Proposal for a COUNCIL AND COMMISSION DECISION establishing the position concerning a Decision of the EU – Serbia Stabilisation and Association Council on its rules of procedure
Date: 2013-04-18
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Serbia, association agreement (EU), rules of procedure

EUROPEAN 
COMMISSION 

Brussels, 18.4.2013  
COM(2013) 215 final 

2013/0113 (NLE) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL AND COMMISSION DECISION  

establishing the position concerning a Decision of the EU – Serbia Stabilisation and 
Association Council on its rules of procedure 

EN 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
  
 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

The  Stabilisation  and  Association  Agreement  between  the  European  Union  and  its  Member 
States and Serbia, is expected to enter into force during the first half of 2013, following the 
completion of its ratification by all Member States. 

The Stabilisation and Association Council established by Article 119 of the said Agreement 
supervises  the  implementation  of  the  Agreement  and  examines  any  major  issues  arising 
within its framework and any other bilateral or international issues of mutual interest. 

As provided in Article 120 of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, the Stabilisation 
and Association Council shall establish its rules of procedure. In conformity with Article 122 
of  the  Agreement,  these  rules  of  procedure  determine  the  duties  of  the  Stabilisation  and 
Association  Committee,  which  shall  assist  the  Stabilisation  and  Association  Council  in  the 
performance of its duties. 

As  laid  down  by  Article  3(1)  of  Council  and  Commission  Decision  of……………..on  the 
conclusion  of  the  Stabilisation  and  Association  Agreement,  the  position  to  be  taken  in  the 
Stabilisation and Association Council will be established by decision of the Council, acting on 
a proposal from the Commission, or, where appropriate, by the Commission. 

For  the  information  of  the  Council,  the  rules  of  procedure  for  the  relevant  sub-Committees 
and special groups are provided in a separate Annex.  

The  Council  is  therefore  invited  to  approve  the  attached  proposal  for  a  Decision  on  the 
European Union and Euratom position concerning a Decision of the EU-Serbia Stabilisation 
and Association Council on its rules of procedure. 

2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2013/0113 (NLE) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL AND COMMISSION DECISION 

establishing the position concerning a Decision of the EU – Serbia Stabilisation and 
Association Council on its rules of procedure 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  on  the  Functioning  of  the  European  Union,  and  in  particular 
Article 218, paragraph 9 thereof, 

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), 
and in particular Article 101 thereof,  

Having regard to Council and Commission Decision of ……………..on the conclusion of the 
Stabilisation  and  Association  Agreement  between  the  European  Communities  and  their 
Member  States,  of  the  one  part,  and  the  Republic  of  Serbia  (hereinafter  referred  to  as 
“Serbia”), of the other part, and in particular Article 3(1) thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, 

Whereas: 

Article  119  of  the  Stabilisation  and  Association  Agreement  establishes  a  Stabilisation  and 
Association Council. 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

Article 120 of said Agreement provides that the Stabilisation and Association Council 
shall adopt its own rules of procedures. 

Article 122 of said Agreement provides that the Stabilisation and Association Council 
shall be assisted by a Stabilisation and Association Committee. 

Article 122 of said Agreement provides that the Stabilisation and Association Council 
shall,  in  its  rules  of  procedure,  determine  the  duties  of  the  Stabilisation  and 
Association  Committee  and  that  the  Stabilisation  and  Association  Council  may 
delegate any of its powers to the Stabilisation and Association Committee, 

Article  124  of  the  said  Agreement  provides  that  the  Stabilisation  and  Association 
Council may decide to set up other special committees or bodies that can assist it in 
carrying  out  its  duties.  It  further  provides  that  the  Stabilisation  and  Association 
Council  shall,  in  its  rules  of  procedure,  determine  the  composition  and  the  duties  of 
such committees and bodies and how they shall function, 

3 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:  

Sole Article 

The position to be adopted by the European Union and the Euratom, within the Stabilisation 
and  Association  Council  established  by  Article  119  of  the  Stabilisation  and  Association 
Agreement between the European Communities and its Member States, of the one part, and 
the  Republic  of  Serbia,  of  the  other  part,  in  relation  to  the  rules  of  procedures  of  the  said 
Stabilisation and Association Council and to the delegation of its powers to the Stabilisation 
and Association Committee referred to in Article 122 of the said Agreement, shall be based 
on the draft Decision of the Stabilisation and Association Council, annexed to this Decision. 
Minor  amendments  to  this  draft  Decision  may  be  accepted  without  further  decision  by  the 
Council and the Commission. 

Done at Brussels, 

For the Commission 

The President 

For the Council 

The President 

4 

 
 
  
 to the Council and Commission decision establishing the position to be adopted in the 
EU-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Council on its rules of procedure 

ANNEX  

Decision No 1 of the EU – Serbia Stabilisation and Association Council of [date] 
adopting its rules of procedure 

THE STABILISATION AND ASSOCIATION COUNCIL, 

Having  regard  to  the  Stabilisation  and  Association  Agreement  between  the  European 
Communities and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Serbia (hereinafter 
referred to as “Serbia”), of the other part, and in particular Articles 119 and 120 thereof, 

Whereas that Agreement entered into force on ……………, 

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:  

Article 1 

Chairmanship 

The Stabilisation and Association Council shall be chaired over alternately for periods of 12 
months by the President of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union, on behalf of 
the  European  Union  and  its  Member  States  and  the  European  Atomic  Energy  Community, 
and by a representative of the Government of Serbia. The first period shall begin on the date 
of the first Stabilisation and Association Council meeting and end on 31 December 2013. 

Article 2 

Meetings 

The Stabilisation and Association Council shall meet at ministerial level once a year. Special 
sessions  of  the  Stabilisation  and  Association  Council  may  be  held  at  the  request  of  either 
Party,  if  the  Parties  so  agree.  Unless  otherwise  agreed  by  the  Parties,  each  session  of  the 
Stabilisation  and  Association  Council  shall  be  held  at  the  usual  venue  for  meetings  of  the 
Council of the European Union at a date agreed by both Parties. Meetings of the Stabilisation 
and Association Council shall be jointly convened by the Secretaries of the Stabilisation and 
Association Council in agreement with the Chairman.  

Article 3 

Representation 

The  members  of  the  Stabilisation  and  Association  Council  may  be  represented  if  unable  to 
attend. If a member wishes to be so represented, he must notify the Chairman of the name of 
his representative before the meeting at which he is to be so represented. The representative of 
a  member  of  the  Stabilisation  and  Association  Council  shall  exercise  all  the  rights  of  that 
member. 

5 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Article 4 

Delegations 

The members of the Stabilisation and Association Council may be accompanied by officials. 
Before  each  meeting,  the  Chairman  shall  be  informed  of  the  intended  composition  of  the 
delegation of each Party. A representative of the European Investment Bank shall attend the 
meetings  of  the  Stabilisation  and  Association  Council,  as  an  observer,  when  matters  which 
concern the Bank appear on the agenda. The Stabilisation and Association Council may invite 
non-members to attend its meetings in order to provide information on particular subjects. 

Article 5 

Secretariat 

An official of the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union and an official of 
the  Mission  of  Serbia  to  the  European  Union  shall  act  jointly  as  Secretaries  of  the 
Stabilisation and Association Council. 

Article 6 

Correspondence 

Correspondence  addressed  to  the  Stabilisation  and  Association  Council  shall  be  sent  to  the 
Chairman  of  the  Stabilisation  and  Association  Council  at  the  address  of  the  General 
Secretariat of the Council of the European Union.  

The  two  Secretaries  shall  ensure  that  correspondence  is  forwarded  to  the  Chairman  of  the 
Stabilisation and Association Council and, where appropriate, circulated to other members of 
the  Stabilisation  and  Association  Council.  Correspondence  circulated  shall  be  sent  to  the 
Secretariat-General of the Commission, the Permanent Representations of the Member States 
and the Mission of Serbia to the European Union.  

Communications from the Chairman of the Stabilisation and Association Council shall be sent 
to  the  addressees  by  the  two  Secretaries  and  circulated,  where  appropriate,  to  the  other 
members of the Stabilisation and Association Council at the addresses indicated in the second 
paragraph. 

Article 7 

Publicity 

Unless otherwise decided, the meetings of the Stabilisation and Association Council shall not 
be public. 

Article 8 

Agendas for meetings 

1. 

