Council Decision (EU) 2025/479 of 18 February 2025 on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Serbia on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the Republic of Serbia

Official Journal EN of the European Union L series 2025/479 13.3.2025 COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2025/479 of 18 February 2025 on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Serbia on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the Republic of Serbia THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 77(2), points (b) and (d), and Article 79(2), point (c), in conjunction with Article 218(6), point (a), thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament(1),

Whereas:

(1) In accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2024/1639(2), the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Serbia on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the Republic of Serbia (the ‘Agreement’) was signed on 25 June 2024, subject to its conclusion at a later date.

(2) Pursuant to Article 73(3) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 of the European Parliament and of the Council(3), in circumstances requiring the deployment of border management teams from the standing corps of the European Border and Coast Guard to a third country where the members of the teams will exercise executive powers, a status agreement is to be concluded by the Union with the third country concerned on the basis of Article 218 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

(3) This Decision constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in which Ireland does not take part, in accordance with Council Decision 2002/192/EC(4); Ireland is therefore not taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by it nor subject to its application.

(4) In accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of Protocol No 22 on the position of Denmark, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Denmark is not taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its application. Given that this Decision builds upon the Schengen acquis, Denmark shall, in accordance with Article 4 of that Protocol, decide within a period of six months after the Council has decided on this Decision whether it will implement it in its national law.

(5) The Agreement should be approved.

(6) In accordance with the Treaties, the Commission should make the notification provided for in Article 22(1) of the Agreement,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 The Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Serbia on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the Republic of Serbia (‘the Agreement’) is hereby approved on behalf of the Union(5).

(1) Consent of 21 January 2025 (not yet published in the Official Journal).

(2) Council Decision (EU) 2024/1639 of 30 May 2024 on the signing, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Serbia on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the Republic of Serbia (OJ L, 2024/1639, 5.6.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/1639/oj).

(3) Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 November 2019 on the European Border and Coast Guard and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1052/2013 and (EU) No 2016/1624 (OJ L 295, 14.11.2019, p. 1).

(4) Council Decision 2002/192/EC of 28 February 2002 concerning Ireland’s request to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis (OJ L 64, 7.3.2002, p. 20).

(5) The text of the Agreement is published in OJ L, 2025/480, 13.3.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/2025/480/oj.

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/479/oj 1/2EN OJ L, 13.3.2025 Article 2 The Commission shall proceed, on behalf of the Union, to make the notification provided for in Article 22(1) of the Agreement, in order to express the consent of the Union to be bound by the Agreement(6).

Article 3 This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 18 February 2025.

For the Council The President A. DOMAŃSKI

(6) The date of entry into force of the Agreement will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union by the General Secretariat of the Council.

2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/479/oj