Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 80(2) in conjunction with the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2) and the first subparagraph of Article 300(3) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament^f1,

Whereas:

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 a Community agreement;

On behalf of the Community, the Commission has negotiated an Agreement between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan on certain aspects of air services^f2 (the Agreement) in accordance with the mechanisms and directives in the Annex to the Council Decision authorising the Commission to open negotiations with third countries on the replacement of certain provisions in existing bilateral agreements with a Community agreement;

The Agreement has been signed on behalf of the Community on 7 July 2009 subject to its conclusion at a later date, in conformity with Council Decision 2009/741/EC^f3;

The Agreement should be approved,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: