THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 207, in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1)
The International Agreement on olive oil and table olives, 2005 (the ‘Agreement’) will expire on 31 December 2014 unless the Council of Members of the International Olive Council (IOC) decides to prolong it in accordance with Article 47(1) and (2) of the Agreement.
(2)
On 19 November 2013, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations on behalf of the Union for the conclusion of a new international agreement on olive oil and table olives.
(3)
A new agreement is currently being discussed within the IOC. It is now certain that the deadline of 31 December 2014 for the conclusion of an agreement cannot be met. It is therefore in the Union's interest to ensure that the existing Agreement is prolonged.
(4)
Prolongation of the existing Agreement is separate from the negotiations concerning the conclusion of a new agreement. The Union should therefore request a one-year prolongation of the existing Agreement, and vote in favour of such prolongation if this were proposed to the Council of Members,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: