THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Articles 207 and 209, in conjunction with Article 218(5) thereof,
Having regard to the Act of Accession of the Republic of Croatia, and in particular Article 6 (2) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1)
In accordance with Article 6(2) of the Act of Accession of the Republic of Croatia (‘the Act of Accession’), the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the Framework Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of the Philippines, of the other part (‘the Agreement’) is to be agreed by the conclusion of a protocol to the Agreement (‘the Protocol’). In accordance with Article 6(2) of the Act of Accession, a simplified procedure is to apply to such an accession, whereby a protocol is to be concluded by the Council, acting unanimously on behalf of the Member States, and by the third countries concerned.
(2)
On 14 September 2012, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the third countries concerned. The negotiations with the Republic of the Philippines were successfully concluded by the initialling of the Protocol on 16 January 2014.
(3)
The Protocol should be signed on behalf of the Union and its Member States, subject to its conclusion at a later date,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: