COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/1599

of 23 October 2020

on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Joint Consultative Working Group established by the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community as regards the adoption of its rules of procedure

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 50(2) thereof,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) The Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community (the ‘Withdrawal Agreement’) was concluded by Council Decision (EU) 2020/135 (1) and entered into force on 1 February 2020.

(2) The Joint Consultative Working Group (the ‘working group’) was established by Article 15(1) of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland to the Withdrawal Agreement (‘the Protocol’) to serve as a forum for the exchange of information and mutual consultation on the implementation of the Protocol.

(3) Pursuant to Article 15(2) of the Protocol, the working group is to be composed of representatives of the Union and the United Kingdom and is to carry out its functions under the supervision of the Specialised Committee on issues related to the implementation of the Protocol, established by Article 165(1), point (c), of the Withdrawal Agreement, to which it is to report.

(4) Pursuant to Article 15(6) of the Protocol, the working group is to adopt its own rules of procedure by mutual consent.

(5) In view of the purpose and composition of the working group and its relation with the Specialised Committee on issues related to the implementation of the Protocol, the rules of procedure should be similar to the rules of procedure provided for in Annex VIII to the Withdrawal Agreement as regards the Specialised Committees established by Article 165(1) of the Withdrawal Agreement.

(6) It is therefore appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the working group.

(7) In order to allow for the prompt application of the measures provided for in this Decision, this Decision should enter into force on the date of its adoption,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 The position to be adopted on the Union’s behalf in the working group established by Article 15(1) of the Protocol as regards the adoption of the rules of procedure of the working group pursuant to Article 15(6) thereof shall be based on the draft decision of the working group attached to this Decision.

Article 2 The decision of the working group shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Article 3 This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Luxembourg, 23 October 2020. For the Council The President S. SCHULZE

(1) Council Decision (EU) 2020/135 of 30 January 2020 on the conclusion of the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community (OJ L 29, 31.1.2020, p. 1).