The  Chairman  shall  draw  up  a  provisional  agenda  for  each  meeting.  It  shall  be 
forwarded  by  the  Secretaries  of  the  Stabilisation  and  Association  Council  to  the 
addressees referred to in Article 6 not later than 15 days before the beginning of the 

6 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
meeting.  The  provisional  agenda  shall  include  the  items  in  respect  of  which  the 
Chairman has received a request for inclusion on the agenda not later than 21 days 
before  the  beginning  of  the  meeting,  although  items  shall  not  be  written  into  the 
provisional  agenda  unless  the  supporting  documentation  has  been  forwarded  to  the 
Secretaries  not  later  than  the  date  of  despatch  of  the  agenda.  The  agenda  shall  be 
adopted  by  the  Stabilisation  and  Association  Council  at  the  beginning  of  each 
meeting.  An  item  other  than  those  appearing  on  the  provisional  agenda  may  be 
placed on the agenda if the two Parties so agree.  

2. 

The  Chairman  may,  in  agreement  with  the  two  Parties,  shorten  the  time  limits 
specified in paragraph 1 in order to take account of the requirements of a particular 
case. 

Article 9 

Minutes 

Draft minutes of each meeting shall be drawn up by the two Secretaries. The minutes shall, as 
a general rule, indicate in respect of each item on the agenda: 

– 

– 

– 

the documentation submitted to the Stabilisation and Association Council, 

statements  requested  for  entry  by  a  member  of  the  Stabilisation  and  Association 
Council, 

the decisions taken and recommendations made, the statements agreed upon and the 
conclusions adopted. 

The  draft  minutes  shall  be  submitted  to  the  Stabilisation  and  Association  Council  for 
approval.  When  approved,  the  minutes  shall  be  signed  by  the  Chairman  and  the  two 
Secretaries.  The  minutes  shall  be  filed  in  the  archives  of  the  General  Secretariat  of  the 
Council  of  the  European  Union,  which  will  act  as  depository  of  the  documents  of  the 
Stabilisation  and  Association  Council.  A  certified  copy  shall  be  forwarded  to  each  of  the 
addressees referred to in Article 6. 

Article 10 

Decisions and recommendations 

1. 

2. 

The  Stabilisation  and  Association  Council  shall  take  its  decisions  and  make 
recommendations  by  common  agreement  of  the  Parties.  The  Stabilisation  and 
Association  Council  may  take  decisions  or  make  recommendations  by  written 
procedure if both Parties so agree. 

The  decisions  and  recommendations  of  the  Stabilisation  and  Association  Council, 
within  the  meaning  of  Article  121  of  the  Stabilisation  and  Association  Agreement, 
shall be entitled respectively "Decision" and "Recommendation" followed by a serial 
number,  by  the  date  of  their  adoption  and  by  a  description  of  their  subject  matter. 
The  decisions  and  recommendations  of  the  Stabilisation  and  Association  Council 
shall be signed by the Chairman and authenticated by the two Secretaries. Decisions 
and  recommendations  shall  be  forwarded  to  each  of  the  addressees  referred  to  in 
Article  6  above.  Each  Party  may  decide  on  the  publication  of  decisions  and 
recommendations  of  the  Stabilisation  and  Association  Council  in  its  respective 
official publication. 

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Article 11 

Languages 

The  official  languages  of  the  Stabilisation  and  Association  Council  shall  be  the  official 
languages  of  the  two  Parties.  Unless  otherwise  decided,  the  Stabilisation  and  Association 
Council shall base its deliberations on documentation drawn up in these languages. 

Article 12 

Expenses 

The European Union and Serbia shall each defray the expenses they incur by reason of their 
participation in the meetings of the Stabilisation and Association Council, both 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  European  Union,  with  the  exception  of  expenditure  in 
connection with interpreting or translation into or from the Serbian language, which shall be 
borne by Serbia. Other expenditure relating to the organisation of meetings shall be borne by 
the Party hosting the meetings. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

Article 13 

Stabilisation and Association Committee 

A Stabilisation and Association Committee is hereby established in order to assist the 
Stabilisation and Association Council in carrying out its duties. It shall be composed 
of representatives of the Council of the European Union and of representatives of the 
European Commission, on the one hand, and of representatives of the Government of 
Serbia on the other, normally at senior civil servant level. 

