Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 43(2), Article 91, Article 100(2), Article 153(2), Article 192(1) and the first subparagraph of Article 207(4), in conjunction with Article 218(5), thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

On 24 April 2009, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with Canada.

In accordance with Decision (EU) 2017/37^f1, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada, of the one part, and the European Union and its Member States, of the other part^f2, (the ‘Agreement’) was signed on 30 October 2016.

Article 30.7(3) of the Agreement provides for the possibility of provisional application of the Agreement.

Parts of the Agreement falling within the competence of the Union may be applied on a provisional basis, pending the completion of the procedures for its conclusion.

Pursuant to Article 218(7) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, it is appropriate for the Council to authorise the Commission to approve modifications to Annex 20-A of the Agreement to be adopted by the CETA Joint Committee, as set out in Article 26.1 of the Agreement, on a recommendation by the CETA Committee on Geographical Indications pursuant to Article 20.22 of the Agreement.

In accordance with Article 30.6(1) of the Agreement, the Agreement does not confer rights or obligations which can be directly invoked before Union or Member State courts or tribunals,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: