Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 31(1) and Article 37 thereof,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Articles 207 and 209, in conjunction with Article 218(5) and the second subparagraph of Article 218(8), thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:

On 10 February 2014 the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the Republic of Cuba for a political dialogue and cooperation agreement.

Negotiations were successfully completed with the initialling, on 11 March 2016, of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Cuba, of the other part (‘the Agreement’).

Article 86(3) of the Agreement provides for its provisional application pending its entry into force.

The Agreement should therefore be signed on behalf of the Union and applied in part on a provisional basis, pending the completion of the procedures necessary for its conclusion.

The provisional application of parts of the Agreement does not prejudge the allocation of competences between the Union and its Member States in accordance with the Treaties. It should also be consistent with the nature of Union competence, in particular as regards matters referred to in Titles IV to VII of Part III of the Agreement,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: