5.5.2.

The EESC believes that every agreement signed must comprise a protocol on the functioning of the domestic advisory groups establishing a sound institutional framework for the rules governing the DAGs which apply to both parties to the agreement (EU and partner countries). Specifically, this protocol would: (a) lay down the criteria for selecting DAG members, with a view to ensuring that they are both representative, equally distributed among stakeholders and independent (see paragraph 4.3.3); (b) stipulate the requirement to give a seat as external observers on the DAGs to both the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Giving the ILO a seat would enable it to monitor the enactment of ILO conventions in free trade agreements, using the internal supervisory mechanism and providing the parties to the negotiations with a specific report focusing on any problems in the implementation of the social standards of the TSD Chapter. The OECD’s involvement would enable it, through the National Contact Points and the relevant governments, to monitor the implementation of the guidelines for multinationals, particularly downstream of the supply chain. The assessments drawn up by these bodies would not be binding upon the DAGs; (c) give the DAG a proactive role in triggering dispute settlement proceedings relating to all areas of the agreement and brought by the DAGs to the Chief Trade Enforcement Officer (CTEO); (d) establish a timeframe for devising binding roadmaps for the commitments set out in the agreement, setting clear deadlines for ratifying them; (e) update the guide for implementing the commitments set out in the agreement, establishing a set of qualitative and quantitative indicators for monitoring the agreement on an in itinere and ex post basis; (f) set the date for submission of the independent ex post impact assessment of the agreement by each of the parties to the agreement (EU and partner countries) if the parties deem it appropriate to bring forward the five-year deadline; (g) establish the number of meetings to be held by each DAG during the year for each of the parties to the agreement (EU and partner countries); (h) stipulate the requirement to hold an annual meeting between the EU and partner country DAGs; (i) stipulate the requirement to hold an annual meeting between the EU and partner country DAGs in Brussels with the active participation of all DAG members; (j) stipulate the requirement to set up an online platform where DAG participants can grasp the importance of learning from each other; exchange all necessary information, for example on specific topics (labour rights, human rights, trade impact of organic farming rules, etc.); share possible best practices; and set up dedicated online training courses for DAG participants; (k) establish a meetings schedule which will enable the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council to take stock of the state of play of the DAG’s proceedings; (l) ascertain the financial resources needed for the DAGs to function; (m) stipulate the requirement to draw up an annual report on the activities of each DAG. In this report, the DAGs will be able to establish their priorities and recommendations for the implementation of the TSD Chapter and the European Commission will be required to incorporate these priorities and recommendations into the EU priorities for the implementation of the TSD Chapter, or explain why they are not being taken on board; (n) stipulate the requirement that the EESC be entrusted with organising the EU’s DAG and providing technical assistance for the cross-border meeting of the EU and partner countries DAGs. The EESC secretariat will provide technical assistance with identifying counterparts in the partner countries (on the basis of the criteria set out in paragraph 4.3.3), and assist the DAG chairs in establishing the agenda, managing the meetings, drafting meeting reports, presenting reports to the EU institutions and civil society and taking responsibility for providing the necessary information.