COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2016/402

of 15 January 2016

concerning the signing and conclusion of the Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the European Union on security procedures for exchanging and protecting classified information

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, in particular Article 37 thereof, and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, in particular Article 218(5) and the first subparagraph of Article 218(6) thereof,

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

Whereas:

(1) At its meeting on 20 January 2014, the Council decided to authorise the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR) to open negotiations pursuant to Article 37 of the Treaty on European Union and in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 218(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union in order to conclude an Agreement on the security of information between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the European Union.

(2) Following that authorisation, the HR negotiated an Agreement with the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania on security procedures for exchanging and protecting classified information.

(3) That Agreement should be approved,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the European Union on security procedures for exchanging and protecting classified information is hereby approved on behalf of the Union.

The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the Agreement in order to bind the Union.

Article 3

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 15 January 2016.

For the Council

The President

J.R.V.A. DIJSSELBLOEM