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,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1)
On 23 June 2014, the Council adopted Decision 2014/668/EU.
(2)
Following consultations with the Ukrainian side and in the context of the overall efforts for the implementation of the peace process in Ukraine, the Commission has proposed to the Council to delay until 31 December 2015 the provisional application of the trade-related provisions of 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 (‘the Association Agreement’) (Title IV), and at the same time to continue the application of the Union's autonomous trade measures for the benefit of Ukraine.
(3)
The provisional application of the relevant provisions of Titles III, IV, V, VI and VII, and the related Annexes and Protocols, of the Association Agreement is to take effect in stages. In respect of Titles III, V, VI and VII, and the related Annexes and Protocols, the notification provided in Article 486 of the Association Agreement is to be made without delay, in conjunction with the notification of provisions provided for in Article 4 of Council Decision 2014/295/EU. In respect of Title IV, and the related Annexes and Protocols, the notification is to be made so that the provisional application takes effect on 1 January 2016.
(4)
Decision 2014/668/EU should therefore be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: