Proposal for a Council Decision on the Community position to be adopted in the Cooperation Council established by the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Russian Federation, of the other part, in relation to the establishment of a joint High-Level Group to elaborate the concept of a common European economic space
Date: 2001-11-19
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Association Council (EU), European Economic Area, Russia, cooperation agreement (EU), cooperation policy, enlargement of the Union

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 19.11.2001
COM(2001) 673 final

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the Community position to be adopted in the Cooperation Council established by the
Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their
Member States, of the one part, and the Russian Federation, of the other part, in
relation to the establishment of a joint High-Level Group to elaborate the concept of a
common European economic space

(presented by the Commission)

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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

The  Partnership  and  Cooperation  Agreement  (PCA)  between  the  EU  and  Russia
provides,  in  Article  93  thereof,  that  the  Cooperation  Council  established  by
Article 90  of  the  Agreement  may  decide  to  set  up  any  other  special  committees  or
body that can assist it in carrying out its duties.

The  attached  proposal  for  a  Council  Decision  on  the  position  to  be  taken  by  the
Community  in  the  Cooperation  Council  provides  for  the  establishment  by  the
Cooperation  Council  of  a  joint  High-Level  Group  to  elaborate  the  concept  of  a
common European economic space. On the Community side, the High-Level Group
should be chaired by a representative of the Commission. The Commission intends to
invite a representative of the Presidency to participate.

The  task  of  the  Group  will  be  to  elaborate  a  concept  for  a  closer  economic
relationship  between  Russia  and  the  EU.  The  High-Level  Group  will  consider  the
opportunities offered by greater economic integration and legislative approximation
and assess  options for further  work.  It  will  also  identify  means  and  mechanisms  to
achieve  common  objectives  and  consider  the  time-scale  for  implementation.  in  its
work,  the  High-Level  Group  will  not  replace  or  duplicate  the  activities  of  the
cooperation bodies created within the PCA. If need be, existing PCA bodies will give
any technical input to the work of the High-Level Group. If necessary experts of both
sides could be invited to take part in the work of the Group. The High-Level Group
will fully take into consideration the obligations that result from the current or future
participation of the parties in the World Trade Organization.

The outcome of discussions in the High-Level Group will be brought to the attention
of  relevant  PCA  bodies  (including  summits).  The  mandate  and  its  implementation
will be reviewed at the EU-Russia Summit not later than October 2003.

The  text  of  the  proposal  for  a  Council  Decision  on  the  position  to  be  taken  by  the
Community in the Cooperation Council, as provided for by Article 2 paragraph 1 of
the Council and Commission Decision of 30 October 1997 on the conclusion of the
aforementioned Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, is attached. The Council is
asked to adopt this text.

2

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the Community position to be adopted in the Cooperation Council established by the
Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their
Member States, of the one part, and the Russian Federation, of the other part, in
relation to the establishment of a joint High-Level Group to elaborate the concept of a
common European economic space

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Article 2 (1) of Council and Commission Decision of 30 October 1997 on
the  conclusion  of  the  Partnership  and  Cooperation  Agreement  between  the  European
Communities  and  their  Member  States,  of  the  one  part,  and  the  Russian  Federation,  of  the
other part1,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission2,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

At the EU – Russia Summit on 3 October 2001, the parties agreed to establish a joint
High-Level Group to elaborate the concept of a common European economic space,

Article  93  of  the  said  Partnership  and  Cooperation  Agreement  provides  that  the
Cooperation Council may decide to set up any other special committees or body that
can assist it in carrying out its duties,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

1

2

OJ L 327, 28.11.1997, p.1.
OJ C …

3

                                                
Sole Article

1.

2.

The position to be adopted by the Community in the Cooperation Council established
by Article 90 of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European
Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Russian Federation,
of  the  other  part,  in  relation  to  the  establishment  of  a  joint  High-Level  Group  to
elaborate the concept of a common European economic space, shall be in accordance
with the annex to the present Decision.

For the Community, the High-Level Group shall be chaired by a representative of the
Commission.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council
The President

4

THE COOPERATION COUNCIL,

ANNEX

Having  regard  to  the  Agreement  on  Partnership  and  Cooperation  between  the  European
Communities  and  their  Member  States,  of  the  one  part,  and  the  Russian  Federation,  of  the
other part, and in particular Article 93 thereof;

Whereas:

(1)

At the EU – Russia Summit on 3 October 2001, the parties agreed to establish a joint
High-Level Group to elaborate the concept of a common European economic space,

(2)

The High-Level Group should be established by the Cooperation Council,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

The  High-Level  Group  to  elaborate  the  concept  of  a  common  European  economic  space  is
hereby established. The terms of reference of the High-Level Group are attached.

Sole Article

Done [by written procedure],

For the Cooperation Council
The Chairman
The Secretaries:

For the Russian Federation

For the European Community

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ANNEX

EU-Russia High-Level Group charged with elaborating the concept of a common
European economic space

The High-Level Group will meet in principle twice a year.

The Group will be co-chaired by representatives of the Russian Federation and of the
European Union.

The  task  of  the  High-Level  Group  is  to  elaborate  a  concept  for  a  closer  economic
relationship between Russia and the EU, based on the wider goal of bringing the EU
and  Russia  closer  together.  The  High-Level  Group  will  consider  the  opportunities
offered  by  greater  economic  integration  and  legislative  approximation  and  assess
options  for  further  work.  It  will  also  identify  means  and  mechanisms  to  achieve
common objectives and consider the time-scale for implementation. In its work, the
High-Level  Group  will  not  replace  or  duplicate  the  activities  of  the  cooperation
bodies  created  within  the  PCA.  If  need  be,  existing  PCA  bodies  will  give  any
technical  input  to  the  work  of  the  High-Level  Group.  If  necessary  experts  of  both
sides could be invited to take part in the work of the Group. The High-Level Group
will fully take into consideration the obligations that result from the current or future
participation of the parties in the World Trade Organization.

The  High-Level  Group  will  define  the  core  elements  which  will  need  to  be  put  in
place in order to create a common European economic space.

The outcome of discussions in the High-Level Group will be brought to the attention
of relevant PCA bodies, including summits. The mandate and its implementation will
be reviewed by the EU-Russia Summit not later than October 2003.

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