Council Decision (EU) 2025/1258 of 23 June 2025 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Joint Committee established by the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Thailand, of the other part, as regards the adoption of the Rules of Procedure of the Joint Committee, the establishment of specialised working groups and the adoption of their terms of reference
Date: 2025-06-23
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: Thailand, cooperation agreement (EU), cooperation policy, framework agreement, joint committee (EU), rules of procedure




L_202501258EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2025/1258


26.6.2025







            COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2025/1258
         
of 23 June 2025
         
on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Joint Committee established by the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Thailand, of the other part, as regards the adoption of the Rules of Procedure of the Joint Committee, the establishment of specialised working groups and the adoption of their terms of reference


THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 209 in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,


Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:







(1)


The Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Thailand, of the other part (‘the Agreement’) (1) was signed by the Union on 14 December 2022 and has been provisionally applied since 20 October 2024 in accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2022/2562 (2).












(2)


Pursuant to Article 52(5) of the Agreement, the Joint Committee is to adopt its own rules of procedure.












(3)


The Joint Committee, during its first meeting, is to adopt its rules of procedure, establish specialised working groups and adopt the terms of reference of those groups.












(4)


It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the Joint Committee as regards the adoption of the rules of procedure of the Joint Committee, the establishment of specialised working groups and the adoption of the terms of reference of those groups, as the decisions of the Joint Committee will be binding on the Union.












(5)


The position of the Union within the Joint Committee should therefore be based on the attached draft decisions of the Joint Committee,





HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:



Article 1
The position to be taken on the Union’s behalf within the Joint Committee established by the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Thailand, of the other part, as regards the adoption of the rules of procedure of the Joint Committee, the establishment of its specialised working groups and the adoption of their terms of reference shall be based on the draft decisions of the Joint Committee attached to this Decision.
Minor changes to the draft decisions of the Joint Committee may be agreed to by the representatives of the Union within the Joint Committee without a further decision of the Council.


Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.




Done at Brussels, 23 June 2025.


For the Council


The President

K. KALLAS
            





(1)  
            OJ L 330, 23.12.2022, p. 72.

(2)  Council Decision (EU) 2022/2562 of 24 October 2022 on the signing, on behalf of the Union, and provisional application of the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Thailand, of the other part (OJ L 330, 23.12.2022, p. 70, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2022/2562/oj).





DRAFT
DECISION No 1/2025 OF THE EU-THAILAND JOINT COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED BY THE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT ON COMPREHENSIVE PARTNERSHIP AND COOPERATION BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS MEMBER STATES, OF THE ONE PART, AND THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND, OF THE OTHER PART
of …
adopting its Rules of Procedure


THE EU-THAILAND JOINT COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Thailand, of the other part (‘the Agreement’), and in particular Article 52 thereof,

Whereas:







(1)


Parts of the Agreement have been applied provisionally since 20 October 2024.












(2)


The Joint Committee should therefore adopt its rules of procedure,





HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:



Article 1
The Rules of Procedure of the Joint Committee, as set out in the Annex to this Decision, are hereby adopted.


Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.




Done at …, …


For the EU-Thailand Joint Committee


The Chair and the Co-Chair







ANNEX
RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE

Article 1
Tasks and composition

1.   The Joint Committee, established in accordance with Article 52 of the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, on the one part, and the Kingdom of Thailand, on the other part (the ‘Agreement’), shall perform its tasks as provided for in the Agreement and in these Rules of Procedure.


2.   Pursuant to Article 52(4) of the Agreement, the Joint Committee shall have the prerogative to discuss the functioning and implementation of any specific agreement as referred to in Article 53(1). As part of the common institutional framework, the Joint Committee shall discuss the matters referred to it by committees set up under any specific agreement referred to in Article 53(1) and those of the subcommittees of those committees set up under the specific agreements.


3.   The Joint Committee shall be composed of representatives of both Parties at the highest possible level.



Article 2
Chairing

1.   The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand shall chair the Joint Committee when convened at Ministerial level. This function can be delegated to a senior official.


2.   The Joint Committee shall be chaired alternately by each of the Parties, for a period of one year, from 1 January to 31 December of the same year. The other Party shall act as Co-Chair.



Article 3
Meetings

1.   The Joint Committee shall normally meet in Brussels and Bangkok alternately once every year or as otherwise agreed by the co-chairs. The meetings of the Joint Committee shall be convened by the Chair hosting the meeting on a date fixed by mutual agreement. Extraordinary meetings of the Joint Committee may be held at the request of either Party, if the Parties so agree.


2.   If both Parties agree, the meetings of the Joint Committee may exceptionally be held by means of video- or teleconference.


3.   The Joint Committee shall meet at ministerial level but may meet at the level of senior officials if the Parties so agree.


