Decision No 3/2001 of the EC-Cyprus Association Council

of 27 December 2001

amending, through the setting up of a Joint Consultative Committee between the Committee of the Regions and the Cypriot Liaison Committee for Cooperation with the Committee of the Regions, Decision No 1/73 adopting the rules of procedures of the Association Council

(2002/139/EC)

THE ASSOCIATION COUNCIL,

Having regard to the Agreement establishing an Association between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Cyprus, and in particular Article 14(3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Dialogue and cooperation between the regional and local authorities of the European Community and those of the Republic of Cyprus can make a major contribution to the development of their relations and to the integration of Europe.

(2) It seems appropriate that such cooperation should be organised at the level of the Committee of the Regions, of the one part, and of the Cypriot Liaison Committee for Cooperation with the Committee of the Regions, of the other part, by the setting up of a Joint Consultative Committee.

(3) This means that the rules of procedure of the Association Council, adopted by Decision No 1/73, need to be amended accordingly,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The following Articles shall be added to the rules of procedure of the Association Council: "Article 20

A Joint Consultative Committee (hereinafter referred to as the 'Committee') is hereby established with the task of assisting the Association Council with a view to promoting dialogue and cooperation between the regional and local authorities of the European Community and those of the Republic of Cyprus. Such dialogue and cooperation shall be aimed in particular at:

1. preparing Cypriot local authorities for activity in the framework of future membership of the European Union;

2. preparing Cypriot local authorities for their participation in the work of the Committee of the Regions after accession of the Republic of Cyprus;

3. exchanging information on current issues of mutual interest, in particular on the up-to-date state of play concerning regional and environmental policies of the European Community and the accession process as well as preparation of Cypriot local authorities for these policies;

4. encouraging multilateral structured dialogue between, on the one hand, Cypriot local authorities and, on the other hand, regions and local authorities from Member States of the European Community, including through networking in specific areas where direct contacts and cooperation between them might prove the most effective way of solving particular problems;

5. providing regular exchange of information on inter-regional cooperation between regional and local authorities from the Republic of Cyprus and from Member States;

6. encouraging exchange of experience and knowledge in the field of regional and environmental policies and structural interventions between, on the one hand, Cypriot local authorities and, on the other hand, regions and local authorities from Member States of the European Community, in particular with regard to know-how and techniques concerning preparation of regional and local development plans or strategies and the most efficient use of Structural Funds;

7. assisting Cypriot local authorities by means of information exchange in practical implementation of the principle of subsidiarity in all aspects of life on regional and local level;

8. discussing any other relevant matters proposed by either side, as they may arise in the context of implementation of the Association Agreement and in the framework of the pre-accession strategy.

Article 21

The Committee shall comprise eight representatives of the Committee of the Regions of the European Community, on the one hand, and eight representatives of the Cypriot Liaison Committee for Cooperation with the Committee of the Regions, on the other hand. An equal number of alternate members shall be appointed.

The Committee shall carry out its activities on the basis of consultation by the Association Council or, as concerns the promotion of the dialogue between the regional and local authorities, on its own initiative.

The Committee may make recommendations to the Association Council.

Members shall be chosen to ensure that the Committee is as faithful a reflection as possible of the various levels of regional and local authorities in both the European Community and the Republic of Cyprus.

The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.

The Committee shall meet at intervals, which it shall itself determine in its rules of procedure.

The Committee shall be co-chaired by a member of the Committee of the Regions of the European Community and a member of the Cypriot Liaison Committee for Cooperation with the Committee of the Regions.

Article 22

The Committee of the Regions of the European Community, on the one hand, and the Cypriot Liaison Committee for Cooperation with the Committee of the Regions on the other hand, shall each defray the expenses they incur by reason of their participation in the meetings of the Committee with regard to staff, travel and subsistence expenditure and to postal and telecommunications expenditure.

Expenditure in connection with interpreting at meetings, translation and reproduction of documents in any official languages of the European Union shall be borne by the Committee of the Regions.

Expenditure relating to the material organisation of meetings shall be borne by the Party which hosts the meetings."

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the first day of the second month following the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 27 December 2001.

For the Association Council

The President

L. Michel