THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 217, in conjunction with Article 218(5) and the second subparagraph of Article 218(8) thereof, as well as Article 218(7) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1)
On 22 January 2007, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with Ukraine for the conclusion of a new agreement between the Union and Ukraine to replace the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.
(2)
Taking account of the close historical relationship and progressively closer links between the Parties as well as their desire to strengthen and widen relations in an ambitious and innovative way, the negotiations on the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’) were successfully concluded by the initialling of the Agreement in 2012.
(3)
The Agreement should be signed on behalf of the Union and the Final Act attached to this Decision should be approved. The Agreement should be applied in part, on a provisional basis in accordance with Article 486 thereof, pending the completion of the procedures for its conclusion.
(4)
The provisional application of parts of the Agreement does not prejudge the allocation of competences between the Union and its Member States in accordance with the Treaties.
(5)
This Decision does not concern the provisions of Article 17 of the Agreement, which contains specific obligations relating to the treatment of third-country nationals legally employed as workers in the territory of the other Party, and which provisions fall within the scope of Title V of Part Three of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). The aim and content of those provisions is distinct from and independent of the aim and content of the other provisions of the Agreement to establish an association between the Parties. A separate decision relating to Article 17 of the Agreement will be adopted in parallel with this Decision.
(6)
Pursuant to Article 218(7) TFEU, it is appropriate for the Council to authorise the Commission to approve modifications to the Agreement to be adopted by the Association Committee in its Trade configuration pursuant to Article 465(4) of the Agreement, as proposed by the Subcommittee on Geographical Indications pursuant to Article 211 of the Agreement.
(7)
It is appropriate to set out the relevant procedures for the protection of geographical indications which are protected pursuant to the Agreement.
(8)
The Agreement should not be construed as conferring rights or imposing obligations which can be directly invoked before Union or Member State courts and tribunals.
(9)
Following the signature of the Preamble, Article 1, and Titles I, II and VII of the Agreement at the Summit between the Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine of the other part, held in Brussels on 21 March 2014, the remaining parts of the Agreement should be signed,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: