4.11.2010 Official Journal of the European Union L 287/1 (Non-legislative acts) INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS COUNCIL DECISION of 14 May 2010 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement amending for the second time the Partnership Agreement between the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000, as first amended in Luxembourg on 25 June 2005 (2010/648/EU) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 217, in conjunction with Article 218(5) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, Whereas: On 23 February 2009 the Council authorised the Commis- sion to open negotiations with the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States with a view to amending, for the second time, the Partnership Agreement between the mem- bers of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000 ('), as first amended in Luxembourg on 25 June 2005 (2), (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Cotonou Agreement). The negotiations were concluded on 19 March 2010 by the initialling, at an extraordinary ACP-EU Council of Min- isters’ meeting, of the texts forming the basis of the Agree- ment amending for the second time the Cotonou Agreement (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’). () OJ L 317, 15.12.2000, p. 3. () OJ L 209, 11.8.2005, p. 27. 6) As a consequence of the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon on 1 December 2009, the European Union has replaced and succeeded the European Community. The Agreement should be signed, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 The signing of the Agreement amending for the second time the Partnership Agreement between the members of the African, Car- ibbean and Pacific Group of States, of the one part, and the Euro- pean Community and its Member States, of the other part, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000, as first amended in Luxembourg on 25 June 2005 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’), together with the joint declarations and the declaration by the Union, attached to the Final Act, is hereby approved on behalf of the Union, subject to the conclusion of the said Agreement. The texts of the Agreement and of the Final Act are attached to this Decision.