Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 207 and Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the stepping stone Economic Partnership Agreement between Ghana, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part^f1 (the ‘Agreement’),

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

The Agreement was signed on behalf of the Union on 28 July 2016 pursuant to Council Decision (EU) 2016/1850^f2 and has been applied on a provisional basis since 15 December 2016.

The Treaty concerning the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union (the ‘Union’) was signed on 9 December 2011 and entered into force on 1 July 2013.

The Republic of Croatia acceded to the Agreement on 8 November 2017 by depositing its Act of Accession.

Pursuant to Article 77 of the Agreement, the EPA Committee may decide on any amending measures which might be necessary following the accession of new Member States to the Union.

It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on behalf of the Union with regard to the adoption of a Decision of the EPA Committee, at its annual meeting, regarding the amendments to the Agreement which are necessary following the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the Union,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: