DECISION No 1/2012 OF THE EU-PLO JOINT COMMITTEE

of 17 February 2012

setting up six subcommittees and repealing Decision No 1/2008 of the EC-PLO Joint Committee

(2012/396/EU)

THE JOINT COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Euro-Mediterranean Interim Association Agreement on trade and cooperation between the European Community, of the one part, and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, of the other part (1) (‘the Interim Association Agreement’),

Whereas:

Article 66 of the Interim Association Agreement provides for the setting up of any other committee (‘subcommittee’) that can assist the EU-PLO Joint Committee in carrying out its duties.

The functioning of the European Neighbourhood Policy and its Action Plans in a wide range of sectoral areas requires the establishment of a new set of subcommittees.

The Interim Association Agreement has entered a new phase of implementation in the context of the European Neighbourhood Policy and developments in the region.

The Palestinian Authority has requested that the number of subcommittees be increased.

Decision No 1/2008 of the EC-PLO Joint Committee should therefore be repealed,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The six subcommittees of the EU-PLO Joint Committee, listed in Annex I, are hereby set up.

Their rules of procedure, as set out in Annex II, are hereby adopted.

The EU-PLO Joint Committee will take any action needed to ensure that the subcommittees operate properly. It may further decide to set up groups or to abolish existing groups.

Article 2

Decision No 1/2008 of the EC-PLO Joint Committee is repealed.

Article 3

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

(1) OJ L 187, 16.7.1997, p. 3.

ANNEX II

1. Rules of Procedure of the ‘Human Rights, Good Governance and Rule of Law’ subcommittee

1. Composition and Chair

The subcommittee shall be composed of representatives of the European Union and representatives of the Palestinian Authority. It shall be chaired alternately by the two parties.

2. Role

The subcommittee shall work under the authority of the Joint Committee, to which it shall report after each meeting. The subcommittee shall not have any decision-making power but may submit proposals to the Joint Committee.

3. Matters of discussion

The subcommittee shall discuss the implementation of the Interim Association Agreement and the related European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan in the sectors listed below and shall assess progress on the objectives and actions which have been identified and agreed upon in the Action Plan.

Where relevant, the subcommittee shall discuss cooperation in public administration matters. In this context, it shall examine any problems that may arise in the sectors below and shall suggest possible steps to be undertaken:

(a) human rights;

(b) good governance;

(c) rule of law.

The above list is not exhaustive and other sectors, including horizontal sectors, may be added by a decision of the Joint Committee.

The subcommittee may discuss matters relating to one, several or all of the above sectors.

4. Secretariat

An official of the European Union and an official of the Palestinian Authority shall act jointly as permanent secretaries of the subcommittee.

All communications concerning the subcommittee shall be forwarded to the secretaries.

5. Meetings

The subcommittee shall meet whenever circumstances require. A meeting may be convened on the basis of a request from the chair of either party, channelled through its permanent secretary, who shall pass the request onto the other party. Upon receipt of a request for a subcommittee meeting, the permanent secretary of the other party shall reply within 15 working days.

In cases of particular urgency, the subcommittee may be convened at shorter notice subject to the agreement of both parties. All requests to convene meetings shall be in writing.

Each meeting of the subcommittee shall be held at a time and place agreed by both parties.

The meetings shall be convened by the permanent secretary in charge, in agreement with the chair. Before each meeting, the chair shall be informed of the intended composition of the delegation of each party.

If both parties agree, the subcommittee may invite experts to its meetings in order to provide the specific information required.

6. Agenda of the meetings

All requests for items to be included in the subcommittee agenda shall be forwarded to the permanent secretaries.

A provisional agenda shall be drawn up by the chair for each meeting. It shall be forwarded by the permanent secretary in charge to his counterpart no later than 10 days before the beginning of the meeting.

The provisional agenda shall include the items in respect of which the permanent secretaries have received a request for inclusion in the agenda no later than 15 days before the beginning of the meeting. Supporting documentation shall be received by both parties at least seven days ahead of the meeting. To take account of urgent matters, these time limits may be shortened provided both parties agree.

The agenda shall be adopted by the subcommittee at the beginning of each meeting.

7. Minutes

Minutes shall be taken and agreed upon by the permanent secretaries after each meeting. A copy of the minutes, including the subcommittee’s proposals, shall be forwarded by the permanent secretaries of the subcommittee to the secretaries and chair of the Joint Committee.

8. Publicity

Unless otherwise decided, the meetings of the subcommittee shall not be public.

2. Rules of Procedure of the ‘Social Affairs and Health’ subcommittee

1. Composition and Chair

The subcommittee shall be composed of representatives of the European Union and representatives of the Palestinian Authority. It shall be chaired alternately by the two parties.

2. Role

The subcommittee shall work under the authority of the Joint Committee, to which it shall report after each meeting. The subcommittee shall not have any decision-making power but may submit proposals to the Joint Committee.

3. Matters of discussion

The subcommittee shall discuss the implementation of the Interim Association Agreement and the related European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan in the sectors listed below and shall assess progress on the objectives and actions which have been identified and agreed upon in the Action Plan.

Where relevant, the subcommittee shall discuss cooperation in public administration matters. In this context, it shall examine any problems that may arise in the sectors below and shall suggest possible steps to be undertaken:

(a) employment and social development;

(b) public health.

The above list is not exhaustive and other sectors, including horizontal sectors, may be added by a decision of the Joint Committee.

The subcommittee may discuss matters relating to one, several or all of the above sectors.

4. Secretariat

An official of the European Union and an official of the Palestinian Authority shall act jointly as permanent secretaries of the subcommittee.

All communications concerning the subcommittee shall be forwarded to the secretaries.

5. Meetings

The subcommittee shall meet whenever circumstances require. A meeting may be convened on the basis of a request from the chair of either party, channelled through its permanent secretary, who shall pass the request onto the other party. Upon receipt of a request for a subcommittee meeting, the permanent secretary of the other party shall reply within 15 working days.

In cases of particular urgency, the subcommittee may be convened at shorter notice subject to the agreement of both parties. All requests to convene meetings shall be in writing.

Each meeting of the subcommittee shall be held at a time and place agreed by both parties.

The meetings shall be convened by the permanent secretary in charge, in agreement with the chair. Before each meeting, the chair shall be informed of the intended composition of the delegation of each party.

If both parties agree, the subcommittee may invite experts to its meetings in order to provide the specific information required.

6. Agenda of the meetings

All requests for items to be included in the subcommittee agenda shall be forwarded to the permanent secretaries.

A provisional agenda shall be drawn up by the chair for each meeting. It shall be forwarded by the permanent secretary in charge to his counterpart no later than 10 days before the beginning of the meeting.

The provisional agenda shall include the items in respect of which the permanent secretaries have received a request for inclusion in the agenda no later than 15 days before the beginning of the meeting. Supporting documentation shall be received by both parties at least seven days ahead of the meeting. To take account of urgent matters, these time limits may be shortened provided both parties agree.

The agenda shall be adopted by the subcommittee at the beginning of each meeting.

7. Minutes

Minutes shall be taken and agreed upon by the permanent secretaries after each meeting. A copy of the minutes, including the subcommittee’s proposals, shall be forwarded by the permanent secretaries of the subcommittee to the secretaries and chair of the Joint Committee.

8. Publicity

Unless otherwise decided, the meetings of the subcommittee shall not be public.

3. Rules of Procedure of the ‘Research, Innovation, Information Society, Audiovisual and Media, Education and Culture’ subcommittee

1. Composition and Chair

The subcommittee shall be composed of representatives of the European Union and representatives of the Palestinian Authority. It shall be chaired alternately by the two parties.

2. Role

The subcommittee shall work under the authority of the Joint Committee, to which it shall report after each meeting. The subcommittee shall not have any decision-making power but may submit proposals to the Joint Committee.

3. Matters of discussion

The subcommittee shall discuss the implementation of the Interim Association Agreement and the related European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan in the sectors listed below and shall assess progress on the objectives and actions which have been identified and agreed upon in the Action Plan.

Where relevant, the subcommittee shall discuss cooperation in public administration matters. In this context, it shall examine any problems that may arise in the sectors below and shall suggest possible steps to be undertaken:

(a) education and vocational training;

(b) culture;

(c) youth;

(d) information society and audiovisual and media policy;

(e) science and technology;

(f) research and development.

The above list is not exhaustive and other sectors, including horizontal sectors, may be added by a decision of the Joint Committee.

The subcommittee may discuss matters relating to one, several or all of the above sectors.

4. Secretariat

An official of the European Union and an official of the Palestinian Authority shall act jointly as permanent secretaries of the subcommittee.

All communications concerning the subcommittee shall be forwarded to the secretaries.

5. Meetings

The subcommittee shall meet whenever circumstances require. A meeting may be convened on the basis of a request from the chair of either party, channelled through its permanent secretary, who shall pass the request onto the other party. Upon receipt of a request for a subcommittee meeting, the permanent secretary of the other party shall reply within 15 working days.

In cases of particular urgency, the subcommittee may be convened at shorter notice subject to the agreement of both parties. All requests to convene meetings shall be in writing.

Each meeting of the subcommittee shall be held at a time and place agreed by both parties.

The meetings shall be convened by the permanent secretary in charge, in agreement with the chair. Before each meeting, the chair shall be informed of the intended composition of the delegation of each party.

If both parties agree, the subcommittee may invite experts to its meetings in order to provide the specific information required.

6. Agenda of the meetings

All requests for items to be included in the subcommittee agenda shall be forwarded to the permanent secretaries.

A provisional agenda shall be drawn up by the chair for each meeting. It shall be forwarded by the permanent secretary in charge to his counterpart no later than 10 days before the beginning of the meeting.

The provisional agenda shall include the items in respect of which the permanent secretaries have received a request for inclusion in the agenda no later than 15 days before the beginning of the meeting. Supporting documentation shall be received by both parties at least seven days ahead of the meeting. To take account of urgent matters, these time limits may be shortened provided both parties agree.

The agenda shall be adopted by the subcommittee at the beginning of each meeting.

7. Minutes

Minutes shall be taken and agreed upon by the permanent secretaries after each meeting. A copy of the minutes, including the subcommittee’s proposals, shall be forwarded by the permanent secretaries of the subcommittee to the secretaries and chair of the Joint Committee.

8. Publicity

Unless otherwise decided, the meetings of the subcommittee shall not be public.

4. Rules of Procedure of the ‘Economic and Financial Matters’ subcommittee

1. Composition and Chair

The subcommittee shall be composed of representatives of the European Union and representatives of the Palestinian Authority. It shall be chaired alternately by the two parties.

2. Role

The subcommittee shall work under the authority of the Joint Committee, to which it shall report after each meeting. The subcommittee shall not have any decision-making power but may submit proposals to the Joint Committee.

3. Subject-Matters of discussion

The subcommittee shall discuss the implementation of the Interim Association Agreement and the related European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan in the sectors listed below and shall assess progress on the objectives and actions which have been identified and agreed upon in the Action Plan.

Where relevant, the subcommittee shall discuss cooperation in public administration matters. In this context, it shall examine any problems that may arise in the sectors below and shall suggest possible steps to be undertaken:

(a) financial accountability and sound management of public finances;

(b) economic reform and development;

(c) statistics.

The above list is not exhaustive and other sectors, including horizontal sectors, may be added by a decision of the Joint Committee.

The subcommittee may discuss matters relating to one, several or all of the above sectors.

4. Secretariat

An official of the European Union and an official of the Palestinian Authority shall act jointly as permanent secretaries of the subcommittee.

All communications concerning the subcommittee shall be forwarded to the secretaries.