The  Stabilisation  and  Association  Committee  shall  prepare  the  meetings  and  the 
deliberations  of  the  Stabilisation  and  Association  Council,  implement  the  decisions 
of  the  Stabilisation  and  Association  Council  where  appropriate  and,  in  general, 
ensure  continuity  of  the  association  relationship  and  the  proper  functioning  of  the 
Stabilisation and Association Agreement. It shall consider any matter referred to it by 
the  Stabilisation  and  Association  Council  as  well  as  any  other  matter  which  may 
arise  in  the  course  of  the  day-to-day  implementation  of  the  Stabilisation  and 
Association  Agreement. 
draft 
decisions/recommendations  for  adoption  to  the  Stabilisation  and  Association 
Council. 

proposals 

submit 

shall 

any 

or 

It 

In cases where the Stabilisation and Association Agreement refers to an obligation to 
consult or a possibility of consultation, such consultation may take place within the 
Stabilisation  and  Association  Committee.  The  consultation  may  continue  in  the 
Stabilisation and Association Council if the two Parties so agree. 

The rules of procedure of the Stabilisation and Association Committee are annexed 
to this Decision. 

Joint Consultative Committee with the European Economic and Social Committee 

Article 14 

8 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

A Joint Consultative Committee with the European Economic and Social Committee 
is  hereby  established,  entrusted  with  the  task  of  assisting  the  Stabilisation  and 
Association Council with a view to promoting dialogue and cooperation between the 
social  partners  and  other  civil  society  organisations,  in  the  European  Union  and 
Serbia.  Such  dialogue  and  cooperation  shall  encompass  all  relevant  aspects  of 
relations between the European Union and Serbia, as they arise in the context of the 
implementation  of  the  Stabilisation  and  Association  Agreement.  Such  dialogue  and 
cooperation shall be aimed in particular at: 

a)  Preparing  Serbian  social  partners  and  other  civil  society  organisations  for 

activity in the framework of future membership of the European Union; 

b)  Preparing Serbian social partners and other civil society organisations for their 
participation  in  the  work  of  the  European  Economic  and  Social  Committee 
after the accession of Serbia; 

c)  Exchanging  information  on  issues  of  mutual  interest,  in  particular  on  up-to-
date  state  of  play  on  the  accession  process  as  well  as  preparation  of  Serbian 
social partners and other civil society organisations for this process;  

d)  Encouraging exchanges of experience, good practices and structured dialogue 
between a) Serbian social partners and other civil society organisations and b) 
social  partners  and  other  civil  society  organisations  from  Member  States, 
including  through  networking  in  specific  areas  where  direct  contacts  and 
cooperation might prove the most effective way of solving particular problems; 

e)  Discussing any other relevant matters proposed by any side, as they can arise 
in  the  context  of  implementation  of  the  Stabilisation  and  Association 
Agreement and in the framework of the Pre-accession. 

The  Joint  Consultative  Committee  with  the  European  Economic  and  Social 
Committee shall comprise six representatives of the European Economic and Social 
Committee and six representatives of Serbia's social partners and other civil society 
organisations. Observers can be also invited to participate. 

The  Joint  Consultative  Committee  with  the  European  Economic  and  Social 
Committee shall carry out its tasks on the basis of consultation by the Stabilisation 
and  Association  Council  or,  with  regard  to  promoting  dialogue  between  economic 
and social circles, on its own initiative. 

Members  shall  be  chosen  to  ensure  that  the  Joint  Consultative  Committee  with  the 
European  Economic  and  Social  Committee  is  as  faithful  a  reflection  as  possible  of 
the various social partners and other civil society organisations, in both the European 
Union  and  Serbia.  Official  nominations  of  Serbian  members  shall  be  made  by  the 
government of Serbia based on proposals from social partners and other civil society 
organisations. Those proposals shall be based on inclusive and transparent selection 
procedures among social partners and other civil society organisations. 

The  Joint  Consultative  Committee  with  the  European  Economic  and  Social 
Committee shall be co-chaired by a member of the European Economic and Social 
Committee  and  a  representative  of  Serbia's  social  partners  and  other  civil  society 
organisations. 

The  Joint  Consultative  Committee  with  the  European  Economic  and  Social 
Committee shall adopt its own Rules of Procedure. 

The  European  Economic  and  Social  Committee,  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  Serbian 
Government, on the other hand, shall each defray the expenses they incur by reason 
of  the  participation  of  their  delegates  in  the  meetings  of  the  Joint  Consultative 

9 

 
 
  
Committee  and  of  its  working  groups  with  regard  to  staff,  travel  and  subsistence 
expenditure.  

