On the draft Council decision on the accession of the Kingdom of Tonga to the Interim Partnership Agreement between the European Community, of the one part, and the Pacific States, of the other part

(07921/2024 – C100055/2024 – 2024/0048(NLE))

(Consent)

The European Parliament,

–having regard to the draft Council decision (07921/2024),

–having regard to the Interim Partnership Agreement between the European Community, of the one part, and the Pacific States, of the other part,

–having regard to the request for consent submitted by the Council in accordance with Article 207(4) first subparagraph and Article 218(6) second subparagraph, point (a)(v) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (C100055/2024),

–having regard to Rule 107(1) and (4) and Rule 117(7) of its Rules of Procedure,

–having regard to the recommendation of the Committee on International Trade (A10-0023/2024),

1.Gives its consent to the accession of the Kingdom of Tonga to the agreement;

2.Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States and of the Kingdom of Tonga.

Given that Tonga classifies as an upper middle-income country and therefore no longer benefits from the Union’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences, the accession of Tonga to the interim Economic Partnership Agreement will facilitate its economic growth path by integrating it further to regional and global trade.

Your rapporteur supports the economic integration of the Pacific States and welcomes the accession of Tonga to the iEPA as this will be beneficial for the region as well as for trade relations with the European Union.