Proposal for a Council Decision on the position to be taken by the Community within the Association Council established by the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, on the one part, and the Republic of Slovenia, of the other part with regard to the establishment of a Joint Consultative Committee by the EU-Slovenia Association Council
Date: 2001-01-31
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Association Council (EU), Slovenia, advisory committee (EU), economic policy, social policy

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 31.01.2001
COM(2001) 52 final

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the position to be taken by the Community within the Association Council
established by the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and
their Member States, on the one part, and the Republic of Slovenia, of the other
part with regard to the establishment of a Joint Consultative Committee by the
EU-Slovenia Association Council

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

The Europe Agreement establishing an Association between the European
Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Slovenia,
of the other part, which entered into force on 1 February 1999, provides, in the article
115 thereof, that the Association Council may decide to set up any other special
committee or body that can assist it in carrying out its duties.

The Joint Declaration N(cid:176) 17 of the Europe Agreement referring to Article 115 agreed
“that the Association Council, in accordance with Article 115 of the Agreement, will
examine the creation of a consultative mechanism composed of members of the
Economic and Social Committee of the European Union and the correspondent
partners of Slovenia.”

The Commission proposes therefore that a Joint Consultative Committee representing
the social and economic interest groups of both parties be set up by the Association
Council in support of the keen interest expressed, in this respect, by the social partners
from both sides, represented by the Economic and Social Committee, on the part of
the Community, and by the Slovenian economic and social partners on the part of the
Republic of Slovenia.

The proposed Joint Consultative Committee is intended to constitute a forum for
dialogue between the social partners of both sides which would be equally beneficial
to the Slovenian social partners, who will familiarise themselves with the process of
consultation taking place within the Economic and Social Committee and with the
dialogue between the social partners in the European Union in general, and to the
social partners of the European Union who will familiarise themselves with the social
dimension of the reforms of the economic and social structures taking place in the
Republic of Slovenia. The Association Council may also consult the proposed Joint
Consultative Committee before taking decisions in areas of obvious social interest.
Consultation of the committee remains, however, at the discretion of the Association
Council.

The establishment of the proposed Joint Consultative Committee does not have any
financial
the Slovenian participants being
responsible for their own expenses and the expenses on the Community side being
covered by the budget of the Economic and Social Committee.

impact on the Community budget,

The text of the proposal for a Council decision on the position to be taken by the
Community in the Association Council, as provided for by Article 2(1) of the Council
and the Commission decision of 21 December 1998 on the conclusion of the
aforementioned Europe Agreement, is attached hereto.

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Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the position to be taken by the Community within the Association Council
established by the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and
their Member States, on the one part, and the Republic of Slovenia, of the other
part with regard to the establishment of a Joint Consultative Committee by the
EU-Slovenia Association Council

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 in particular to Article 300 (2), second and third subparagraphs, of the
Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Article 2(1) of the Council and Commission Decision of 21
the Europe Agreement establishing an
December 1998 on the conclusion of
Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one
part, and the Republic of Slovenia, of the other part,

Having regard to the Commission proposal1,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

the Association
Article 115 of the said Europe Agreement provides that
Council may decide to set up any special committee or body that can assist it
in carrying out its duties.

Dialogue and co-operation between economic and social interest groups in the
European Union and the Republic of Slovenia can make a major contribution
to the full implementation of the Europe Agreement.

It seems appropriate that such co-operation should be between the members of
the Economic and Social Committee of the European Communities and the
Republic of Slovenia’s economic and social partners,

1

OJ C …, …, p. …

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HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

The position to be adopted by the Community within the Association Council
established by the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their
Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Slovenia, 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

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ANNEX

DRAFT DECISION NO ....../00

of the Association Council

between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the
Republic of Slovenia, of the other part, of ......... 2000 amending, through the setting-up
of a Joint Consultative Committee, Decision No 1/1999 establishing the rules of
procedure of the Association Council.

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
Slovenia, of the other part, and in particular Article 115 thereof,

whereas dialogue and co-operation between economic and social interest groups in
the European Union and the Republic of Slovenia can make a major contribution to
the development of EU-Slovenian relations,

whereas it seems appropriate that such co-operation be organised between the
members of the Economic and Social Committee of the European Communities and
the Republic of Slovenia’s economic and social partners, by the setting up of a Joint
Consultative Committee,

whereas this means that the rules of procedure of the Association Council, adopted by
Decision 1/1999, have to be amended accordingly

has adopted the following decision:

Article 1

The following rules shall be added to the rules of procedure 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 economic and social interest groups in the
European Union and the Republic of Slovenia. Such dialogue and Co-operation shall
encompass all economic and social aspects of relations between the European Union
and the Republic of Slovenia, as they arise in the context of the implementation of the
Europe Agreement. The Joint Consultative Committee shall express its views on
questions arising in these areas.

Article 16

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The Joint Consultative Committee shall comprise four
Economic and Social Committee of
representatives of the Republic of Slovenia’s economic and social interest groups.

the
the European Communities and four

representatives of

The Joint Consultative Committee shall carry out
consultation by the Association Council or on its own initiative.

its activities on the basis of

Members shall be chosen to ensure that the Joint Consultative Committee is as
faithful a reflection as possible of the various economic and social interest groups in
both the European Union and the Republic of Slovenia.

The Joint Consultative Committee shall be co-chaired by a member of the Economic
and Social Committee of the European Communities and a Slovenian member.

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

Article 17

The Economic and Social Committee of the European Communities, on the one hand,
and the Slovenian economic and social interest groups, on the other hand, shall each
defray the expenses they incur by reason of their participation in the meetings for 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 born by the Economic and Social Committee, with the
exception of Slovenian expenditure in connection with interpreting or translation into
or from Slovenian, which shall be born by the Slovenian economic and social interest
groups.

Other expenditure relating to the material organisation of meetings shall be born 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,

the Association Council

For
The President

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