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 the Czech Republic
Date: 2001-04-19
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Association Council (EU), Czechia, accession to the European Union, association agreement (EU), cooperation policy, joint committee on EU matters

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 19.04.2001
COM (2001) 189 final

2001/0094 (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 THE CZECH REPUBLIC

(presented by the Commission)

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

The Europe Agreement establishing an Association between the European
Communities and their Member States, on the one hand, and the Czech Republic, on
the other hand, which entered into force on 1 February 1995, provides, in Article 109
thereof,
the Association Council may decide to set up any other special
committee or body that can assist it in carrying out its duties.

that

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,
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 both sides, represented by the Committee of the Regions, on the part of
the Community, and by the Czech Liaison Committee for Co-operation with the
Committee of the Region of the European Communities, on the part of the Czech
Republic.

the Commission proposes

The proposed Joint consultative committee is intended to constitute a forum for
dialogue and co-operation between the regional and local authorities in the European
Community and regional and local authorities in the Czech Republic, which can
make a major contribution to the development of their relations and to the integration
of Europe. The dialogue and co-operation will prepare for future work with the
Committee of the Regions and for membership of the European Union; facilitate
exchanging information on current issues of mutual interest, in particular on up-to-
date state of play concerning EU regional policy and accession process; encourage
information exchange in practical implementation of the principle of subsidiarity in
all aspects of life on regional and local level; discussing any other relevant matters
proposed by any side, as they can arise in the context of implementation of the
Europe Agreement and in the framework of the Pre-accession Strategy. The
Association Council may also consult the proposed Joint consultative committee
before taking decisions in areas of obvious regional 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 impact on the Community budget, the Czech 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.

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
the
Council and Commission decision of 19.12.1994 on the conclusion of
aforementioned Europe Agreement, is attached hereto. The Council is asked to adopt
this text after consultation of the European Parliament.

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2001/0094 (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 THE CZECH REPUBLIC

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, second and third indent, of the Treaty establishing
the European Community,

Having regard to Article 2 (1) of the Council and Commission Decision of 19.12.1994 on
conclusion of the Europe Agreement establishing an Association between the European
Communities and their Member States, on the one hand, and the Czech Republic, on the other
hand,

Having regard to the Commission proposal,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

Article 109 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,

dialogues and co-operation between regional and local authorities in the European
Union and the Czech Republic 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
Committee of the Regions of the European Communities and of the Czech Liaison
Committee for Co-operation with the Committee of the Regions of the European
Communities

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

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The position to be adopted by the Community within the Association Council established by
Article 104 of the Europe Agreement establishing an Association between the European
Communities and their Member States, on the one hand, and the Czech Republic, on the other
hand, 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. .../2001 OF THE ASSOCIATION COUNCIL
BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES AND THEIR MEMBER STATES, OF
THE ONE PART, AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC, OF THE OTHER PART

amending, through the setting up of a Joint Consultative Committee between the Committee
of the Regions and the Czech Liaison Committee for Co-operation with the Committee of the
Regions, Decision No. 1/95 adopting 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 Czech Republic, of the other
part1 and in particular Article 109 thereof;

Whereas dialogue and co-operation between the regional and local authorities in the European
Community and those in the Czech Republic can make a major contribution to the
development of their relations and to the integration of Europe;

Whereas it seems appropriate that such co-operation should be organised at the level of the
Committee of the Regions of the one part, and of the Czech Liaison Committee for
Co-operation with the Committee of the Regions, of the other part, by setting up of a Joint
consultative committee;

Whereas this means that the rules of procedure of the Association Council, adopted by
Decision No. 1/95, need to be amended accordingly;

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

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

"Article 16

A Joint Consultative Committee (hereinafter referred to as "Committee") is hereby established
with the task of assisting the Association Council with a view to promoting dialogue and co-
operation between the regional and local authorities in the European Community and those in
the Czech Republic. Such dialogue and co-operation shall be aimed in particular at:

1.

2.

1

preparing Czech regions and local authorities for activity in the framework of future
membership of the European Union;

preparing Czech regions and local authorities for their participation in the work of
the Committee of the Regions after accession of the Czech Republic;

OJ L 360 of 31.12.1994, p. 2.

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3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

exchanging information on current issues of mutual interest, in particular on up-to-
date state of play concerning EU regional policy and accession process as well as
preparation of Czech regions and local authorities for these policies;

encouraging multilateral structured dialogue between a) Czech regions and local
authorities and b) regions from EU Member States, including through networking in
specific areas where direct contacts and co-operation between regions and local
authorities from the Czech Republic and EU Member States might prove the most
effective way of solving particular problems;

providing regular exchange of information on inter-regional co-operation between
regional and local authorities from the Czech Republic and Member States;

encouraging exchange of experience and knowledge in the field of regional policy
and structural interventions, between a) Czech regions and local authorities and b)
regions and local authorities from EU Member States, in particular know-how and
techniques concerning preparation of regional and local development plans or
strategies and most efficient use of Structural Funds;

assisting Czech regional and local authorities by means of information exchange in
practical implementation of the principle of subsidiarity in all aspects of life on
regional and local level;

discussing any other relevant matters proposed by any side, as they can arise in the
context of implementation of the Europe Agreement and in the framework of the Pre-
accession Strategy.

Article 17

The Committee shall comprise eight representatives of the Committee of the Regions, on the
one hand, and eight representatives of the Czech Liaison Committee for Co-operation with the
Committee of the Regions, on the other hand. An equal number of alternate members shall be
appointed.

The Committee shall carry out its activities on the basis of consultation by the Association
Council or, as concerns the promotion of the dialogue between the regional and local
authorities, on its own initiative.

The Committee may make recommendations to the Association Council.

Members shall be chosen to ensure that the Committee is as faithful a reflection as possible of
the various levels of regional and local authorities in both the European Community and the
Czech Republic.

The Committee shall adopt its own Rules of Procedure.

The Committee shall meet at
Procedure.

intervals, which it shall

itself determine in its Rules of

The Committee shall be co-chaired by a member of the Committee of the Regions of the
European Community and a member of the Czech Liaison Committee for co-operation with
the Committee of the Regions.

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Article 18

The Committee of the Regions, on the one hand, and the Czech Liaison Committee for Co-
operation with the Committee of the Regions, on the other hand, shall each defray the
expenses they incur by reason of their participation in the meetings of the Committee 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 Czech, which shall be borne by the
Czech Liaison Committee for Co-operation with the Committee of the Regions.

Other expenditure relating to the material organisation of meetings shall be borne by the Party
which hosts the meetings."

This Decision shall enter into force on the first day of the second month following the date of
its adoption.

Article 2

Done at Brussels,

For the Association Council

The Chairman:

The Secretaries:

For the Czech side

For the European Community

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