5. Meetings

The subcommittee shall meet whenever circumstances require. A meeting may be convened on the basis of a request from the chair of either party, channelled through its permanent secretary, who shall pass the request onto the other party. Upon receipt of a request for a subcommittee meeting, the permanent secretary of the other party shall reply within 15 working days.

In cases of particular urgency, the subcommittee may be convened at shorter notice subject to the agreement of both parties. All requests to convene meetings shall be in writing.

Each meeting of the subcommittee shall be held at a time and place agreed by both parties.

The meetings shall be convened by the permanent secretary in charge, in agreement with the chair. Before each meeting, the chair shall be informed of the intended composition of the delegation of each party.

If both parties agree, the subcommittee may invite experts to its meetings in order to provide the specific information required.

6. Agenda of the meetings

All requests for items to be included in the subcommittee agenda shall be forwarded to the permanent secretaries.

A provisional agenda shall be drawn up by the chair for each meeting. It shall be forwarded by the permanent secretary in charge to his counterpart no later than 10 days before the beginning of the meeting.

The provisional agenda shall include the items in respect of which the permanent secretaries have received a request for inclusion in the agenda no later than 15 days before the beginning of the meeting. Supporting documentation shall be received by both parties at least seven days ahead of the meeting. To take account of urgent matters, these time limits may be shortened provided both parties agree.

The agenda shall be adopted by the subcommittee at the beginning of each meeting.

7. Minutes

Minutes shall be taken and agreed upon by the permanent secretaries after each meeting. A copy of the minutes, including the subcommittee’s proposals, shall be forwarded by the permanent secretaries of the subcommittee to the secretaries and chair of the Joint Committee.

8. Publicity

Unless otherwise decided, the meetings of the subcommittee shall not be public.

5. Rules of Procedure of the ‘Trade and Internal Market, Industry, Agriculture and Fisheries, Customs’ subcommittee

1. Composition and Chair

The subcommittee shall be composed of representatives of the European Union and representatives of the Palestinian Authority. It shall be chaired alternately by the two parties.

2. Role

The subcommittee shall work under the authority of the Joint Committee, to which it shall report after each meeting. The subcommittee shall not have any decision-making power but may submit proposals to the Joint Committee.

3. Matters of discussion

The subcommittee shall discuss the implementation of the Interim Association Agreement and the related European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan in the sectors listed below and shall assess progress on the objectives and actions which have been identified and agreed upon in the Action Plan.

Where relevant, the subcommittee shall discuss cooperation in public administration matters. In this context, it shall examine any problems that may arise in the sectors below and shall suggest possible steps to be undertaken:

(a) trade-related issues;

(b) agriculture and fisheries;

(c) sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) issues;

(d) investment;

(e) market and regulatory reform;

(f) industry and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs);

(g) customs issues;

(h) taxation.

The above list is not exhaustive and other sectors, including horizontal sectors, may be added by a decision of the Joint Committee.

The subcommittee may discuss matters relating to one, several or all of the above sectors.

4. Secretariat

An official of the European Union and an official of the Palestinian Authority shall act jointly as permanent secretaries of the subcommittee.

All communications concerning the subcommittee shall be forwarded to the secretaries.

5. Meetings

The subcommittee shall meet whenever circumstances require. A meeting may be convened on the basis of a request from the chair of either party, channelled through its permanent secretary, who will pass the request onto the other party. Upon receipt of a request for a subcommittee meeting, the permanent secretary of the other party shall reply within 15 working days.

In cases of particular urgency, the subcommittee may be convened at shorter notice subject to the agreement of both parties. All requests to convene meetings shall be in writing.

Each meeting of the subcommittee shall be held at a time and place agreed by both parties.

The meetings shall be convened by the permanent secretary in charge, in agreement with the chair. Before each meeting, the chair shall be informed of the intended composition of the delegation of each party.

If both parties agree, the subcommittee may invite experts to its meetings in order to provide the specific information required.

6. Agenda of the meetings

All requests for items to be included in the subcommittee agenda shall be forwarded to the permanent secretaries.

