COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 05.06.1998 
COM(1998) 351 final 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL DECISION 
ON THE COMMUNITY POSITION ON 
THE RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE COOPERATION COUNCIL 
AND OF THE COOPERATION COMMITTEE 
ESTABLISHED BY THE PARTNERSHIP AND COOPERATION AGREEMENT 
BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES AND THEIR MEMBER STATES 
AND MOLDOVA 
(presented by the Commission) 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
1. The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) establishing a partnership 
between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and 
Moldova, of the other part, provides for the setting-up of a Cooperation Council 
composed of members of the Council of the European Union and members of the 
European Commission, on the one hand, and of members of the Government of 
Moldova, on the other, its role is to monitor the implementation of the Agreement 
and examine any major issues arising within the framework of the Agreement and 
any other bilateral or international issues of mutual interest for the purpose of 
attaining the objectives of the Agreement. 
2. According to the terms of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and in 
particular Articles 82 to 84 thereof, the Cooperation Council shall establish its rules 
of procedure and the rules of procedure of the Cooperation Committee, the role of 
the Committee being to prepare all Cooperation Council meetings and generally 
assist the Cooperation Council in its work. 
1 Article 2(1) of the Council and the Commission Decision (COM(94) 477) on the 
conclusion of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement provides that the position 
to be adopted by the Community in the Cooperation Council shall be determined by 
the Council on a proposal from the Commission (or, where appropriate, by the 
Commission). In accordance with this provision, it is proposed that- the Council 
adopt the attached draft rules of procedure as a Community position. 
4. The Moldova Cooperation Council and Cooperation Committee are institutions 
modelled on the Cooperation Councils and Cooperation Committees set up under the 
Partnership and Cooperation Agreements with Russia and the Ukraine, which have 
(virtually) identical rules of procedure. The institutional provisions of the Agreement 
with Moldova (and of Partnership and Cooperation Agreements with other NIS) 
constitute the "legal basis" for the rules of procedure. 
5. The attached draft rules of procedure follow closely the rules adopted for the 
Cooperation Council with Russia. The exact form that the meetings of the 
Cooperation Council and Cooperation Committee will take is as yet unknown. 
However, the Moldovan authorities are likely to take the rules and practices 
established with Russia as a guide. 
6. The rules of procedure should be kept as broad and as flexible as possible to 
accommodate a variety of different models of the institutions in question. The rules 
of procedure adopted under the Europe Agreements are a suitable model for the 
Moldova rules of procedure. They offer a sufficiently flexible framework, which 
merely lays down the broad outlines of the institutions' operations without going 
into excessive detail. 
7. One notable difference between the institutional provisions of the Europe 
Agreements with the CEECs and those of the PCAs is that a Cooperation Council 
can make only (non-binding) recommendations (Article 82 of the PCA), whereas 
Association Councils can take decisions. Appropriate minor adjustments must 
therefore be made to the model rules of procedure to reflect this aspect. 
I 
S. It is established practice under the Europe Agreements that all meetings of the 
Association Councils lake place in the EU. While this corresponds to EU practice in 
mixed agreement contexts, it is not in line with standard diplomatic usage. Although 
the Moldovan authorities have not requested alternating venues, it is likely to request 
treatment equivalent to that of Russia. Therefore the formula proposed for Russia, 
namely that the venue will be in the EU, unless the Parties agree otherwise, could be 
used here. 
9. The attached draft rules of procedure are proposed for adoption as. a Community 
position under Article 2(1) of the Council and Commission Decision (COM(94) 477) 
on the conclusion of the PCA between the European Communities and their Member 
States and Moldova by means of a decision of the Council. 
10. The Council is therefore requested to adopt the attached Commission proposal on a 
Community position on the rules of procedure of the Cooperation Council and of the 
Cooperation Committee with Moldova. 
4 
PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION 
ON A COMMUNITY POSITION ON 
THE RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE COOPERATION COUNCIL 
AND OF THE COOPERATION COMMITTEE 
ESTABLISHED BY THE PARTNERSHIP AND COOPERATION AGREEMENT 
BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES AND THEIR MEMBER STATES 
AND MOLDOVA 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 
Having regard to Ihe Treaty establishing the European Community, the Treaty 
establishing the European Coal and Steel Community and the Treaty establishing the 
European of Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), 
Having regard to the Council and Commission Decision of... 1998 on the conclusion of 
the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and 
their Member states, of the one part, and Moldova, of the other part, and in particular 
Article 2(1) thereof, 
I laving regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Whereas Article 82 of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement sets up a Cooperation 
Council; 
Whereas Article 84 of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement provides that the 
Cooperation Council shall be assisted by a Cooperation Committee and Article 83 of the 
Agreement further provides that the Cooperation Council shall adopt its own rules of 
procedure; 
Whereas Article 84 of the said Agreement further provides that the Cooperation Council 
shall, in its rules of procedure, determine the functioning of the Cooperation Committee 
and that the Cooperation Council may delegate any 'of its powers to the Cooperation 
Committee; 
Whereas Article 85 of the Agreement further provides that the Cooperation Council may 
decide to set up any other special committee or body that can assist it in carrying out its 
work, 
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 
The position to be adopted by the European Community within the Cooperation Council 
set up under Article 82 of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the 
European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Moldova, of the 
other part, on the rules of procedure of the said Cooperation Council and of the 
Cooperation Committee referred to in Article 84 of the Agreement shall be based on the 
draft rules of procedure annexed to this Decision. Minor amendments to these draft rules 
of procedure may be accepted without further decision by the Council. 
Done at Brussels, 
*1 
DRAFT 
RULES OF PROCEDURE 
OF THE 
COOPERATION COUNCIL 
REPRESENTING 
THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES AND THEIR MEMBER STATES, 
OF THE ONE PART, AND 
MOLDOVA, OF THE OTHER PART 
HIT: COOPERATION COUNCIL, 
Having regard to the Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation between the European 
Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Moldova, of the other part, 
signed in Brussels on 28 November 1994, hereinafter referred to as "the Agreement", and 
in particular Articles 82 to 85 thereof, 
I laving regard to the Protocol to the Agreement signed on 15 May 1997, 
Whereas the Agreement entered into force on..., 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING RULES OF PROCEDURE: 
Article 1 
Presidency 
The oflice of President of the Cooperation Council shall be held alternately for periods of 
twelve months by a representative of the Council of the European Union, on behalf of the 
Communities and their Member Stales, and a representative of the Government of 
Moldova. However, the first period shall begin on the date of the first Cooperation 
'Council and end on 31 December of the same year. 
Article 2 
Meetings 
The Cooperation Council shall meet at ministerial level once a year. Extraordinary 
meetings of the Cooperation Council may be held at the request of either party, if the 
parties so agree. 
Unless agreed otherwise by the Parties, each meeting of the Cooperation Council shall be 
held at the usual venue for meetings of the Council of the European Union at a date 
agreed by both Parties. 
The meetings of the Cooperation Council shall be jointly convened by the Secretaries of 
the Cooperation Council in agreement with the Parties. 
s 
Article 3 
Representation 
The members of the Cooperation Council, as defined in Article 83 of the Agreement, 
may be represented by a minister or by a designated official if prevented from attending. 
The official acting in such a capacity shall as a rule be Moldova's Head of the Mission to 
the European Communities or the Head of the Permanent Mission to an EC Member 
State or a senior official. 
In all other cases, a member wishing to be represented shall notify the President of the 
name of the representative before the meeting at which he is to be so represented. 
The representative of a member of the Cooperation Council shall exercise all the rights of 
the full member. 
Article 4 
Delegations 
The members of the Cooperation Council may be accompanied by officials. 
Before each meeting, the President shall be informed of the proposed membership of 
each Party's delegation and the name of the head of delegation. 
The Cooperation Council may invite other persons to attend its meetings in order to 
provide information on particular subjects. 
Article 5 
Secretariat 
An official of the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union and an 
official appointed by Moldova shall act jointly as Secretaries of the Cooperation Council. 
Article 6 
Documents 
Where the discussions of the Cooperation Council are based on reference documents, 
such documents shall be numbered and circulated by the two Secretaries as documents of 
the Cooperation Council. 
Article 7 
Correspondence 
Correspondence for the Cooperation Council or the President of the Cooperation Council 
shall be sent to the two Secretaries of the Cooperation Council. 
The two Secretaries shall ensure that correspondence is forwarded to the President of the 
Cooperation Council and, where appropriate, circulated to other members of the 
Cooperation Council as the type of document referred to in Article 6. The 
correspondence thus circulated shall be sent to the Secretariat-General of the 
6 
Commission, the Permanent Representations of Member States of the European Union 
and the Mission of Moldova in Brussels. 
Communications from the President of the Cooperation Council shall be sent out by the 
Secretary concerned and, where appropriate, circulated as documents referred to in 
Article 6 to the other members of the Cooperation Council at the addresses indicated in 
the paragraph above. 
Article 8 
Agenda v 
1. A commonly agreed provisional agenda shall be drawn up for each meeting. It 
shall be forwarded by the Secretaries of the Cooperation Council to the 
addressees referred to in Article 7 not later than fifteen days before the beginning 
of the meeting. 
The provisional agenda shall include items for which a request has been received 
by one or other of the two Secretaries not later than twenty-one days before the 
beginning of the meeting, but items will not be put on .the provisional agenda 
unless the supporting documentation has been forwarded to the Secretaries not 
later than the date of dispatch of the agenda. 
The agenda shall be adopted by the Cooperation Council at the beginning of each 
meeting. An item not appearing on the provisional agenda may be added if the 
two Parties so agree. 
2. By agreement of the Parties, the time-limits specified in paragraph 1 may be 
shortened to take account of special circumstances. 
Article 9 
Minutes 
The two Secretaries shall jointly draw up draft minutes of each meeting, the two copies 
being equally authentic. 
The minutes shall, as a general rule, indicate in respect of each item on the agenda 
the documentation submitted to the Cooperation Council; 
any statements that members of the Cooperation Council want included; 
the recommendations, statements and conclusions adopted on specific items. 
The minutes shall also include a list of members of the Cooperation Council or their 
representatives who were present at the meeting. 
The draft minutes shall be submitted to the Cooperation Council for approval at its next 
meeting. When approved, two authentic copies of the minutes shall be signed by the two 
Secretaries and filed by the Parties. A copy of the minutes shall be forwarded to each of 
the addressees referred to in Article 7 above. 
Article 10 
Recommendations 
\ 
The Cooperation Council shall formulate its recommendations by common 
agreement between the Parties. 
Between meetings, the Cooperation Council may make recommendations and 
approve minutes by written procedure if the Parties so agree. The written 
procedure shall consist of an exchange of notes between the two Secretaries, 
acting in agreement with the Parties. 
The recommendations of the Cooperation Council within the meaning of 
Article 82 of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement shall have the title 
"recommendation", followed by a serial number, the date of their adoption and a 
description of the subject. 
The recommendations of the Cooperation Council shall be authenticated by the 
two Secretaries and the two authentic copies shall be signed by the heads of 
delegation of the two Parties. 
Recommendations shall be forwarded to each of the addressees referred to in 
Article 7 above as documents of the Cooperation Council. 
Article 11 
Publicity 
Unless otherwise decided, the meetings of the Cooperation Council shall not be 
public. 
Each Party may decide to publish the recommendations of the Cooperation 
Council in its respective official gazette. 
Article 12 
Languages 
The official languages of the Cooperation Council shall be the official languages of the 
Parlies. 
The Cooperation Council shall normally base its deliberations on documentation 
prepared in these languages. 
Article 13 
Expenses 
The European Communities and Moldova shall each cover the expenses they incur by 
reason of their participation in the meetings of the Cooperation Council with regard to the 
costs of both staff, travel and subsistence and of post and telecommunications. 
The cost of interpreting at meetings and of translation of documents shall be borne by the 
European Communities, with the exception of interpretation or translation into or from 
Romanian, which shall be borne by Moldova. 
Other expenditure relating to the material organisation of meetings, including the 
duplication of documents, shall be borne by the Party which hosts the meeting. 
'I 
Article 14 
Cooperation Committee 
In accordance with Article 84 of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, a 
Cooperation Committee is hereby set up in order to assist the Cooperation 
Council in its work. It shall be composed of representatives of the Commission of 
the European Communities and of the members of the Council of the European 
Union, on the one hand, and of representatives of the Government of Moldova on 
the other, normally at senior official level. 
The Cooperation Committee shall prepare the meetings and the discussions of the 
Cooperation Council, monitor, where appropriate, the implementation of the 
recommendations of the Co; peration Council and in general ensure continuity in 
the partnership and the proper functioning of the Partnership and Cooperation 
Agreement. It shall submit proposals or draft recommendations for adoption to 
the Cooperation Council. 
The consultations provided for in Articles 17 and 48, and in Annex 2 to the 
Partnership and Cooperation Agreement shall take place within the Cooperation 
Committee. Consultation may continue in the Cooperation Council if the Parties 
so agree. 
The rules of procedure of the Cooperation Committee are annexed hereto. 
Done at 
For the Cooperation Council 
I lead of the EU Delegation Head of the Moldova Delegation 
4 
ANNEX 
RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE COOPERATION COMMITTEE 
. Arlkkl 
Presidency 
The office of President of the Cooperation Council shall be held alternately for periods of 
twelve months by a representative of the Commission of the European Communities, on 
behalf of the Communities and their Member States, and a representative of the 
Government of Moldova. The first period shall begin on the date of the first Cooperation 
Council meeting and end on 31 December of the same year. During this period and each 
twelve-month period thereafter, the Cooperation Committee shall be chaired by the Party 
holding the Presidency of the Cooperation Council. 
Article 2 
Meetings 
The Cooperation Committee shall meet once a year and whenever circumstances require, 
by agreement of the Parlies. 
Each meeting of the Cooperation Committee shall be held at a time and place agreed by 
the Parties. 
The meetings of the Cooperation Committee shall be convened by the two Secretaries. 
Article 3 
Delegations 
Before each meeting, the Chairman shall be informed of the proposed composition of 
each Party's delegation. 
Article 4 
Secretarial 
An official of the Commission of the European Communities and an official of (he 
Government of Moldova shall act jointly as Secretaries of the Cooperation Committee. 
All communications to and from the Chairman of the Cooperation Committee provided 
for in this Annex shall be forwarded to the Secretaries of the Cooperation Committee and 
to the Secretaries and President of the Cooperation Council. 
Article 5 
Publicity 
Unless otherwise decided, the meetings of the Cooperation Committee shall not be 
public. 
/o 
Article 6 
Agenda 
A provisional agenda for each meeting shall be drawn up by the Secretaries of the 
Cooperation Committee, who shall forward it to the addressees referred to in 
Article 4 not later than fifteen days before the beginning of the meeting. 
The provisional agenda shall include the items for which the Chairman has 
received a request not later than twenty-one days before the beginning of the 
meeting, on the understanding that items shall not be written into the provisional 
agenda unless the supporting documentation has been forwarded to the 
Secretaries not later than the date of dispatch of the agenda. 
The agenda shall be adopte ' by .the Cooperation Committee at the beginning of 
each meeting. An item othe: *ban those appearing on the provisional agenda may 
not be placed on the agenda unless the Parties so agree. 
By agreement of the Parties, the time-limits specified in paragraph 1 may be 
shortened to take account of special circumstances. 
The Cooperation Committee may ask experts to attend its meetings in order to 
provide information on particular subjects. 
