# L_2021239EN.01002401.xml

| 7.7.2021 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | L 239/24 |
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7.7.2021

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 239/24

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COMMISSION DECISION (EU) 2021/1112

of 25 June 2021

amending Decision 2013/767/EU as regards the extension of the mandate of the member organisations of the civil dialogue groups dealing with matters covered by the common agricultural policy

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Whereas:

| (1) | Commission Decision 2013/767/EU (1) has set up a framework for civil dialogue in matters covered by the common agricultural policy, in accordance with Article 11(2) TEU. |
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(1)

Commission Decision 2013/767/EU (1) has set up a framework for civil dialogue in matters covered by the common agricultural policy, in accordance with Article 11(2) TEU.

| (2) | The member organisations of the civil dialogue groups (2) (CDGs) have been appointed for a seven-year mandate, which expires in July 2021. However, the necessity to renew the mandate of those member organisations coincides with the final phase of the inter-institutional negotiations on the new common agricultural policy that will be applicable as from 2023. Moreover, the outcome of the reform of the common agricultural policy, which will be followed by the adoption of a series of implementing and delegated acts, should have an impact on the new structure of the CDGs. |
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(2)

The member organisations of the civil dialogue groups (2) (CDGs) have been appointed for a seven-year mandate, which expires in July 2021. However, the necessity to renew the mandate of those member organisations coincides with the final phase of the inter-institutional negotiations on the new common agricultural policy that will be applicable as from 2023. Moreover, the outcome of the reform of the common agricultural policy, which will be followed by the adoption of a series of implementing and delegated acts, should have an impact on the new structure of the CDGs.

| (3) | The existing CDGs system matches the current architecture of the agricultural legislation of the Union. Therefore, the mandate of the member organisations should be extended until 31 December 2022, following the rationale of Regulation (EU) 2020/2220 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3), which ensures a transition towards the new common agricultural policy and extended most of the currently applicable rules until the end of 2022. |
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(3)

The existing CDGs system matches the current architecture of the agricultural legislation of the Union. Therefore, the mandate of the member organisations should be extended until 31 December 2022, following the rationale of Regulation (EU) 2020/2220 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3), which ensures a transition towards the new common agricultural policy and extended most of the currently applicable rules until the end of 2022.

| (4) | The composition of the CDGs should remain unchanged during the period of extension of the mandate of their member organisations. However, member organisations should be free to decide whether they wish to withdraw their membership during that period. |
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(4)

The composition of the CDGs should remain unchanged during the period of extension of the mandate of their member organisations. However, member organisations should be free to decide whether they wish to withdraw their membership during that period.

| (5) | In order to enhance the operability of the CDGs during the period of extension of the mandate of their member organisations, and in accordance with standard practice for Commission expert groups, the Commission should take over the role of the chair of the CDGs. Moreover, certain arrangements with regard to the agenda and the minutes of the meetings should be aligned with the practice followed in other expert groups with a view to ensuring consistency. |
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(5)

In order to enhance the operability of the CDGs during the period of extension of the mandate of their member organisations, and in accordance with standard practice for Commission expert groups, the Commission should take over the role of the chair of the CDGs. Moreover, certain arrangements with regard to the agenda and the minutes of the meetings should be aligned with the practice followed in other expert groups with a view to ensuring consistency.

| (6) | Decision 2013/767/EU should therefore be amended accordingly, |
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(6)

Decision 2013/767/EU should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Decision 2013/767/EU is amended as follows:

| (1) | in Article 3, paragraph 2 is deleted; |
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(1)

in Article 3, paragraph 2 is deleted;

| (2) | in Article 4(5), the introductory wording is replaced by the following:

  ‘The mandate of the member organisations shall expire on 31 December 2022. A member organisation may be replaced within a group where:’; |
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(2)

in Article 4(5), the introductory wording is replaced by the following:

‘The mandate of the member organisations shall expire on 31 December 2022. A member organisation may be replaced within a group where:’;

| (3) | Article 5 is amended as follows:






  (a) | paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

  ‘1.   A representative of the Commission shall chair the meetings.’; |
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(3)

