2004/35/EC: Decision No 2/2003 of the EU-Slovenia Association Council of 18 February 2003 amending, through the setting up of a Joint Consultative Committee between the Committee of the Regions and the Slovenian Liaison Committee for Cooperation with the Committee of the Regions, Decision No 1/1999 adopting the rules of procedure of the Association Council
Date: 2003-02-18
Institutions: EC–Slovenia Association Council
Subjects: Slovenia, advisory committee (EU), association agreement (EU), cooperation policy, joint committee on EU matters, rules of procedure

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Official Journal of the European Union

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II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COUNCIL

DECISION No 2/2003 OF THE EU-SLOVENIA ASSOCIATION COUNCIL

of 18 February 2003

amending, through the setting up of a Joint Consultative Committee between the Committee of
the Regions and the Slovenian Liaison Committee for Cooperation with the Committee of the
Regions, Decision No 1/1999 adopting the rules of procedure of the Association Council

(2004/35/EC)

THE ASSOCIATION COUNCIL,

Having regard to the Europe Agreement establishing an asso-
ciation between the European Communities and their Member
States, acting within the framework of the European Union, of
the one part, and the Republic of Slovenia, of the other part (1)
and in particular Article 115 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

Dialogue and cooperation between the regional and local
authorities in the Community and those in Slovenia 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 Slovenian Liaison Committee
for Cooperation with the Committee of the Regions, of
the other part, by setting up of a Joint Consultative
Committee.

It follows that the rules of procedure of the Association
Council, adopted by Decision No 1/1999, need to be
amended accordingly,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Decision No 1/1999 shall be amended by adding the following
Articles:

‘Article 18

A Joint Consultative Committee (hereinafter referred to as
the Committee)
is hereby established with the task of
assisting the Association Council with a view to promoting

(1) OJ L 51, 26.2.1999, p. 3.

dialogue and cooperation between the regional and local
authorities in the Community and those in Slovenia. Such
dialogue and cooperation shall be aimed in particular at:

1. preparing Slovenian regional and local authorities for
activity in the framework of future membership of the
European Union;

2. preparing Slovenian regional and local authorities for
their participation in the work of the Committee of the
Regions after the accession of Slovenia;

3. exchanging information on current

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

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

5. providing regular exchange of

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

6. encouraging exchange of experience and knowledge in
the field of regional policy and structural interventions,
between (a) Slovenian regional and local authorities and
(b) regional and local authorities from Member States, in
particular
concerning
preparation of regional and local development plans or
strategies and most efficient use of Structural Funds;

know-how and

techniques

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Official Journal of the European Union

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7. assisting Slovenian 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 19

The Committee shall comprise eight representatives of the
Committee of the Regions, on the one hand, and eight
representatives of
the Slovenian 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.

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 Community and
Slovenia.

The Committee shall adopt its 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 Slovenian
Liaison Committee for Cooperation with the Committee of
the Regions.

Article 20

The Committee of the Regions, on the one hand, and the
Slovenian 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 Slovenian, which shall be borne by the Slove-
for Cooperation with the
nian Liaison Committee
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, 18 February 2003.

For the Association Council

The President

G. PAPANDREOU