COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2023/362

of 14 February 2023

on the signing, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and Japan on certain provisions of agreements between Member States of the European Union and Japan for air services

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 100(2), in conjunction with Article 218(5) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) On 5 June 2003, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with third countries on the replacement of certain provisions in existing bilateral agreements with an agreement at Union level.

(2) The Commission has negotiated, on behalf of the Union, an Agreement between the European Union and Japan on certain provisions of agreements between Member States of the European Union and Japan for air services (‘the Agreement’). The negotiations were successfully concluded by the initialling of the Agreement on 21 September 2022.

(3) The objective of the Agreement is to bring bilateral air services agreements between 13 Member States and Japan in line with Union law.

(4) The Agreement should be signed on behalf of the Union, subject to its conclusion at a later date,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The signing on behalf of the Union of the Agreement between the European Union and Japan on certain provisions of agreements between Member States of the European Union and Japan for air services (‘the Agreement’) is hereby authorised, subject to the conclusion of the said Agreement (1).

Article 2

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the Agreement on behalf of the Union.

Article 3

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

Done at Brussels, 14 February 2023.

For the Council

The President

E. SVANTESSON

(1)  The text of the Agreement will be published together with the decision on its conclusion.