Association agreements for the participation of third countries in Union programmes
TA-9-2024-0077 · P9_TA(2024)0077 · PE758.017
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Parliament's resolution on association agreements letting third countries join Union programmes. It supports associating New Zealand to Horizon Europe but objects to a new agreement structure that it says bypasses Parliament's consent rights.¶¶¶ It questions the Commission's approach, saying the agreements give a Joint Committee power over essential decisions and do not allow proper parliamentary scrutiny.¶¶¶ It asks the Commission to report regularly on implementation and to negotiate an interinstitutional agreement on democratic scrutiny of such agreements.¶¶
Key points
- Acknowledges that cooperation with third countries sharing democratic values can enrich Union programmes, and recognises Horizon Europe as the world's biggest collaborative research and innovation programme for 2021-2027.¶¶
- Supports associating to Horizon Europe third countries with good science, technology and innovation capacity, and encourages the Commission to conclude other association agreements while upholding Horizon Europe climate targets.¶
- Underlines that association to EU programmes is a political decision, not a technical act, and concerns scientific and academic freedom for Horizon Europe.¶
- Questions the Commission's approach to concluding international agreements on third-country participation, saying it hinders Parliament's prerogatives, and urges the Commission and Council to fully consider Parliament's role.¶¶
- Says Parliament's ability to give meaningful consent is impeded because the agreements lack a structure guaranteeing parliamentary scrutiny under a consent procedure.¶
- Welcomes New Zealand's association to Horizon Europe, noting New Zealand's record in Horizon 2020 with 77 projects funded, but notes the lack of provisions for proper parliamentary scrutiny.¶¶
- Points out that the Joint Committee can adopt protocols associating New Zealand to any Union programme and amend association protocols, including on reviews, audits and financial irregularities, without further parliamentary involvement.¶¶
- Disagrees with the new agreement structure, saying it does not allow Parliament to exercise its powers under Article 218(6)(a) TFEU and neglects the institutional balance.¶
- Recalls that Article 218(10) TFEU requires Parliament to be immediately and fully informed at all stages, and that the CJEU has held this reflects democratic principles.¶
- Notes the agreements are without precedent, covering all Union programmes through a general agreement, and that Parliament lacks data to assess their impact.¶
- Regrets that the Faroe Islands draft agreement and the proposed associations of Canada, the Republic of Korea and Japan follow the same structure, and requests that the Commission not prevent Parliament's right of consent.¶
- Calls on the Commission to provide regular, detailed reports on implementation and to launch negotiations on an interinstitutional agreement on democratic scrutiny of such agreements.¶¶
Who is affected
- New Zealand: its association to Horizon Europe is welcomed, but Parliament notes the lack of scrutiny provisions.¶
- The Commission: asked to report regularly, negotiate an interinstitutional agreement, and clarify its approach.¶¶¶
- The Council: urged to fully consider Parliament's role when concluding association agreements.¶
- The Faroe Islands, Canada, the Republic of Korea and Japan: their draft or proposed associations follow the same structure that Parliament regrets.¶
Figures and deadlines
Legal basis: Article 218 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union¶