Article 7 
Minutes 
Minutes shall be taken for each meeting summing up the conclusions reached by the 
Committee. 
When adopted by the Cooperation Committee, the minutes shall be signed by the 
Chairman and the two Secretaries and a copy filed by each of the Parties. A copy of the 
minutes shall be forwarded to each of the addressees referred to in Article 4. 
Article 8 
Recommendations 
The Cooperation Committee shall not formulate recommendations except in specific 
cases where it is empowered to do so by the Cooperation Council under Article 87(2) of 
the Agreement. In such cases these acts shall bear the title "recommendation", followed 
by a serial number, the date of adoption and a description of the subject 
Recommendations shall be formulated by common agreement between the parties. 
Recommendations of the Cooperation Committee shall be forwarded to the addressees 
referred to in Article 4. The Cooperation Committee may decide to publish such 
recommendations. 
The recommendations of the Cooperation Committee shall be signed by the Chairman 
and the Secretaries. 
A* 
Article 9 
Expenses 
The European Communities and Moldova shall each cover the expenses they incur by 
reason of their participation in the meetings of the Cooperation Committee and of its 
subcommittees and working parties with regard to the costs of both staff, travel and 
subsistence and of post and telecommunications. 
The cost of interpreting at meetings and translation shall be borne by the European 
Communities, with, the exception of interpretation or translation into or from Romanian, 
which shall be borne by Moldova. 
Expenditure relating to the material organisation of meetings, including the duplication of 
documents, shall be borne by the Party which hosts the meeting. 
Article 10 
Subcommittees and working parlies 
The ( oopcration Committee may set up subcommittees,and working parlies to assist it in 
its work. They shall work under the aegis of the Cooperation Committee, to which they 
shall report after each meeting. They shall not formulate recommendations. 
The Cooperation Committee may change the terms of reference of any subcommittee or 
working party, abolish them or set up .new ones. 
At 
FINANCIAL STATEMENT 
1 TITLE OF OPERATION 
Rules of procedure of the Cooperation Council and flie Cooperation Committee set up 
under the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities 
and their Member Slates and Moldova (PCA). Establishment and operation of an 
EU-Moldova Cooperation Council, a Cooperation Committee and, where 
necessary, (sub)committees and other special bodies. 
2 BUDGET HEADING INVOLVED 
A-130 : Mission expenses 
A- 2510 : Meetings of committees 
3 LEGAL BASE 
Council and Commission Decision on the conclusion of the. Partnership and Coopérât ion-
Agreement between the European Communities and their Member Stales and Moldova 
(to be adopted). 
4 DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION 
4.1 General objective 
Implementation of the institutional provisions of the PCA. 
4.2 Period covered and arrangements for renewal 
10 years (= duration of the PCA, Article 98, with possibility of extension). 
5 CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURE OR REVENUE 
5.1 Compulsory/Non-compulsory expenditure 
Non-compulsory expenditure. 
5.2 Differentiated/Non-differentiated appropriations 
Non-differentiated appropriations. 
5.3 Type of revenue involved 
No revenue. 
6TYPE OF EXPENDITURE OR REVENUE 
100% non-reimbursable (missions by officials, organisation of conferences, 
interpretation, translation, reproduction of documents) 
Ah 
7 FINANCIAL IMPACT 
7.1 Method of calculating total cost of operation (relation between 
individual and total costs) 
See section 10. No operational expenditure involved. 
