2002/135/EC: Decision No 5/2001 of the EU-Poland Association Council of 28 September 2001 amending, through the setting up of a Joint Consultative Committee between the Committee of the Regions and the Polish Liaison Committee for Cooperation with the Committee of the Regions, Decision No 1/94 adopting the rules of procedure of the Association Council
Date: 2001-09-28
Institutions: EC–Poland Association Council
Subjects: Association Council (EU), Poland, accession to the European Union, cooperation policy, joint body (EU), regional policy

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COUNCIL

DECISION No 5/2001 OF THE EU-POLAND ASSOCIATION COUNCIL

of 28 September 2001

amending, through the setting up of a Joint Consultative Committee between the Committee of the
Regions and the Polish Liaison Committee for Cooperation with the Committee of the Regions,
Decision No 1/94 adopting the rules of procedure of the Association Council

(2002/135/EC)

THE ASSOCIATION COUNCIL,

Having regard to the Europe Agreement establishing an asso-
ciation between the European Communities and their Member
States, of the one part, and the Republic of Poland, of the other
part (1), and in particular Article 107 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

Dialogue and cooperation between the regional and
local authorities in the European Community and those
in Poland can make a major contribution to the develop-
ment of their relations and to the integration of Europe.

It seems appropriate that such cooperation should be
organised at the level of the Committee of the Regions,
of the one part, and of the Polish Liaison Committee for
Cooperation with the Committee of the Regions, of the
other part, by setting up a Joint Consultative Committee.

It follows that the rules of procedure of the Association
Council, adopted by Decision No 1/94, 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 18

A Joint Consultative Committee (hereinafter referred to as
is hereby established with the task of
the “Committee”)
assisting the Association Council with a view to promoting
dialogue and cooperation between the regional and local
authorities in the European Community and regional (woje-

(1) OJ L 348, 31.12.1993, p. 2.

wództwo level) and local (powiat and gmina level) authori-
ties in Poland (hereinafter referred to as “Polish regional
and local authorities”). Such dialogue and cooperation shall
be aimed in particular at:

1. preparing Polish regional and local authorities

for
activity in the framework of future membership of the
European Union;

2. preparing Polish regional and local authorities for their
the

the Committee of

participation in the work of
Regions after the accession of Poland;

3. exchanging information on current

issues of mutual
interest,
in particular on the up-to-date state of play
concerning Community regional policy and accession
process as well as preparation of Polish regional and
local authorities for these policies;

4. encouraging multilateral structured dialogue between (a)
Polish regional and local authorities and (b) regions
from EU Member States, including through networking
in specific areas where direct contacts and cooperation
between Polish regional and local authorities and
regional and local authorities from EU Member States
might prove the most effective way of solving particular
problems;

5. providing regular exchange of

information on inter-
regional cooperation between Polish regional and local
authorities and regional and local authorities from EU
Member States;

6. encouraging exchange of experience and knowledge in
the field of regional policy and structural interventions,
between (a) Polish regional and local authorities, and (b)
regional 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;

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7. assisting Polish 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;

8. discussing any other relevant matters proposed by any
side, as they may arise in the context of implementation
of the Europe Agreement and in the framework of the
pre-accession strategy.

Article 19

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

the Polish Liaison Committee

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 Asso-
ciation Council.

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

Liaison Committee for Cooperation with the Committee of
the Regions.

Article 20

The Committee of the Regions, on the one hand, and the
for Cooperation with the
Polish Liaison Committee
Committee of the Regions, on the other hand, shall each
defray the expenses they incur by reason of their participa-
tion in the meetings of the Committee with regard to staff,
travel and subsistence expenditure and to postal and tele-
communications 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 Polish, which shall be borne by the Polish
Liaison Committee for Cooperation 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.’

Article 2

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

The Committee shall adopt its Rules of Procedure.

Done at Brussels, 28 September 2001.

The Committee shall meet at intervals which it shall itself
determine in its Rules of Procedure.

The Committee shall be co-chaired by a member of the
Committee of the Regions and a member of the Polish

For the Association Council

The President

W. BARTOSZEWSKI