Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2009)18 - Signing and conclusion of the Agreement with Egypt concerning reciprocal liberalisation measures on agricultural, processed agricultural products and fish and fishery products and the replacement of Protocols 1 and 2 and of the Annex to Protocol 1 and the Annex to Protocol 2 and modifications to the association agreement with Egypt

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dossier COM(2009)18 - Signing and conclusion of the Agreement with Egypt concerning reciprocal liberalisation measures on agricultural, processed ...
source COM(2009)18 EN
date 27-01-2009
Article 13 of the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part (“Association Agreement”) in force since 1 June 2004, of which the trade and trade-related provisions entered into force since 1 January 2004 in the form of an Interim Agreement, states that the Community and Egypt shall gradually implement greater liberalisation of their trade in agricultural, processed agricultural products and fish and fishery products.

On 14 October 2005 the Council has authorised the Commission to conduct negotiations within the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement with the Arab Republic of Egypt, taking into account the progress made by Egypt as regards the European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan, adopted on 6 March 2007, in order to achieve greater liberalisation of reciprocal trade in agricultural, processed agricultural products and fish and fishery products, in the spirit of the Barcelona Process and in line with the principles of the European Neighbourhood Policy and the conclusions of the Euro-Mediterranean Conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Luxembourg on 30–31 May 2005. In this context and on the basis of the conclusions of the Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Agriculture in Venice of 27 November 2003, the following measures in particular should form an integral part of the negotiation process: sanitary and phytosanitary measures; the approximation of technical standards and the harmonisation of legislation; and the protection of geographical indications.

The European Commission and Egypt officially opened the negotiations on 7–9 February 2007 in Cairo and concluded on 19 June 2008 in Brussels. In order to implement the results of the negotiations concluded with Egypt, the Commission proposes to the Council to adopt, the replacement of Protocols 1 and 2 and of the Annex to Protocol 1 and the Annex to Protocol 2, to delete Protocol 3, to modify the title of Chapter 2, to amend Article 14 i and  i, to delete Article 14 i and insert Article 15 i. The intention of both sides is that this Agreement enters into force as of 1 January 2009.

Furthermore, to reinforce the existing cooperation on SPS/TBT issues, a Common Declaration is added to this agreement.

Regarding the protection of geographical indications and denominations of origin, Parties agreed to have a separate dialogue on this subject due to its complexity.

The Commission proposes to the Council to adopt the replacement of Protocols 1 and 2 and of the Annex to Protocol 1 and the Annex to Protocol 2, the deletion of Protocol 3, the modification of the title of Chapter 2, the amendment of Article 14 i and  i, the deletion of Article 14 i, the insertion of paragraph 3 in Article 15 and to add a Common Declaration on sanitary and phytosanitary or technical barriers to trade issues.