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 Romania
Date: 2004-10-18
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Association Council (EU), Romania, accession to the European Union, advisory committee (EU), agreement (EU), regional cooperation

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COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 18.10.2004 
COM(2004) 677 final 

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 ROMANIA 

(presented by the Commission) 

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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

The  European  Agreement  establishing  an  association  between  the  European 
Communities  and  their  Member  States,  of  the  one  part,  and  Romania,  of  the  other 
part, which entered into force on February 1995, provides, in Article 111 thereof, that 
the  Association  Council  may  decide  to  set  up  any  other  special  committee  or  body 
that can assist it in carrying out its duties.  

Though  the  establishment  of  a  consultative  mechanism  for  dialogue  between  the 
regional and local authorities of the two parties is not explicitly provided for in the 
aforementioned  Europe  Agreement, 
that  a  Joint 
Consultative  Committee  representing  the  regional  and  local  authorities  of  both 
parties be set up by the Association Council in support of the keen interest expressed, 
in  this  respect,  by  both  sides,  represented  by  the  Committee  of  the  Regions,  of  the 
part  of  the  Community,  and  by  the  Romanian  Liaison  Committee  for  Co-operation 
with  the  Committee  of  the  Regions  of  the  European  Communities,  of  the  part  of 
Romania. 

the  Commission  proposes 

The  proposed  Joint  Consultative  Committee  is  intended  to  constitute  a  forum  for 
dialogue and co-operation between the regional and local authorities in the European 
Community and regional and local authorities in Romania, which can make a major 
contribution  to  the  development  of  their  relations  and  to  the  integration  of  Europe. 
The  dialogue  and  co-operation  will  prepare  for  future  work  with  the  Committee  of 
the  Regions  and  for  membership  for  the  European  Union;  facilitate  exchanging 
information on current issues of mutual interest, in particular on up-to-date state of 
play  concerning  EU  regional  policy  and  accession  process;  encourage  information 
exchange in practical implementation of the principle of subsidiarity in all aspects of 
life  on  regional  and  local  level;  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.  The Association  Council may 
also  consult  the  proposed  Joint  Consultative  Committee  before  taking  decisions  in 
areas  of  obvious  regional  interest.  Consultation  of  committee  remains,  however,  at 
the discretion of the Association Council. 

The establishment of the proposed Joint Consultative Committee does not have any 
financial  impact  on  the  Community  budget,  the  Romanian  participants  being 
responsible  for  their  own  expenses  and  the  expenses  of  the  Community  side  being 
covered by the budget of the Committee of the Regions. 

The  text  of  the  proposal  for  a  Council  decision  on  the  position  to  be  taken  by  the 
Community in the Association Council, as provided by Article 2 (1) of the Council 
and  Commission  decision  of  19.12.1994  on  the  conclusion  of  the  aforementioned 
Europe Agreement, is attached hereto. The Council is asked to adopt this text. 

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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 ROMANIA 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  a  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, (2), second and third subparagraphs, of the Treaty establishing 
the European Community, 

Having  regard  to  Article  2  (1)  of  the  Council  and  Commission  Decision  of  19.12.19941  on 
conclusion  of  the  Europe  Agreement  establishing  an  Association  between  the  European 
Communities and their Member States, on the one hand, and Romania, on the other hand, 

Having regard to the Commission proposal2, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

Article 111 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; 

Dialogues  and  co-operation  between  regional  and  local  authorities  in  the  European 
Union and Romania 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 
Committee of the Regions of the European Communities and of the Romanian Liaison 
Committee  for  Cooperation  with  the  Committee  of  the  Regions  of  the  European 
Communities. 

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2 

OJ L 357, 31.12.1994, p. 1 
OJ C, , p. 

