Decision on the number and numerical strength of interparliamentary delegations and delegations to joint parliamentary committees

The European Parliament,

having regard to Rule 168 of its Rules of Procedure,

having regard to the objectives laid down in the Treaty on European Union in the sphere of common foreign and security policy,

having regard to the association, cooperation, and other agreements concluded by the Union with third countries,

anxious to strengthen parliamentary democracy by pursuing a continuous interparliamentary dialogue,

1. Decides that the number of delegations, their regional groupings, and their numerical strength shall be as follows:

(a) Europe

Delegation to the European Economic Area (EEA) Joint Parliamentary Committee | 12 members |

Delegation for relations with Switzerland, Iceland and Norway | 15 members |

(b) Central and Eastern Europe/Baltic States

Delegations to the:

— European Union — Poland Joint Parliamentary Committee | 12 members |

—European Union — Hungary Joint Parliamentary Committee | 12 members |

— European Union — Czech Republic Joint Parliamentary Committee | 12 members |

— European Union — Slovak Republic Joint Parliamentary Committee | 12 members |

— European Union — Romania Joint Parliamentary Committee | 12 members |

— European Union — Bulgaria Joint Parliamentary Committee | 12 members |

— European Union — Estonia Joint Parliamentary Committee | 12 members |

— European Union — Latvia Joint Parliamentary Committee | 12 members |

— European Union — Lithuania Joint Parliamentary Committee | 12 members |

— European Union — Slovenia Joint Parliamentary Committee | 12 members |

Delegation for relations with South-East Europe | 28 members |

(c) Newly independent States and Mongolia

Delegations to the parliamentary cooperation committees and delegations for relations with

— Russia | 25 members |

— Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova | 18 members |

— Transcaucasian republics: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia | 16 members |

— Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Mongo-lia | 17 members |

(d) Mediterranean

Delegations to the

— European Union — Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee | 12 members |

— European Union — Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee | 12 members |

— European Union — Malta Joint Parliamentary Committee | 12 members |

Delegations for relations with

— the Maghreb countries and the Arab Maghreb Union | 23 members |

— the Mashreq countries and the Gulf States | 19 members |

— Israel | 17 members |

— the Palestinian Legislative Council | 17 members |

(e) The Americas

Delegations for relations with

— the United States | 25 members |

— Canada | 16 members |

— the countries of Central America and Mexico | 23 members |

— the countries of South America and Mercosur | 23 members |

(f) Asia/Pacific

Delegations for relations with

— Japan | 21 members |

— the People's Republic of China | 19 members |

— the countries of South Asia and the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) | 18 members |

— the Member States of ASEAN, South-East Asia and the Republic of Korea | 22 members |

— Australia and New Zealand | 16 members |

(g) South Africa

Delegation for relations with South Africa | 17 members |

2. Decides that the bureaux of the delegations belonging to the same regional grouping, as coordinating bodies, shall hold joint meetings to ensure that political issues and problems affecting a region as a whole can be dealt with in a consistent fashion on a transnational basis; decides, further, that the Bureau of the Delegation for relations with South Africa shall hold joint meetings with the Bureau of the Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Assembly when the matters under consideration are of mutual interest;

3. Bearing in mind the objectives charted in the Barcelona Declaration and the work programme adopted at the Euro-Mediterranean Conference of 27 and 28 November 1995, authorises the Conference of Presidents to decide that members of delegations and joint parliamentary committees belonging to the Mediterranean grouping shall hold joint meetings as a delegation to the Euro-Mediterranean forum;

4. Decides to restrict the frequency of delegation and joint parliamentary committee meetings: decides, further, that the Conference of Delegation Chairmen should draw up a draft annual calendar, to be adopted by the Conference of Presidents after consulting the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy, on the understanding, however, that the Conference of Presidents may decide that additional meetings will need to be held in order to respond to political events;

5. Decides that the political groups and non-attached Members may appoint permanent substitutes to serve on each delegation to joint parliamentary committees and that the number of those substitutes may not exceed the number of full members representing the groups or non-attached Members;

6. Decides to intensify cooperation with the committees concerned by organising joint meetings in its usual places of work;

7. Will endeavour to ensure at the practical level that one or more committee rapporteurs may likewise take part in the proceedings of delegations and joint parliamentary committees; and decides that the Conference of Presidents, at the joint request of the chairmen of the delegation and committee concerned, shall authorise missions of this type;

8. Instructs the Conference of Presidents to make the necessary adjustments to the implementing provisions governing the activities of delegations and joint parliamentary committees, acting on a proposal from the Conference of Delegation Chairmen (Rule 168(5) of the Rules of Procedure), bearing in mind that, because of current budget restrictions, the chairman of each delegation will decide how many members will travel with each delegation or working party on the basis of a pre-established limit, taking account of the areas of activity of each member of the delegation, frequency of participation, interest shown, etc.

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