The Member States 25 March 1957, Consolidated version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union - PART FIVE: EXTERNAL ACTION BY THE UNION - TITLE IV: RESTRICTIVE MEASURES - Article 218 (ex Article 300 TEC)

Also known as

Article 218 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union outlines the procedures for negotiating and concluding agreements between the Union and third countries or international organizations, emphasizing the roles of the Council, the Commission, and the High Representative in this process. Key provisions include the requirement for Council authorization to open negotiations, the necessity of obtaining consent from the European Parliament for specific agreements, and the stipulation that the Council acts by qualified majority, with certain exceptions requiring unanimity. The article also mandates that the European Parliament be fully informed throughout the negotiation process and allows for the Court of Justice to provide opinions on the compatibility of agreements with the Treaties.AI