomic Energy Community
and European Coal and Steel Community):
a) as regards signature, Article 300.2, first indent, first sentence of the EC Treaty
provides for a separate Council Decision concerning the signing of the
Agreement on behalf of the European Community. Similar acts are not
required under the ECSC and EAEC Treaties;
b) as regards the conclusion of the Agreement:
– The Council concludes the Agreement on behalf of the European
Community, after having received the assent of the European Parliament,
by virtue of Article 310 of the Treaty;
– The Council approves the Agreement on behalf of the European Atomic
Energy Community by virtue of the second paragraph of Article 101 of
the EAEC Treaty and the Agreement is then concluded by the
Commission;
– The Commission concludes the Agreement on behalf of the European
Coal and Steel Community, by virtue of Article 95 of the ECSC Treaty,
with the unanimous assent of the Council and following consultation of
the Consultative Committee.
In the light of the above, the Commission proposes:
– that the Council decide on the signature of the Stabilisation and Association
Agreement between the European Communities and the Republic of Croatia on
behalf of the European Community;
– that the Council conclude the Stabilisation and Association Agreement
between the European Communities and the Republic of Croatia on behalf of
the European Community and give its assent and approval for conclusion by
ECSC and EURATOM.
Ratification by all Member States of the European Union is a prerequisite for the entry into
force of the Agreement.
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