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 Lithuania
Date: 2002-02-07
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Lithuania, advisory committee (EU), agreement (EU), joint committee on EU matters

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 7.2.2002
COM(2002) 61 final

2002/0042 (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 Lithuania

(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 Republic of
Lithuania, on the other hand, which entered into force on 1 February 1998, provides,
in Article 116 thereof, that the Association Council may decide to set up any special
committee or body that can assist it in carrying out its duties.

Though the establishment of a consultative mechanism for dialogue between the
social and economic interest groups of the two Parties is not explicitly provided for
in the aforementioned Europe Agreement, the Commission proposes 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 six representatives of
the economic and social interest groups, on the part of Lithuania.

The proposed Joint Consultative Committee is intended to constitute a forum for
dialogue and co-operation between the social partners of both sides which would be
equally beneficial to the Lithuanian 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 famialirise
themselves with the social dimension of the reforms of the economic and social
structures taking place in Lithuania. The Association Council may also consult the
proposed Joint Consultative Committee before taking decisions in areas of obvious
social interest. Consultation of the committees remains, however, at the discretion of
the Association Council.

The establishment of the proposed Joint Consultative Committee does not have any
the Lithuanian participants being
financial
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 of the position to be taken by the
Community in the Association Council, as provided for by Article 2(1) of the
Council and Commission decision of 19.12.1997 on the conclusion of
the
aforementioned Europe Agreement, is attached hereto. The Council is asked to adopt
this text after consultation of the Parliament. .

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2002/0042 (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 Lithuania

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the 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 19.12.1997 on
conclusion of the Europe Agreement establishing an Association between the European
Communities and their Member States, on the one hand, and the Republic of Lithuania, on the
other hand,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission1,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

Article 116 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,

Dialogue and co-operation between economic and social
interest groups in the
European Union and Lithuania 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 representatives of
Lithuania’s economic and social interest groups,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

1

OJ C […], […], p. […].

3

The position to be adopted by the Community within the Association Council established by
Article 111 of the Europe Agreement establishing an Association between the European
Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Lithuania, 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 N°..../2001

of the Association Council

between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the
Republic of Lithuania, of the other part, amending, through the setting-up of a Joint
Consultative Committee, Decision N° 1/98 adopting the rules of procedure of the
Association Council (2001/…/EC)

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 Lithuania, of the
other part2, and in particular Article 116 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

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

it seems appropriate that such co-operation should be organised at the level of the
members of the Economic and Social Committee of the European Communities, of
the one part, and of the representatives of Lithuania's economic and social interest
groups, of the other part, by the setting up of a Joint Consultative Committee;

this means that the rules of procedures of the Association Council, adopted by
Decision N°.1/98, need to be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING DECISION:

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

Article 1

“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 Community
and Lithuania. Such dialogue and co-operation shall encompass all economic and social
aspects of relations between the European Community and Lithuania, as they arise in the
context of implementation of the Europe Agreement. The Joint Consultative Committee shall
express its views on questions arising in these areas.

2

OJ L 51 of 20.02.1998, p.3.

5

Article 16

The Joint Consultative Committee shall comprise six representatives of the Economic and
Social Committee of the European Communities and six representatives of Lithuania’s
economic and social interest groups.

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

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
Community and Lithuania.

The Joint Consultative Committee shall be co-chaired by a member of the Economic and
Social Committee of the European Communities and a Lithuanian 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
Lithuania’s economic and social interest groups, on the other hand, shall each defray the
expenses they incur by reason of their participation in the meetings of 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 borne by the Economic and Social Committee, with the exception of
expenditure in connection with interpreting or translation into or from Lithuanian, which shall
be borne by Lithuania’s economic and social interest groups.

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

Article2

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

Done at Brussels,

For the Association Council
The President

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