Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the Community position in relation to the establishment of a Joint Consultative Committee to be decided on by the Association Council established by the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and Lithuania

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1. The Europe Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, on the one hand, and the Republic of Lithuania, on the other hand, which entered into force on 1 February 1998, provides, in Article 116 thereof, that the Association Council may decide to set up any special committee or body that can assist it in carrying out its duties.

2. Though the establishment of a consultative mechanism for dialogue between the regional and local authorities of the two Parties is not explicitly provided for in the aforementioned Europe Agreement, the Commission proposes that a Joint Consultative Committee representing the regional and local authorities of both parties be set up by the Association Council in support of the keen interest expressed, in this respect, by the regional and local authorities from both sides, represented by the Committee of the Regions, on the part of the Community, and by eight representatives of the regional and local authorities, on the part of Lithuania.

3. The proposed Joint Consultative Committee is intended to constitute a forum for dialogue and co-operation between the regional and local authorities of both sides which would be equally beneficial to the Lithuanian regional and local authorities, who will familiarise themselves with the process of consultation taking place within the Committee of the Regions and with the dialogue between the regional and local authorities in the European Union in general, and to the regional and local authorities of the European Union who will famialirise themselves with the regional dimension of the reforms taking place in Lithuania. The Association Council may also consult the proposed Joint Consultative Committee before taking decisions in areas of obvious regional interest. Consultation of the committees remains, however, at the discretion of the Association Council.

4. The establishment of the proposed Joint Consultative Committee does not have any financial impact on the Community budget, the Lithuanian participants being responsible for their own expenses and the expenses on the Community side being covered by the budget of the Committee of the Regions.

5. The text of the proposal for a Council decision of the position to be taken by the Community in the Association Council, as provided for by Article 2(1) of the Council and Commission decision of 19.12.1997 on the conclusion of the aforementioned Europe Agreement, is attached hereto. The Council is asked to adopt this text after consultation of the Parliament.

2002/0262 (ACC)

Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the Community position in relation to the establishment of a Joint Consultative Committee to be decided on by the Association Council established by the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and Lithuania

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing a European Community, the Treaty establishing a European Coal and Steel Community and the Treaty establishing a European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom),

Having regard to Article 300, paragraph 2, subparagraph 2, of the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Article 2(1) of the Council and Commission Decision of 19.12.1997 on conclusion of the Europe Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, on the one hand, and the Republic of Lithuania, on the other hand,

Having regard to the Commission proposal [1],

[1] OJ C [...], [...], p. [...]

Whereas:

(1) Article 116 of the said Europe Agreement provides that the Association Council may decide to set up any special committee or body that can assist it in carrying out its duties,

(2) Dialogue and co-operation between the regional and local authorities in the European Union and Lithuania can make a major contribution to the full implementation of the Europe Agreement,

(3) It seems appropriate that such co-operation should be between the members of the Committee of the Regions of the European Communities and representatives of Lithuania's regional and local authorities,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

The position to be adopted by the Community within the Association Council established by Article 111 of the Europe Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Lithuania, of the other part, in relation to the establishment of a Joint Consultative Committee shall be based on the draft decision of the said Association Council which is annexed to the present decision.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President

ANNEX

DRAFT DECISION N°..../2001 of the Association Council

between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Lithuania, of the other part, amending, through the setting-up of a Joint Consultative Committee, Decision N° 1/98 adopting the rules of procedure of the Association Council (2001/.../EC)

THE ASSOCIATION COUNCIL,

Having regard to the Europe Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Lithuania, of the other part [2], and in particular Article 116 thereof,

[2] OJ L 51 of 20.2.1998, p. 3.

Whereas:

(1) Dialogue and co-operation between regional and local authorities in the European Union and those in Lithuania can make a major contribution to the development of EU-Lithuania relations,

(2) It seems appropriate that such co-operation should be organised at the level of the members of the Committee of the Regions of the European Communities, of the one part, and of the representatives of Lithuania's regional and local authorities, of the other part, by the setting up of a Joint Consultative Committee;

(3) This means that the rules of procedures of the Association Council, adopted by Decision N°.1/98, need to be amended accordingly,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The following Articles shall be added to the rules of procedures of the Association Council:

"Article 15

Joint Consultative Committee

A Joint Consultative Committee is hereby established with the task of promoting dialogue and co-operation between the regional and local authorities in the European Community and Lithuania. Such dialogue and co-operation shall encompass all regional aspects of relations between the European Community and Lithuania, as they arise in the context of 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 eight representatives of the Committee of the Regions of the European Communities and eight representatives of Lithuania's regional and local authorities.

The Joint Consultative Committee shall carry out its activities on the basis of consultation by the Association Council or 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 regional and local authorities in both the European Community and Lithuania.

The Joint Consultative Committee shall be co-chaired by a member of the Committee of the Regions of the European Communities and a Lithuanian member.

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

Article 17

The Committee of the Regions of the European Communities, on the one hand, and Lithuania's regional and local authorities, on the other hand, shall each defray the expenses they incur by reason of their participation in the meetings of 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 Committee of the Regions, with the exception of expenditure in connection with interpreting or translation into or from Lithuanian, which shall be borne by Lithuania's regional and local authorities.

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,

For the Association Council

The President