Decision No 6/2001 of the EU-Slovenia Association Council between the European Communities and their Member States, acting within the framework of the European Union, of the one part, and the Republic of Slovenia, of the other part,

of 26 October 2001

amending, through the setting-up of a Joint Consultative Committee, Decision No 1/1999 establishing the rules of procedure of the Association Council

(2002/97/EC)

THE ASSOCIATION COUNCIL,

Having regard to the Europe Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, acting within the framework of the European Union, of the one part, and the Republic of Slovenia, of the other part(1), and in particular Article 115 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Dialogue and cooperation between economic and social interest groups in the European Union and the Republic of Slovenia can make a major contribution to the development of EU-Slovenian relations.

(2) It seems appropriate that such cooperation be organised between the members of the Economic and Social Committee of the European Communities and the Republic of Slovenia's economic and social partners, by the setting up of a Joint Consultative Committee.

(3) This means that the rules of procedure of the Association Council, adopted by Decision 1/1999, have to be amended accordingly,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The following rules shall be added to the rules of procedure of the Association Council: "Article 15

Joint Consultative Committee

A Joint Consultative Committee is hereby established, entrusted with the task of helping the Association Council with a view to promoting dialogue and cooperation between the economic and social interest groups in the European Community and the Republic of Slovenia. Such dialogue and cooperation shall encompass all economic and social aspects of relations between the European Community and the Republic of Slovenia, as they arise in the context of the implementation of the Europe Agreement. The Joint Consultative Committee shall express its views on questions arising in these areas.

Article 16

The Joint Consultative Committee shall comprise four representatives of the Economic and Social Committee of the European Communities and four representatives of the Republic of Slovenia's economic and social interest groups.

The Joint Consultative Committee shall carry out its tasks on the basis of consultation by the Association Council or, with regard to promoting dialogue between economic and social circles, on its own initiative.

Members shall be chosen to ensure that the Joint Consultative Committee is as faithful a reflection as possible of the various economic and social interest groups in both the European Community and the Republic of Slovenia.

The Joint Consultative Committee shall be co-chaired by a member of the Economic and Social Committee of the European Communities and a Slovenian member.

The Joint Consultative Committee shall adopt its own Rules of Procedure.

Article 17

The Economic and Social Committee of the European Communities, on the one hand, and the Slovenian economic and social interest groups, on the other hand, shall each defray the expenses they incur by reason of their participation in the meetings for the Committee and of its working groups 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 shall be borne by the Economic and Social Committee, with the exception of Slovenian expenditure in connection with interpreting or translation into or from Slovenian, which shall be borne by the Slovenian economic and social interest groups.

Other 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, 26 October 2001.

For the Association Council

The President

L. Michel

(1) OJ L 51, 26.2.1999, p. 3.