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HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 

Sole Article 

The position to be adopted by the Community within the Association Council established by 
Article  106  of  the  Europe  Agreement  establishing  an  Association  between  the  European 
Communities and their Member States, on the one hand, and Romania, on the other hand, 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 No. .../2004 OF THE ASSOCIATION COUNCIL  
BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES AND THEIR MEMBER STATES, OF 
THE ONE PART, AND ROMANIA, OF THE OTHER PART 

amending, through the setting up of a Joint Consultative Committee between the Committee 
of the Regions and the Romanian Liaison Committee for Cooperation with the Committee of 
the  Regions  of  the  European  Communities.,  Decision  No.  1/953  adopting  the  rules  of 
procedure of the Association Council. 

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 Romania, of the other part4 and in 
particular Article 111 thereof; 

Whereas dialogue and co-operation between the regional and local authorities in the European 
Community and those in Romania can make a major contribution to the development of their 
relations and to the integration of Europe; 

Whereas it seems appropriate that such co-operation should  be  organised at the level of the 
Committee  of  the  Regions  of  the  one  part,  and  of  the  Romanian  Liaison  Committee  for 
Cooperation  with  the  Committee  of  the  Regions  of  the  European  Communities  of  the  other 
part, by setting up of a Joint Consultative Committee; 

Whereas  this  means  that  the  rules  of  procedure  of  the  Association  Council,  adopted  by 
Decision No. 1/95, 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 "Committee") is hereby established 
with the task of assisting the Association Council with a view to promoting dialogue and co-
operation between the regional and local authorities in the European Community and those in 
Romania. Such dialogue and co-operation shall be aimed in particular at: 

preparing  Romanian  local  authorities  for  activity  in  the  framework  of  future 

(1) 
membership of the European Union; 

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OJ L 171, 21.07.1995, p. 41-45 
OJ L 357, 31.12.1994, p. 2-189 

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preparing  Romanian  local  authorities  for  their  participation  in  the  work  of  the 

(2) 
Committee of the Regions after accession of Romania; 

(3) 
exchanging information on current issues of mutual interest, in particular on the state 
of  play  concerning  EU  regional  policy  and  the  accession  process  as  well  as  preparation  of 
Romanian local authorities for these policies; 

(4) 
encouraging  multilateral  structured  dialogue  between  a)  Romanian  local  authorities 
and b) regions from EU Member States, including through networking in specific areas where 
direct  contacts  and  co-operation  between  local  authorities  from  Romania,  on  the  one  hand, 
and regions and local authorities from EU Member States, on the other hand, might prove the 
most effective way of solving particular problems; 

providing  regular  exchanges  of  information  on  inter-regional  co-operation  between 

(5) 
local authorities from Romania and regions and local authorities from Member States; 

encouraging  exchanges  of  experience  and  knowledge  in  the  field  of  regional  policy 
(6) 
and structural interventions, between a) Romanian local authorities and b) regions 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; 

(7) 
assisting  Romanian  local  authorities  by  means  of  information  exchange  in  practical 
implementation of the principle of subsidiarity in all aspects of life on the 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 of eight representatives of the Committee of the Regions, on 
the one hand, and eight representatives of the Romanian Liaison Committee for Cooperation 
with  the  Committee  of  the  Regions  of  the  European  Communities,  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 Association 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  European  Community  and 
Romania. 

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. 

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The  Committee  shall  be  co-chaired  by  a  member  of  the  Committee  of  the  Regions  of  the 
European  Community  and  a  member  of  the  Romanian  Liaison  Committee  for  Cooperation 
with the Committee of the Regions of the European Communities. 

Article 20 

The  Committee  of  the  Regions,  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  Romanian  Liaison  Committee  for 
Cooperation with the Committee of the Regions of the European Communities, on the other 
hand, shall each defray the expenses they incur by reason of their participation in the meetings 
of  the  Committee  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 Committee of the Regions, with the exception of expenditure 
in connection with interpreting or translation into or from Romanian, which shall be borne by 
the Romanian Liaison Committee for Cooperation with the Committee of the Regions of the 
European Communities.  

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

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

Article 2 

Done at Brussels,  

For the Association Council 

The Chairman: 

The Secretaries: 

For the Romanian side 

For the European Community 

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