A provisional agenda shall be drawn up by the chair for each meeting. It shall be forwarded by the permanent secretary in charge to his counterpart no later than 10 days before the beginning of the meeting.

The provisional agenda shall include the items in respect of which the permanent secretaries have received a request for inclusion in the agenda no later than 15 days before the beginning of the meeting. Supporting documentation shall be received by both parties at least seven days ahead of the meeting. To take account of urgent matters, these time limits may be shortened provided both parties agree.

The agenda shall be adopted by the subcommittee at the beginning of each meeting.

7. Minutes

Minutes shall be taken and agreed upon by the permanent secretaries after each meeting. A copy of the minutes, including the subcommittee’s proposals, shall be forwarded by the permanent secretaries of the subcommittee to the secretaries and chair of the Joint Committee.

8. Publicity

Unless otherwise decided, the meetings of the subcommittee shall not be public.

6. Rules of Procedure of the ‘Energy, Transport, Climate Change, Environment, Water’ subcommittee

1. Composition and Chair

The subcommittee shall be composed of representatives of the European Union and representatives of the Palestinian Authority. It shall be chaired alternately by the two parties.

2. Role

The subcommittee shall work under the authority of the Joint Committee, to which it shall report after each meeting. The subcommittee shall not have any decision-making power but may submit proposals to the Joint Committee.

3. Matters of discussion

The subcommittee shall discuss the implementation of the Interim Association Agreement and the related European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan in the sectors listed below and shall assess progress on the objectives and actions which have been identified and agreed upon in the Action Plan.

Where relevant, the subcommittee shall discuss cooperation in public administration matters. In this context, it shall examine any problems that may arise in the sectors below and shall suggest possible steps to be undertaken:

(a) energy;

(b) transport;

(c) climate change;

(d) environment;

(e) water.

The above list is not exhaustive and other sectors, including horizontal sectors, may be added by a decision of the Joint Committee.

The subcommittee may discuss matters relating to one, several or all of the above sectors.

4. Secretariat

An official of the European Union and an official of the Palestinian Authority shall act jointly as permanent secretaries of the subcommittee.

All communications concerning the subcommittee shall be forwarded to the secretaries.

5. Meetings

The subcommittee shall meet whenever circumstances require. A meeting may be convened on the basis of a request from the chair of either party, channelled through its permanent secretary, who shall pass the request onto the other party. Upon receipt of a request for a subcommittee meeting, the permanent secretary of the other party shall reply within 15 working days.

In cases of particular urgency, the subcommittee may be convened at shorter notice subject to the agreement of both parties. All requests to convene meetings shall be in writing.

Each meeting of the subcommittee shall be held at a time and place agreed by both parties.

The meetings shall be convened by the permanent secretary in charge, in agreement with the chair. Before each meeting, the chair shall be informed of the intended composition of the delegation of each party.

If both parties agree, the subcommittee may invite experts to its meetings in order to provide the specific information required.

6. Agenda of the meetings

All requests for items to be included in the subcommittee agenda shall be forwarded to the permanent secretaries.

A provisional agenda shall be drawn up by the chair for each meeting. It shall be forwarded by the permanent secretary in charge to his counterpart no later than 10 days before the beginning of the meeting.

The provisional agenda shall include the items in respect of which the permanent secretaries have received a request for inclusion in the agenda no later than 15 days before the beginning of the meeting. Supporting documentation shall be received by both parties at least seven days ahead of the meeting. To take account of urgent matters, these time limits may be shortened provided both parties agree.

The agenda shall be adopted by the subcommittee at the beginning of each meeting.

7. Minutes

Minutes shall be taken and agreed upon by the permanent secretaries after each meeting. A copy of the minutes, including the subcommittee’s proposals, shall be forwarded by the permanent secretaries of the subcommittee to the secretaries and chair of the Joint Committee.

8. Publicity

Unless otherwise decided, the meetings of the subcommittee shall not be public.