Article 5 is amended as follows:

(a)

paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

‘1.   A representative of the Commission shall chair the meetings.’;

| (b) | paragraphs 2 and 3 are deleted; |
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(b)

paragraphs 2 and 3 are deleted;

| (c) | in paragraph 4, the first sentence is replaced by the following:

  ‘4.   No vote shall take place at the end of a group’s discussion.’; |
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(c)

in paragraph 4, the first sentence is replaced by the following:

‘4.   No vote shall take place at the end of a group’s discussion.’;

| (d) | paragraph 5 is replaced by the following:

  ‘5.   Minutes on the discussion on each point of the agenda and on the opinions delivered by the group shall be meaningful and complete. Minutes shall be drafted by the secretariat under the responsibility of the chairperson.’; |
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(d)

paragraph 5 is replaced by the following:

‘5.   Minutes on the discussion on each point of the agenda and on the opinions delivered by the group shall be meaningful and complete. Minutes shall be drafted by the secretariat under the responsibility of the chairperson.’;

| (e) | paragraph 7 is replaced by the following:

  ‘7.   The Directorate-General may invite experts from outside the group with specific competences relating to a subject on the agenda to participate in the work of the group or working group on an ad-hoc basis. In addition, the Commission’s representative may grant observer status to individuals or organisations as defined in Article 4(2), in so far as their participation does not threaten the balance of the groups or working groups. They shall have the right to speak, when invited to do so by the chairperson.’; |
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(e)

paragraph 7 is replaced by the following:

‘7.   The Directorate-General may invite experts from outside the group with specific competences relating to a subject on the agenda to participate in the work of the group or working group on an ad-hoc basis. In addition, the Commission’s representative may grant observer status to individuals or organisations as defined in Article 4(2), in so far as their participation does not threaten the balance of the groups or working groups. They shall have the right to speak, when invited to do so by the chairperson.’;

| (f) | paragraph 10 is replaced by the following:

  ‘10.   All relevant documents, including the agendas, the minutes and the participants’ submissions, shall be made available either on the Register of Commission expert groups and other similar entities or through a link from the Register to a dedicated website, where this information can be found. Access to dedicated websites shall not be submitted to user registration or any other restriction. In particular, the agenda and other relevant background documents shall be published in due time ahead of the meeting, followed by the timely publication of the minutes. Exceptions to publication shall only be provided for where it is deemed that the disclosure of a document would undermine the protection of a public or private interest as defined in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council (*1).


  (*1)  Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents (OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 43).’." |
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(f)

paragraph 10 is replaced by the following:

‘10.   All relevant documents, including the agendas, the minutes and the participants’ submissions, shall be made available either on the Register of Commission expert groups and other similar entities or through a link from the Register to a dedicated website, where this information can be found. Access to dedicated websites shall not be submitted to user registration or any other restriction. In particular, the agenda and other relevant background documents shall be published in due time ahead of the meeting, followed by the timely publication of the minutes. Exceptions to publication shall only be provided for where it is deemed that the disclosure of a document would undermine the protection of a public or private interest as defined in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council (*1).

(*1)  Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents (OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 43).’."

*1

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the seventh day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, 25 June 2021.

For the Commission

The President

Ursula VON DER LEYEN

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(1)  Commission Decision 2013/767/EU of 16 December 2013 setting up a framework for civil dialogue in matters covered by the common agricultural policy and repealing Decision 2004/391/EC (OJ L 338, 17.12.2013, p. 115).

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(2)  Institutionally speaking, Civil Dialogue Groups are Commission expert groups in the sense of Commission Decision C(2016) 3301.

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(3)  Regulation (EU) 2020/2220 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 December 2020 laying down certain transitional provisions for support from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and from the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) in the years 2021 and 2022 and amending Regulations (EU) No 1305/2013, (EU) No 1306/2013 and (EU) No 1307/2013 as regards resources and application in the years 2021 and 2022 and Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 as regards resources and the distribution of such support in respect of the years 2021 and 2022 (OJ L 437, 28.12.2020, p. 1).

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