Council Decision

of 23 April 2007

on the signing and provisional application of a Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Russian Federation, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union

(2007/318/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 44(2), the last sentence of Article 47(2), and Articles 55, 57(2), 71, 80(2), 93, 94, 133 and 181a, in conjunction with the second sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2) and the first subparagraph of Article 300(3), thereof,

Having regard to the Treaty of Accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania, and in particular Article 4(3) thereof,

Having regard to the Act of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania, and in particular Article 6(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1) On 23 October 2006, the Council authorised the Commission, on behalf of the Community and its Member States, to negotiate with the Russian Federation a Protocol to the Agreement on partnership and cooperation establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of one part, and the Russian Federation, of the other part [1], to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union.

(2) Subject to its possible conclusion at a later date, the Protocol should be signed on behalf of the European Communities and their Member States.

(3) The Protocol should be applied on a provisional basis as from its date of signature, pending completion of the relevant procedures for its formal conclusion,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign, on behalf of the European Communities and their Member States, the Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Russian Federation, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union, subject to possible conclusion at a later stage.

The text of the Protocol is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

Pending its entry into force, the Protocol shall be applied on a provisional basis from its date of signature.

Done at Luxembourg, 23 April 2007.

For the Council

The President

F.-W. Steinmeier

[1] OJ L 327, 28.11.1997, p. 3.

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