8. 

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

Article 15 

Joint Consultative Committee with the Committee of the Regions of the European Union 

1. 

A Joint Consultative Committee with the Committee of the Regions of the European 
Union  is  hereby  established  with  the  task  of  assisting  the  Stabilisation  and 
Association Council with a view to promoting dialogue and cooperation between the 
local  and  regional  authorities  in  the  European  Union  and  those  in  Serbia.  Such 
dialogue and cooperation shall be aimed in particular at: 

a)  Preparing Serbian local and regional authorities for activity in the framework 

of future membership of the European Union; 

b)  Preparing  Serbian  local  and  regional  authorities  for  their  participation  in  the 

work of the Committee of the Regions after the accession of Serbia; 

c)  Exchanging  information  on  current  issues  of  mutual  interest,  in  particular  on 
up-to-date state of play concerning the accession process and those policy areas 
where the Treaties provide that the Committee of Regions shall be consulted as 
well as preparation of Serbian local and regional authorities for these policies; 

d)  Encouraging  multilateral  structured  dialogue  between  a)  Serbian  local  and 
regional  authorities  and  b)  local  and  regional  authorities  from  the  Member 
States,  including  through  networking  in  specific  areas  where  direct  contacts 
and  cooperation  between  Serbian  local  and  regional  authorities  and  the  local 
and  regional  authorities  from  Member  States  might  prove  the  most  effective 
way of addressing specific topics of mutual interest; 

e)  Providing  regular  exchange  of  information  on  inter-regional  cooperation 
between  Serbian  local  and  regional  authorities  and  local  and  regional 
authorities from Member States; 

f)  Encouraging exchange of experience and knowledge in the policy areas where 
the  Treaty  on  the  Functioning  of  the  European  Union  provides  that  the 
Committee  of  Regions  shall  be  consulted,  between  a)  Serbian  local  and 
regional authorities and b) local and regional authorities from Member States, 
in  particular  know-how  and  techniques  concerning  preparation  of  local  and 
regional  development  plans  or  strategies  and  most  efficient  use  of  the  pre-
accession and Structural Funds; 

g)  Assisting  Serbian  local  and  regional  authorities  by  means  of  information 
exchange  in  particular  implementation  of  the  principle  of  subsidiarity  in  all 
aspects of life on local and regional level; 

h)  Discussing any other relevant matters proposed by any side, as they can arise 
in  the  context  of  implementation  of  the  Stabilisation  and  Association 
Agreement and in the framework of the Pre-accession talks.  

2. 

The  Joint  Consultative  Committee  with  the  Committee  of  the  Regions  of  the 
European  Union  shall  comprise  [seven]  representatives  of  the  Committee  of  the 
Regions,  on  the  one  hand,  and  [seven]  elected  representatives  of  the  local  and 

10 

 
 
  
 
 
 
3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

regional  authorities  of  Serbia,  on  the  other  hand.  An  equal  number  of  alternate 
members shall be appointed. 

The  Joint  Consultative  Committee  with  the  Committee  of  the  Regions  of  the 
European  Union  shall  carry  out  its  activities  on  the  basis  of  consultation  by  the 
Stabilisation and Association Council or, as concerns the promotion of the dialogue 
between the local and regional authorities, on its own initiative. 

The  Joint  Consultative  Committee  with  the  Committee  of  the  Regions  of  the 
European  Union  may  make  recommendations  to  the  Stabilisation  and  Association 
Council. 

Members  shall  be  chosen  to  ensure  that  the  Joint  Consultative  Committee  with  the 
Committee  of  the  Regions  is  a  faithful  reflection  of  the  various  levels  of  local  and 
regional authorities in both the European Union and Serbia. Official nominations of 
Serbian  members  shall  be  made  by  the  government  of  Serbia  based  on  proposals 
from  organisations  representing  local  and  regional  authorities  in  Serbia.  Those 
proposals  shall  be  based  on  inclusive  and  transparent  selection  procedures  among 
representatives holding local or regional electoral mandates. 

The  Joint  Consultative  Committee  with  the  Committee  of  the  Regions  of  the 
European Union shall adopt its own Rules of Procedure. 

The  Joint  Consultative  Committee  with  the  Committee  of  the  Regions  of  the 
European Union shall be co-chaired by a member of the Committee of the Regions 
and a representative of the local and regional authorities of Serbia. 

