Council Decision (EU) 2025/1947 of 18 September 2025 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Association Council established by the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Morocco, of the other part, with regard to a decision amending Protocol 4 to that Agreement concerning the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ and methods of administrative cooperation

Official Journal EN of the European Union L series 2025/1947 24.9.2025 COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2025/1947 of 18 September 2025 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Association Council established by the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Morocco, of the other part, with regard to a decision amending Protocol 4 to that Agreement concerning the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ and methods of administrative cooperation THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 207(4), first subparagraph, in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, Whereas: (1) The Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Morocco, of the other part(1)(the ‘Agreement’) was concluded by the Union by means of Decision 2000/204/EC, ECSC of the Council and of the Commission(2). Protocol 4 concerning the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ and methods of administrative cooperation (‘Protocol 4’) forms part of the Agreement. (2) Pursuant to Article 39 of Protocol 4, the Association Council established by Article 78 of the Agreement (the ‘Association Council’) can decide to amend the provisions of Protocol 4. (3) At its next meeting or by an Exchange of Letters, the Association Council is to adopt a decision amending Protocol 4 to the Agreement. (4) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf within the Association Council as the decision of the Association Council will have legal effects. (5) The Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin(3) (the ‘Convention’) was concluded by the Union by means of Council Decision 2013/94/EU(4) and entered into force in relation to the Union on 1 May 2012. The Kingdom of Morocco (‘Morocco’) is also a Contracting Party to the Convention. (6) The Convention lays down provisions on the origin of goods traded under relevant agreements concluded between the Contracting Parties to the Convention. The Convention applies without prejudice to the principles laid down in those relevant agreements. (7) The Convention was amended by Decisions No 1/2023 of 7 December 2023(5), No 1/2024(6)and No 2/2024(7)of 12 December 2024 of the Joint Committee of the Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean Preferential Rules of Origin. (1) OJ L 70, 18.3.2000, p. 2. (2) Decision 2000/204/EC, ECSC of the Council and of the Commission of 26 January 2000 on the conclusion of the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Morocco, of the other part (OJ L 70, 18.3.2000, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2000/204/oj). (3) OJ L 54, 26.2.2013, p. 4. (4) Council Decision 2013/94/EU of 26 March 2012 on the conclusion of the Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin (OJ L 54, 26.2.2013, p. 3, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2013/94(1)/oj). (5) Decision No 1/2023 of the Joint Committee of the Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean Preferential Rules of Origin of 7 December 2023 on the amendment of the Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin [2024/390] (OJ L, 2024/390, 19.2.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/390/oj). (6) Decision No 1/2024 of the Joint Committee of the Regional Convention on Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Preferential Rules of Origin of 12 December 2024 amending Decision No 1/2023 of the Joint Committee with respect to the use of movement certificates issued electronically in the framework of that Convention applicable as of 1 January 2025 [2025/16] (OJ L, 2025/16, 9.1.2025, ELI: http:// data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/16/oj). (7) Decision No 2/2024 of the Joint Committee of the Regional Convention on Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Preferential Rules of Origin of 12 December 2024 amending Decision No 1/2023 of the Joint Committee in order to include transitional provisions in the amendments of the Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin applicable as of 1 January 2025 [2025/17] (OJ L, 2025/17, 9.1.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/17/oj). ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1947/oj 1/2EN OJ L, 24.9.2025 (8) Article 6 of the Convention provides that each Contracting Party is to take appropriate measures to ensure that the Convention is effectively applied. To that effect, the Association Council should adopt a decision introducing a dynamic reference to the Convention in Protocol 4, so as to ensure that the latest version of the Convention in force is always referred to. (9) The Union and Morocco have agreed to apply a set of transitional rules of origin reflecting those of the amended Convention, which may be used bilaterally until 31 December 2027 or until the Convention, as last amended and published in the Official Journal of the European Union, is published in the Official Gazette of Morocco, whichever occurs first. (10) Furthermore, following a request from Morocco concerning exports from the Union to Morocco, limited quantities of certain vegetable oils and tobacco products may benefit from preferential treatment under specific conditions for five years from the date of application of the decision of the Association Council amending Protocol 4. (11) Protocol 4 should therefore be amended to include an alternative set of rules of origin and a quota system for certain vegetable oils and tobacco products. (12) The position of the Union within the Association Council should therefore be based on the attached draft Decision, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 The position to be taken on the Union’s behalf within the Association Council established by the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Morocco, of the other part, as regards the amendment of Protocol 4 to that Agreement concerning the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ and methods of administrative cooperation shall be based on the draft Decision of the Association Council attached to this Decision. Article 2 This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption and shall expire on 31 December 2026. Done at Brussels, 18 September 2025. For the Council The President L. AAGAARD 2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1947/oj