7.2 Itemised breakdown of cost 
Commitment appropriations ECU million 
(at current prices) 
Breakdown 
Total year n n+ 1 n + 2 n + 3 n + 4 n + 5 and 
subs, yrs Total 
7.3 Operational expenditure for studies, experts etc. included in Part B of the budget 
Commitment appropriations ECU million (at current prices) 
- Studies 
Meetings of 
experts 
- Conferences and 
congresses 
- Information and 
publications 
Total year n n + 1 n + 2 n + 3 n + 4 n + 5 
& subs. 
yrs Total 
Ak 
7.4 Schedule of commitment and payment appropriations 
ECU million 
Commitment 
appropriations 
Payment 
appropriations 
yearn 
n+1 
n + 2 
n + 3 
n + 4 
n i 5 
and subs, yrs 
Total year n n+ 1 n + 2 n + 3 n + 4 n + 5 and 
subs, yrs Total 
, 
8 FRAUD PRÉVENTION MEASURES 
Checks by the responsible officials. 
ELEMENTS OF COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS 
9.1 Specific and quantified objectives; target population 
The institutionalised dialogue between the EU and Moldova will be an 
essential prerequisite for achieving the aims of the PCA, namely the 
promotion of trade and investment Hows, support for political and 
economic reforms in Moldova and close coopération across a wide 
number of policy fields. 
The main targets are economic operators and the general public in 
Moldova and the EU. 
9.2 Grounds for the operation 
Coordinated approach by the European Communities and their Member 
states to cooperation with Moldova, avoiding duplication of effort and 
establishing the EU as one of the main partners of Moldova. The approach 
is similar to that adopted under the Partnership and Cooperation 
Agreements with other NIS and the Europe Agreements with the CHECs. -
AS 
9.3 Monitoring and evaluation of the operation 
Regular stock-taking of the results and effectiveness of the dialogue by 
Commission and Council. 
10 ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE (SECTION III, PART A OK THE BUDGET) 
Actual mobilisation of the necessary administrative resources will depend on the 
Commission's annual decision on the allocation of resources, taking into account 
the number of staff and additional* amounts authorised by the budgetary authority. 
10.1 Effect on the number of posts 
Type of post 
Officials or 
temporary 
staff A 
B 
C 
()(her resources 
Total Staff to be assigned to 
managing the operation 
Permanent 
posts 
1 
0 
0.5. 
0 
1.5 Temporary 
posts 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 Source 
Existing 
resources in 
the DG or 
department 
concerned 
1 
0 
0.5 
0 
1.5 Additional 
resources 
0 
0 
0 Duration 
10.2 Overall financial impact of additional human resources 
ECU 
Amounts Method of calculation 
Officials 0 No additional human resources 
required. 
Temporary staff 0 
Other reSOUrCeS (indieatObiidget heading) 0 
Total 0 
At 
10.3 Increase in other administrative expenditure as a result of the 
operation 
ECU 
lludj'cl heading 
A-130 
A-2510 
A-130 
A-2510 Amounts 
p.m. 
30 000 
20 000 
12 000 
p.m. 
62 000 
32.000 
p.m. Method of calculation 
Cooperation Council 
N.B. All meetings to be held in Brussels once a 
year. The Council organises these meetings, so the 
Commission merely participates with its officials 
but does not bear any costs (conference 
organisation, interpretation, etc.) 
Cooperation Committee 
N.B. Meetings (usually one a year) alternate 
between Brussels and Chisinau. 
Chisinau meetings (once every 2 years) 
• 4-day mission for 10 Commission officials from 
various DGs. 
Subcommittees and other bodies 
N.B. Estimated: 6 meetings per year; half in 
Chisinau, half in Brussels. 
Chisinau meetings (3 a year) 
• One 4-day mission per year for 8 officials (Trade 
Facts Working Group). 
• Two 4-day missions for 3 officials (other 
subcommittees). 
Travel costs for Council representatives 
participating in meetings of the Cooperation 
Committee and of subcommittees and other 
groups are paid by the Council's General 
Secretariat. 
TOTAL 
= for years where Cooperation Committee is in 
Chisinau 
= for years where Cooperation Committee is in 
Brussels 
N.B. The necessary resources for missions by Commission officials will be obtained through 
redeployment of existing resources. 
M 

ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(98) 351 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 11 06 01 
Catalogue number : CB-C0-98-372-EN-C 
ISBN 92-78-37028-2 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L-2985 Luxembourg 
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