Council Decision

of 17 March 2008

on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Kingdom of Morocco on certain aspects of air services

(2008/274/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 80(2), in conjunction with the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2), and the first subparagraph of Article 300(3),

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament1,

Whereas:

(1)

On 5 June 2003, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with third countries on the replacement of certain provisions in existing bilateral agreements with a Community Agreement.

(2)

The Commission has negotiated, on behalf of the Community, an Agreement with the Kingdom of Morocco on certain aspects of air services (the Agreement) in accordance with the mechanisms and directives in the Annex to the Council Decision authorising the Commission to open negotiations with third countries on the replacement of certain provisions in existing bilateral agreements with a Community Agreement.

(3)

The Agreement was signed on behalf of the European Community subject to its possible conclusion at a later date, in conformity with Council Decision 2006/953/EC2.

(4)

The Agreement should be approved,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Agreement between the European Community and the Kingdom of Morocco on certain aspects of air services is hereby approved on behalf of the Community.

Article 2

The President of the Council is authorised to designate the person empowered to make the notification provided for in Article 8(1) of the Agreement.

Done at Brussels, 17 March 2008.

For the Council

The President

I. Jarc