The Committee of the Regions, on the one hand, and the Government of Serbia, on 
the other hand, shall each defray the expenses incurred by reason of the participation 
of  their  delegates  and  supporting  staff  in  the  meetings  of  the  Joint  Consultative 
Committee with the Committee of the Regions of the European Union, in particular 
with regard to travel and subsistence expenditure. 

11 

 
 
  
9. 

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

Done at 

For the Stabilisation and Association Council 
The Chairman 

12 

 
 
  
 
 
ANNEX  

to 

Decision No 1 of the EU – Serbia Stabilisation and Association Council of [date] 

Rules of Procedure of the Stabilisation and Association Committee 

Article 1 

Chairmanship 

The Stabilisation and Association Committee shall be chaired over alternately for periods of 
12 months by a representative of the European Commission, on behalf of the European Union 
and its Member States and the European Atomic Energy Community, and by a representative 
of the Government of Serbia. The first period shall begin on the date of the first Stabilisation 
and Association Council meeting and end on 31 December 2013. 

Article 2 

Meetings 

The Stabilisation and Association Committee shall meet when circumstances require, with the 
agreement of both Parties. Each meeting of the Stabilisation and Association Committee shall 
be  held  at  a  time  and  place  agreed  by  both  Parties.  Meetings  of  the  Stabilisation  and 
Association Committee shall be convened by the Chairman. 

Article 3 

Delegations 

Before  each  meeting,  the  Chairman  shall  be  informed  of  the  intended  composition  of  the 
delegation of each Party. 

Article 4 

Secretariat 

An official of the European Commission and an official of the Serbian Government shall act 
jointly as Secretaries of the Stabilisation and Association Committee. All communications to 
and  from  the  Chairman  of  the  Stabilisation and  Association  Committee  provided  for  in  this 
Decision shall be forwarded to the Secretaries of the Stabilisation and Association Committee 
and to the Secretaries and the Chairman of the Stabilisation and Association Council. 

Article 5 

Publicity 

Unless otherwise decided, the meetings of the Stabilisation and Association Committee shall 
not be public. 

13 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Article 6 

Agendas for meetings 

1. 

The  Chairman  shall  draw  up  a  provisional  agenda  for  each  meeting.  It  shall  be 
forwarded  by  the  Secretaries  of  the  Stabilisation  and  Association  Committee  to  the 
addressees referred to in Article 4 not later than 15 days before the beginning of the 
meeting.  The  provisional  agenda  shall  include  the  items  in  respect  of  which  the 
Chairman has received a request for inclusion on the agenda not later than 21 days 
before  the  beginning  of  the  meeting,  although  items  shall  not  be  written  into  the 
provisional  agenda  unless  the  supporting  documentation  has  been  forwarded  to  the 
Secretaries  not  later  than  the  date  of  dispatch  of  the  agenda.  The  Stabilisation  and 
Association  Committee  may  ask  experts  to  attend  its  meetings  in  order  to  provide 
information on particular subjects. The agenda shall be adopted by the Stabilisation 
and  Association  Committee  at  the  beginning  of  each  meeting.  An  item  other  than 
those  appearing  on  the  provisional  agenda  may  be  placed  on  the  agenda  if  the  two 
Parties so agree. 

2. 

The  Chairman  may,  in  agreement  with  the  two  Parties,  shorten  the  time  limits 
specified in paragraph 1 in order to take account of the requirements of a particular 
case. 

Article 7 

Minutes 

Minutes shall be taken for each meeting and shall be based on a summing up by the Chairman 
of the conclusions arrived at by the Stabilisation and Association Committee. When approved 
by the Stabilisation and Association Committee, the minutes shall be signed by the Chairman 
and  by  the  Secretaries  and  filed  by  each  of  the  Parties.  A  copy  of  the  minutes  shall  be 
forwarded to each of the addressees referred to in Article 4. 

