L_202400375EN.000101.fmx.xml

COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2024/375

of 16 January 2024

on the conclusion of the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Interim Association Agreement on trade and cooperation between the European Community, of the one part, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip on the general principles for its participation in Union programmes

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 209 in conjunction with point (a) of the second subparagraph of Article 218(6) and Article 218(7) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament (1),

Whereas:

(1)

In accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2021/570 (2), the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Interim Association Agreement on trade and cooperation between the European Community, of the one part, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip on the general principles for its participation in Union programmes (‘the Protocol’) was signed on 4 March 2021.

(2)

The objective of the Protocol is to lay down the financial and technical rules enabling the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip (‘the Palestinian Authority’) to participate in certain Union programmes. The horizontal framework established by the Protocol sets out principles for economic, financial and technical cooperation measures and allows the Palestinian Authority to receive technical assistance, in particular financial assistance, from the Union under those programmes. The framework applies only to those Union programmes for which the relevant constitutive legal acts provide for the possibility of the participation of the Palestinian Authority. The conclusion of the Protocol therefore does not entail the exercise of powers, under the various sectoral policies pursued by the programmes, which are exercised when establishing the programmes.

(3)	The Protocol should be approved,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Interim Association Agreement on trade and cooperation between the European Community, of the one part, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip on the general principles for its participation in Union programmes is hereby approved on behalf of the Union (3).

Article 2

The President of the Council shall, on behalf of the Union, give the notification provided for in Article 10 of the Protocol (4).

Article 3

The Commission is authorised to determine, on behalf of the Union, the specific terms and conditions applicable to the participation of the Palestinian Authority in any given Union programme, including the financial contribution to be paid. The Commission shall keep the relevant working party of the Council informed.

Article 4

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 16 January 2024.

For the Council

The President

V. VAN PETEGHEM

(1) Consent of 22 November 2022 (not yet published in the Official Journal).

(2) Council Decision (EU) 2021/570 of 24 October 2019 on the signing, on behalf of the Union, and provisional application of the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Interim Association Agreement on trade and cooperation between the European Community, of the one part, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip on the general principles for its participation in Union programmes (OJ L 121, 8.4.2021, p. 1).

(3) The Protocol has been published in OJ L 121, 8.4.2021, p. 3, together with the decision on signature.

(4) The date of entry into force of the Protocol will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union by the General Secretariat of the Council.