Proposal for a Council Decision on the conclusion of the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Korea, of the other part

The attached proposal constitutes the legal instrument for the conclusion of the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Korea, of the other part.

Relations between the EU and the Republic of Korea are currently based on the Framework Agreement for Trade and Cooperation between the European Community and its Member States, on the one hand, and the Republic of Korea, on the other hand which entered into force in 2001.

On 7 May 2008, the Council authorised the European Commission to negotiate a new Framework Agreement with the Republic of Korea. Negotiations were concluded and the text of the draft agreement was initialled on 14 October 2009. The Agreement was co-signed on 10 May 2010 in Seoul.

The new Framework Agreement is a testimony to the importance of EU-Korean ties and opens a new era in bilateral relations, based on shared principles such as equality, mutual respect, mutual benefit, as well as the respect for democracy, rule of law and human rights.

The Agreement strengthens political, economic and sectoral cooperation across a wide range of policy fields, including peace and security, conflict prevention, crisis management, trade, environment, energy, science and technology, and good governance, as well as tourism and culture, migration, counter terrorism and the fight against corruption and organised crime. It will further enhance cooperation on responding to global challenges, where both Korea and the EU are playing an increasingly important role, such as in the G20.

The new Framework Agreement will allow the EU to assume greater responsibility and influence in the Korean Peninsula. By virtue of the new Framework Agreement, the EU will promote European values and enhance concrete cooperation in a wide range of areas of mutual interest. The conclusion of the new Framework Agreement is in line with the EU's objective of creating a comprehensive and coherent economic and political framework for relations between the EU and ASEAN countries.

EUR-Lex: COM(2013)551: Follow the progress of this proposal through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2013:551:FIN

---