Article 8 

Decisions and recommendations 

In the specific cases where the Stabilisation and Association Committee is empowered by the 
Stabilisation and Association Council under Article 122 of the Stabilisation and Association 
Agreement to take decisions/make recommendations, these acts shall be entitled respectively 
"Decision" and "Recommendation", followed by a serial number, by the date of their adoption 
and by a description of their subject matter. Decisions and recommendations shall be made by 
common  agreement  between  the  Parties.  The  Stabilisation  and  Association  Committee  may 
take decisions or make recommendations by written procedure if both Parties so agree. The 
decisions  and  recommendations  of  the  Stabilisation  and  Association  Committee  shall  be 
signed by the Chairman and authenticated by the two Secretaries and shall be forwarded to the 
addressees referred to in Article 4. Each Party may decide on the publication of the decisions 
and  recommendations  of  this  Stabilisation  and  Association  Committee  in  its  respective 
official publication. 

14 

 
 
 
 
 
Article 9 

Expenses 

The European Union and Serbia shall each defray the expenses they incur by reason of their 
participation in the meetings of the Stabilisation and Association Committee, both 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  European  Union,  with  the  exception  of  expenditure  in 
connection with interpreting or translation into or from the Serbian language, which shall be 
borne by Serbia. Other expenditure relating to the organisation of meetings shall be borne by 
the Party hosting the meetings. 

Article 10 

Subcommittees and special groups 

The Stabilisation and Association Committee may create subcommittees or special groups to 
work under the authority of the Stabilisation and Association Committee, to which they shall 
report after each of their meetings. The Stabilisation and Association Committee may decide 
to abolish any existing subcommittees or groups, lay down or modify their terms of reference 
or  set  up  further  subcommittees  or  groups  to  assist  it  in  carrying  out  its  duties.  These 
subcommittees and groups shall not have any decision-making powers. 

15 

 
 
 
 
 
ANNEX 

for the information of the Council only 

DRAFT 
Decision N° 1/2013 
of the EU – Serbia Stabilisation and Association Committee 
of day month 2013 
creating subcommittees and special groups 

THE STABILISATION AND ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE, 

Having regard to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Union 
and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Serbia, of the other part, and in 
particular Article 123 thereof 

Having regard to its rules of procedure, and in particular Article 10 thereof, 

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:  

Sole Article 

The  subcommittees  and  special  groups  listed  in  Annex  I  are  hereby  created.  Their  terms  of 
reference are set out in Annex II. 

Done at …………., on day month 2013. 

For the Stabilisation and Association Committee 

The Chairman 

16 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ANNEX I 

EU – SERBIA STABILISATION AND ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT 

Multidisciplinary Subcommittee Structure 

Title 

Issues 

SAA Article 

1.  Trade,  Industry,  Customs  and 
Taxation 

Free Movement of Goods 

Art. 18 

Industrial Products 

Commercial questions 

Standardisation, metrology, accreditation, 
certification,  conformity  assessment,  and 
market surveillance 

Industrial co-operation 

SMEs 

Tourism 

Customs 

Taxation 

Rules of origin 

Art. 19-23 

Art. 34-48 

Art. 77 

Art. 94 

Art. 95 

Art. 96 

Art. 99 

Art. 100 

Protocol 3 

Administrative  assistance 
matters 

in  customs 

Protocol 6 

2. Agriculture and Fisheries 

Agricultural products sensu lato 

Agricultural products sensu stricto 

Fisheries products 

Processed agricultural products 

Wine 

Protection of geographical indications for 
agricultural  and  fishery  products  and 
foodstuffs other than wine and spirits 

Art. 24, 26(1) 
(4), 27(1), 31, 
32 and 35 

Art. 26(2)(3) 
and 27(2) 

Art. 29 and 30 

Art. 25, 
Protocol 1 

Art. 28 and 
Protocol 2 

Art. 33 

Agriculture and the agro-industrial sector, 
veterinary and phytosanitary matters 

Art. 97 

Fisheries co-operation 

Art. 98 

17 

 
 
3. Internal Market and Competition 

Right of establishment 

Art. 52-58  

Food safety 

Supply of services 

Art. 59-61 

Other  questions  related  to  Title  V  of  the 
SAA 

Art. 65-71 

Approximation  of  legislation  and  law 
enforcement 

Art. 72 

Competition 

Art. 73-74, 

Protocol 5 

Intellectual,  industrial  and  commercial 
property 

Art. 75 

Public procurement 

Art. 76 

Banking,  insurance  and  other  financial 
services 

Art. 91 

Consumer protection 

Art. 78 

Public health 

4.  Economic  and  financial  issues 
and statistics 

Capital movements and payments 

Art. 62-64 

Economic policy 

Statistical co-operation 

Art. 89 

Art. 90 

Investment promotion and protection 

Art. 93 

Financial co-operation 

Art. 115-118 

Audit and financial control 

Art. 92 

5. Justice, freedom and security 

Judiciary and fundamental rights 

Police and judicial co-operation 

Rule of law 

Data protection 

Visa,  border 
migration 

Art. 80 

Art. 81 

control, 

asylum 

and 

Art. 82 

Illegal immigration and readmission 

Art. 83 

Money laundering 

Art. 84 

18 

 
 
 
 
 
 
6.  Research 
innovation, 
information  society  and  social 
policy 

and 

7.  Transport,  energy,  environment, 
regional 
climate 
development1 

action 

and 

Drugs  

Counter terrorism  

Art. 85 

Art. 87 

Crime and other illegal activities 

Art. 86 

Movement of workers 

Art. 49-51 

Working 
opportunities 

conditions 

and 

equal 

Art. 79 

Social co-operation  

Education and training  

Cultural co-operation 

Art. 101 

Art. 102 

Art. 103 

Information and communication 

Art. 107 

Co-operation in the audio-visual field 

Art. 104 

Electronic  communications  networks  and 
services 

Art. 106 

Information society 

Research and innovation 

Transport 

Energy 

Nuclear safety 

Environment  

Climate action 

Art. 105 

Art. 112 

Art. 52, 55, 61, 
108 and 
Protocol 4 

Art. 109 

Art. 110 

Art. 111 

Art. 109 and 
111 

Regional and local development 

Art. 113 

Structure of the Special groups 

Title 

Issues 

SAA Article 

Special  group  for  reform  of  public  Public administration reform 

Title VI Legal 

1 
sub-committee mentioned in Article 21 of this Protocol. 

For the purposes of implementing Protocol 4 to the SAA, this sub-committee shall act as the special 

19 

 
 
 
                                                           
administration 

approximation, 
and law 
enforcement, 
Art. 72 and 
Title VII, 
Justice and 
Home Affairs, 
Art. 80, Art. 
114 

20 

 
 
Terms of Reference of the EU – Serbia Subcommittees and Special Group 

ANNEX II 

Composition and Chair 

The subcommittees and the special group on public administration reform (special group on 
PAR) shall be composed of representatives of the European Commission and representatives 
of the government of Serbia. They shall be co-chaired by the two parties. The Member States 
will be informed and invited to the meetings of the subcommittees and the special group on 
PAR. 

Secretariat 

An official of the European Commission and an official of the government of Serbia shall act 
jointly as secretaries of each of the subcommittees and of the special group on PAR. 

All communications concerning the subcommittees shall be forwarded to the secretaries of the 
relevant subcommittee and of the special group on PAR. 

Meetings 

The subcommittees and the special group on PAR shall meet whenever circumstances require, 
with the agreement of both Parties. Each meeting of a subcommittee or the special group on 
PAR shall be held at a time and place agreed by both Parties. 

If both Parties agree, the subcommittees and the special group on PAR may invite experts to 
their meetings to provide the specific information requested. 

Subject matters 

The  subcommittees  shall  discuss  issues  related  to  the  areas  of  the  SAA  as  listed  in  the 
multidisciplinary  subcommittee  structure.  Progress  regarding  the  alignment,  implementation 
and  enforcement  of  EU  legislation,  as  well  as  key  issues  related  to  programming  and 
implementation  of  relevant  IPA  projects  shall  be  assessed  under  all  subject  matters.  The 
subcommittees shall examine any problems that may arise in their relevant sectors and shall 
suggest possible steps to be taken. 

The subcommittees shall also serve as fora for the further clarification of the acquis and shall 
review progress made by Serbia in conforming to the acquis in line with commitments taken 
under the SAA. 

The  special  group  on  PAR  shall  discuss  issues  related  to  public  administration  reform  and 
suggest possible steps to be taken. 

Minutes 

Minutes  shall  be  taken  for  and  agreed  after  each  meeting.  A  copy  of  the  minutes  shall  be 
forwarded by the secretary of the subcommittee or the special group on PAR to the Secretary 
of the Stabilisation and Association Committee. 

Publicity 

Unless  otherwise  decided,  the  meetings  of  the  subcommittees  and  of  the  special  group  on 
PAR shall not be public.  

21