COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2021/1856

of 18 October 2021

on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Association Council set up by the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the other part, as regards the extension of the validity of the EU-Tunisia strategic priorities until new updated strategic priorities are adopted by the Association Council

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(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) The Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the other part (1) (the ‘Agreement’) was signed on 17 July 1995 and entered into force on 1 March 1998.

(2) The Association Council adopted the EU-Tunisia strategic priorities by its Decision No 1/2018 (2).

(3) In an Exchange of Letters, both sides agreed that the validity of the EU-Tunisia strategic priorities should be extended as a guiding document to consolidate the partnership pending the adoption of new updated strategic priorities.

(4) Under Article 80 of the Agreement, the Association Council has the power to take decisions for the purpose of attaining the objectives of the Agreement.

(5) The Association Council is to adopt a decision by written procedure to extend the validity of the strategic priorities until new updated strategic priorities are adopted by the Association Council.

(6) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the Association Council, as the decision of the Association Council will have legal effects.

(7) The position of the Union within the Association Council should therefore be based on the draft Decision of the Association Council,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The position to be taken on the Union’s behalf within the Association Council set up by the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the other part, as regards the extension of the validity of the EU-Tunisia strategic priorities until new updated strategic priorities are adopted by the Association Council, shall be based on the draft Decision of the Association Council (3).

Article 2

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

Done at Luxembourg, 18 October 2021.

For the Council

The President

J. BORRELL FONTELLES

(1)  

OJ L 97, 30.3.1998, p. 2

.

(2)  Decision No 1/2018 of the EU-Tunisia Association Council of 9 November 2018 adopting the EU-Tunisia strategic priorities for the period 2018-2020 (

OJ L 293, 20.11.2018, p. 39

).

(3)  See document ST 12265/21 on http://register.consilium.europa.eu.