4.   Unless otherwise decided by the co-chairs, meetings of the Joint Committee shall not be public.



Article 4
Participants

1.   Before each meeting, each Party shall inform the co-chairs, through the Secretariat, of the intended composition of its delegation.


2.   Where appropriate and by mutual agreement between the Parties, experts or representatives of other bodies may be invited to attend the meetings of the Joint Committee as observers or in order to provide information on a particular subject.



Article 5
Secretariat
A representative of the European External Action Service and a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand shall act jointly as Secretaries of the Joint Committee. All communications to and from the co-chairs of the Joint Committee shall be forwarded to the Secretaries. Correspondence to and from the co-chairs of the Joint Committee may be by any written means, including electronic mail.


Article 6
Agendas for meetings

1.   The Chair shall draw up a provisional agenda for each meeting. The provisional agenda shall be forwarded, together with the relevant documents, to the other Party no later than 15 calendar days before the start of the meeting.


2.   Items to be included in the provisional agenda shall be submitted to the Chair no later than 21 calendar days before the beginning of the meeting.


3.   The agenda shall be adopted by the Joint Committee at the beginning of each meeting. Items other than those on the provisional agenda may be placed on the agenda if the two Parties so agree.


4.   The Chair may, in agreement with the Co-Chair, shorten the time limits referred to in paragraph 1 in order to take account of the requirements of a particular case.



Article 7
Minutes

1.   Draft minutes of each meeting shall be drawn up jointly by the two Secretaries, normally within 30 calendar days from the date of the meeting. The draft minutes shall be based on a summing up by the Chair of the conclusions arrived at by the Joint Committee.


2.   The minutes shall be approved by both Parties within 45 calendar days of the date of the meeting or by any date agreed by the Parties. Once there is agreement on the draft minutes, two original copies shall be signed by the Chair and the Co-Chair. Each Party shall receive one original copy.



Article 8
Decisions and recommendations

1.   The Joint Committee may take decisions and make recommendations in order to attain the objectives of the Agreement. Decisions and recommendations of the Joint Committee shall be adopted by mutual agreement of the Parties. Decisions and recommendations shall be adopted following completion by the Parties of their respective internal procedures in accordance with their laws and regulations.


2.   Each decision shall be binding as of the date of its adoption.


3.   When the Joint Committee adopts decisions or recommendations, such acts shall be entitled ‘Decision’ or ‘Recommendation’ respectively, followed by a serial number, the date of their adoption and a description of the subject matter.


4.   The Joint Committee may take decisions or make recommendations by written procedure if both Parties so agree. By mutual agreement of the Parties, a deadline may be foreseen for the completion of the written procedure, at the end of which the Chair and the Co-Chair of the Joint Committee may declare, unless any of the Parties communicates the contrary, that a mutual agreement of the Parties has been reached.


5.   Decisions and recommendations adopted by the Joint Committee shall be authenticated by two original copies.


6.   Each Party may decide on the publication of the decisions and recommendations of the Joint Committee in its respective official publication.



Article 9
Correspondence

1.   Correspondence addressed to the Joint Committee shall be directed to one of the Secretaries, who will in turn inform the other Secretary.


2.   The Secretariat shall ensure that correspondence addressed to the Joint Committee is forwarded to the Chair and the Co-Chair and circulated, where appropriate, as documents referred to in Article 10 of these rules of procedure.


3.   Correspondence from the Chair and the Co-Chair shall be sent to the Parties by the Secretariat and circulated, where appropriate, as documents referred to in Article 10 of these rules of procedure.



Article 10
Documents

1.   Where the deliberations of the Joint Committee are based on written supporting documents, such documents shall be numbered and circulated by the Secretariat to the Members.


2.   Each Secretary shall be responsible for circulating the documents to the respective representatives in the Joint Committee and systematically copying the other Secretary.


3.   When a Party submits information destined to be treated confidentially, the other Party shall treat the information as such.



Article 11
Expenses

1.   Each Party shall meet any expenses it incurs as a result of participating in the meetings of the Joint Committee with regard to staff, travel, and subsistence expenditure as well as postal and telecommunications expenditure.


2.   Expenditure in connection with the organisation of meetings and reproduction of documents shall be borne by the Party hosting the meeting.



Article 12
Amendment of rules of procedure
These rules of procedure may be amended by mutual agreement of the Parties, through a decision of the Joint Committee in accordance with Article 8.


Article 13
Specialised Working Groups

1.   The Joint Committee may decide to set up specialised working groups to assist it in the performance of its tasks.


2.   The Joint Committee shall determine the terms of reference of the specialised working groups set up pursuant to paragraph 1.


3.   The specialised working groups shall report to the Joint Committee after each of their meetings.


4.   The specialised working groups shall not have any decision-making power but may submit recommendations to the Joint Committee.









DRAFT
DECISION No 2/2025 OF THE EU-THAILAND JOINT COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED BY THE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT ON COMPREHENSIVE PARTNERSHIP AND COOPERATION BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS MEMBER STATES, OF THE ONE PART, AND THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND, OF THE OTHER PART
of …
regarding the establishment of the Joint Committee’s Specialised Working Groups and the adoption of their terms of reference


THE EU-THAILAND JOINT COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Thailand, of the other part (‘the Agreement’), and in particular Article 52 thereof, and to Article 13 of the Rules of Procedure of the Joint Committee,

Whereas:







(1)


Pursuant to Article 13 of its Rules of Procedure, the Joint Committee may set up Specialised Working Groups to assist it in the performance of its tasks.












(2)


The adoption of the terms of reference of the Specialised Working Groups set out in Annex II is without prejudice to the continuation and procedures of the EU-Thailand Labour Dialogue or the EU-Thailand Working Group on combatting Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing,





HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:



Article 1

1.   The Joint Committee’s Specialised Working Groups, as set out in Annex I to this Decision, are hereby established.


2.   The terms of reference of the Joint Committee’s Specialised Working Groups, as set out in the Annex II to this Decision, are hereby adopted.



Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.




Done at …, …


For the EU-Thailand Joint Committee


The Chair and the Co-Chair







ANNEX I
JOINT COMMITTEE’S SPECIALISED WORKING GROUPS






(1)


Specialised Working Group on Human Rights and Governance










(2)


Specialised Working Group on Trade and Investment










(3)


Specialised Working Group on Sustainable Development and Green Transition








ANNEX II
Terms of Reference of the Specialised Working Groups established under the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Thailand, of the other part

Article 1

1.   At its meetings, each specialised working group may deal with the implementation of the Agreement in the areas it covers.


2.   The specialised working groups may also discuss subjects or specific projects related to the relevant area of bilateral cooperation.


3.   Individual cases may also be raised when either Party requires.



Article 2
The specialised working groups shall work under the authority of the Joint Committee. They shall report and transmit their minutes and conclusions to the Chair of the Joint Committee within 30 calendar days after each meeting.


Article 3
Each specialised working group shall be composed of representatives of the Parties competent for the matters it covers. Upon agreement of the Parties, the specialised working groups may invite experts to their meetings and may hear from them regarding specific points on the agenda, as appropriate.


Article 4
The specialised working groups shall be chaired by the Parties alternately, according to the rules of procedure of the Joint Committee. The other Party shall act as Co-Chair. The Chair and Co-Chair shall be a representative of the authority competent for the matters covered by each body.


Article 5
A representative of the European External Action Service and a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand shall act jointly as Secretaries of the specialised working groups, unless otherwise determined by each Party based on the tasks of the given specialised working group. All communications concerning the specific specialised working groups shall be forwarded to the two Secretaries.


Article 6

1.   The specialised working groups shall meet not less than every two years in Bangkok and Brussels alternately. Each meeting shall be held at a place and date agreed by the Parties.


2.   Upon receipt of a request by one of the Parties for a meeting of a specialised working group, the Secretary of the other Party shall reply within 15 calendar days.


3.   In cases of particular urgency, specialised working groups meetings may be convened at shorter notice, subject to the agreement of both Parties.


4.   If both Parties agree, the meetings of the specialised working groups may exceptionally be held by means of video- or teleconference.


5.   Before each meeting, the Chair and Co-Chair shall be informed of the intended composition of the delegation of both Parties.


6.   Meetings of the specialised working groups are convened jointly by the two Secretaries.



Article 7
Items for inclusion on the agenda shall be submitted to the Secretaries at least 20 calendar days prior to the date of the specialised working group meeting in question. Any supporting documentation shall be provided to the Secretaries at least 15 calendar days before the meeting. The Secretaries will communicate the draft agenda no later than 10 calendar days before the meeting. The agenda shall be finalised upon the agreement of both Parties. In exceptional circumstances, upon agreement of the Parties, items may be added to the agenda at short notice.


Article 8

1.   Minutes shall be taken for each meeting.


2.   Unless otherwise decided, specialised working groups’ meetings shall not be public.



Article 9

1.   Each Party shall meet any expenses it incurs as a result of participating in the meetings of a specialised working group with regard to staff, travel, and subsistence expenditure as well as postal and telecommunications expenditure.


2.   Expenditure in connection with the organisation of meetings and reproduction of documents shall be borne by the Party hosting the meeting.



Article 10
For other aspects not covered by these terms of reference, the rules of procedure of the Joint Committee shall apply by analogy.





ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1258/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)