2003/118/EC: Decision No 4/2002 of the EU-Bulgaria Association Council of 20 November 2002 amending, through the setting up of a Joint Consultative Committee between the Committee of the Regions and the Bulgarian Liaison Committee for Cooperation with the Committee of the Regions, Decision No 1/95 adopting the rules of procedure of the Association Council
Date: 2002-11-20
Institutions: EC–Bulgaria Association Council
Subjects: Association Council (EU), Bulgaria, EEA Joint Consultative Committee, European Committee of the Regions, cooperation policy, regional policy, rules of procedure

L 47/44

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

21.2.2003

DECISION No 4/2002 OF THE EU-BULGARIA ASSOCIATION COUNCIL

of 20 November 2002

amending, through the setting up of a Joint Consultative Committee between the Committee of
the Regions and the Bulgarian Liaison Committee for Cooperation with the Committee of the
Regions, Decision No 1/95 adopting the rules of procedure of the Association Council

(2003/118/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 Bulgaria, of the
other part (1), and in particular Article 110 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

Dialogue and cooperation between the regional and local
authorities in the European Community and those in the
Republic of Bulgaria can make a major contribution to
the development 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 Bulgarian Liaison Committee
for Cooperation with the Committee of the Regions, of
the other part, by setting up a Joint Consultative
Committee.

This means that the rules of procedure of the Associa-
tion Council, adopted by Decision No 1/95 (2), 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 15

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 cooperation between the regional and local authorities
in the European Community and those in the Republic of
Bulgaria. Such dialogue and cooperation shall be aimed in
particular at:

(1) preparing Bulgarian regions and local authorities for
activity in the framework of future membership of the
European Union;

(2) preparing Bulgarian regions and local authorities for
their participation in the work of the Committee of the
Regions after accession of the Republic of Bulgaria;

(1) OJ L 358, 31.12.1994, p. 3.
(2) OJ L 255, 25.10.1995, p. 19.

(3) 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 Bulgarian regions and local
authorities for these policies;

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

(5) providing regular exchange of information on inter-
regional cooperation between regional and local autho-
rities from the Republic of Bulgaria and Member States;

(6) encouraging exchange of experience and knowledge in
the field of regional policy and structural interventions,
between (a) Bulgarian regions and local authorities and
(b) regions and local authorities from EU Member
States,
techniques
concerning preparation of regional and local develop-
ment plans or strategies and most efficient use of Struc-
tural Funds;

know-how and

particular

in

(7) assisting Bulgarian regional and local authorities by
means of information exchange in practical implemen-
tation 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 can arise in the context of implementation
of the Europe Agreement and in the framework of the
pre-accession strategy.

Article 16

The Committee shall comprise eight representatives of the
Committee of the Regions, on the one hand, and eight
representatives of
the Bulgarian Liaison Committee for
Cooperation 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 Asso-
ciation Council.

21.2.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

L 47/45

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 Republic of Bulgaria.

The Committee shall adopt its own Rules of Procedure.

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 Bulgarian
Liaison Committee for cooperation with the Committee of
the Regions.

Article 17

The Committee of the Regions, on the one hand, and the
Bulgarian Liaison Committee for Cooperation with the
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 Bulgarian, which shall be borne by the
Bulgarian 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 meet-
ings.’

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, 20 November 2002.

For the Association Council

The Chairman

M. S. PASSY