Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Articles 217 in conjuction with Article 218(9) thereof,

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

Whereas:

The Euro-Mediterranean Interim Association Agreement on trade and cooperation between the European Community, of the one part, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, of the other part^f1 (the ‘Interim Association Agreement’), was signed on 24 February 1997 and entered into force on 1 July 1997.

The Parties agree that the current Action Plan for the EU and the Palestinan Authority (EU-PA Action Plan) continues to reflect the privileged EU-PA partnership and to support the implementation of the Interim Association Agreement.

Pursuant to Article 63 of the Interim Association Agreement, the Joint Committee may take decisions and make appropriate recommendations.

The Joint Committee is to adopt the recommendation on the extension by three years of the EU-PA Action Plan by written procedure.

It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union's behalf within the Joint Committee as the recommendation will have legal effects.

The extension of the EU-PA Action Plan for three years will give the Parties a full opportunity to take forward their cooperation for the coming years, including through the possible negotiation of partnership priorities,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: