Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

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| 23.1.2023 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | L 20/41 |

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COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2023/151

of 17 January 2023

on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the EPA Committee established under the Interim Agreement in view of an Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Central Africa Party, of the other part as regards the establishment of the EPA Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 207(4), first subparagraph, in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

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| (1) | The Interim Agreement with a view to an Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Central Africa Party, of the other part, (the ‘Agreement’) [(1)](#ntr1-L_2023020EN.01004101-E0001), was signed in Brussels on 22 January 2009 pursuant to Council Decision 2009/152/EC [(2)](#ntr2-L_2023020EN.01004101-E0002), and has been applied on a provisional basis since 4 August 2014. |

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| (2) | Under the terms of the Agreement, the Central Africa Party is composed of the Republic of Cameroon. |

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| (3) | Pursuant to Article 92 of the Agreement, an EU-Central Africa EPA Committee is established, which is to be responsible for the administration of all areas covered by the Agreement and for the completion of all tasks referred to therein. |

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| (4) | Pursuant to Article 5 of the Rules of Procedure of the EU-Central Africa EPA Committee, adopted on 15 December 2016 by Decision No 1/2016 of the EPA Committee [(3)](#ntr3-L_2023020EN.01004101-E0003), for the effective performance of its tasks the EU-Central Africa EPA Committee may set up under its authority sub-committees responsible for dealing with specific subjects under the Agreement. Accordingly, the EU-Central Africa EPA Committee can establish an EPA Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural development in order to achieve the objectives of the Agreement. |

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| (5) | It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf concerning the establishment of an EPA Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development as this will have legal effects in the Union. |

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| (6) | The position of the Union as regards the establishment of the Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development should therefore be based on the attached draft Decision, |

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The position to be taken on the Union’s behalf within the EPA Committee established under the Interim Agreement for an Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Central Africa Party, of the other part, regarding the establishment of a Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development, shall be based on the draft Decision of the EPA Committee attached to this Decision.

Article 2

After its adoption, the Decision of the EPA Committee shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Article 3

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

Done at Brussels, 17 January 2023.

For the Council

The President

E. SVANTESSON

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DRAFT

DECISION No.../2023 OF THE EPA COMMITTEE established under the INTERIM AGREEMENT IN VIEW OF AN ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT between THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY and ITS MEMBER STATES, of the one part, and THE CENTRAL AFRICA PARTY, of the other part,

of …

on the establishment of the EPA Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development

THE EPA COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Interim Agreement in view of an Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Central Africa Party, of the other part, and in particular Article 92 thereof,

Having regard to Decision No 1/2016 of the EPA Committee of 15 December 2016 concerning the adoption of its Rules of Procedure, and in particular Article 5 thereof,

Whereas:

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| (1) | Article 92 of the Interim Agreement in view of an Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Central Africa Party, of the other part (the ‘Agreement’) [(1)](#ntr1-L_2023020EN.01004301-E0001), provides that the EPA Committee is to be responsible for the administration of all areas covered by the Agreement and for the completion of all tasks referred to therein. |

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| (2) | Article 5 of Decision No 1/2016 of the EPA Committee of 15 December 2016 concerning the adoption of its Rules of Procedure [(2)](#ntr2-L_2023020EN.01004301-E0002) provides that the EPA Committee is able to set up under its authority sub-committees responsible for dealing with specific subjects under the Agreement. |

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| (3) | It is necessary to establish an EPA Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development, |

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

1.   The EPA Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development for the partnership between the European Community and the Central Africa Party is hereby established to carry out the tasks set out in Article 2.

2.   The main objective of the EPA Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development is to facilitate exchanges on agricultural, pastoral, and rural development issues.

Article 2

1.   The EPA Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development shall be responsible for studying documents in order to elaborate on opinions, as well as developing, issuing opinions and making suggestions on agricultural, pastoral and rural development issues. It shall enable the Parties to exchange their experiences, information and best practices and to consult each other on all matters related to the general and specific objectives defined in Article 2 of Title I of the Agreement, and falling within the scope of the subcommittee as described below.

2.   The EPA Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development shall be responsible, under the authority of the EPA Committee, for:

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| (a) | monitoring all aspects of Titles II, III and V of the Agreement relating to trade in agricultural and livestock products, sanitary and phytosanitary matters, food security and rural development, as well as intellectual property and sustainable development issues, as they apply to agricultural and livestock products; |

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| (b) | engaging in policy dialogue on agriculture, livestock and rural development in the following areas:   |  |  | | --- | --- | | (i) | production, consumption, trade promotion and respective market developments of agricultural and livestock products; |  |  |  | | --- | --- | | (ii) | promotion of investment in the agricultural and pastoral sectors, including small-scale activities; |  |  |  | | --- | --- | | (iii) | agricultural and rural development policies, legislation and regulations, including policies on geographical indications and organic farming; |  |  |  | | --- | --- | | (iv) | new technologies, research and innovation, and knowledge transfer to the agricultural sectors as well as actions needed to promote the transition to sustainable food systems. | |

3.   The EPA Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development shall also be responsible for monitoring the implementation of the recommendations of the EPA Committee insofar as they relate to the area of competence defined in paragraph 2.

4.   The EPA Subcommittee shall submit its opinions to the EPA Committee.

Article 3

The EPA Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development shall be composed, on the one hand, of representatives of the European Commission and, on the other hand, of representatives of the Central Africa Party. The parties represented may jointly decide to invite other participants, in particular representatives of stakeholders concerned by the subcommittee's field of competence.

Article 4

The EPA Subcommittee shall meet either in person or by any other appropriate means established by mutual agreement between the Parties. The agenda and the frequency of meetings of the subcommittee shall be determined by a consensus between the parties.

Article 5

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

Done at …, …

For the Republic of Cameroon

For the European Union

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[(1)](#ntc1-L_2023020EN.01004301-E0001)  
[OJ L 57, 28.2.2009, p. 2](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L:2009:057:TOC).

[(2)](#ntc2-L_2023020EN.01004301-E0002)  
[OJ L 17, 21.1.2017, p. 46](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L:2017:017:TOC).

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