CELEX: 52018JC0029
Language: en
Date: 2018-11-29
Title: Joint Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the position to be adopted on behalf of the European Union in the Partnership Council established by the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Armenia, of the other part, as regards the adoption of decisions on the rules of procedure of the Partnership Council, the Partnership Committee and those of specialised subcommittees or any other body

EUROPEAN COMMISSION
            Brussels, 29.11.2018
            JOIN(2018) 29 final
            2018/0395(NLE)
            Joint Proposal for a
            COUNCIL DECISION
            on the position to be adopted on behalf of the European Union in the Partnership Council established by the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Armenia, of the other part, as regards the adoption of decisions on the rules of procedure of the Partnership Council, the Partnership Committee and those of specialised subcommittees or any other body
            
               
         
         
            
               EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
            
            
               1.SUBJECT MATTER OF THE PROPOSAL
            
            
               This proposal concerns a decision on the position to be adopted on the Union’s behalf in the Partnership Council established by the EU- Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement ('CEPA' or 'the Agreement'), in connection with the adoption of the rules of procedure of the Partnership Council and of the Partnership Committee and the establishment of sub-committees and other bodies.
            
            
               2.CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL
            
            
               2.1. The EUArmenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement
            
            
               The CEPA aims to enhance the comprehensive political and economic partnership and cooperation between the EU and Armenia, based on common values and close links, including by increasing the participation of the Republic of Armenia in policies, programmes and agencies of the European Union. It creates a strong enabling framework for enhanced political dialogue on all areas of mutual interest, promoting the development of close political relations.
            
            
               The CEPA sets out general principles and objectives for EUArmenia relations and creates an institutional structure for the implementation of the Agreement.
            
            
               It was applied provisionally from [1 June 2018].
            
            
               2.2. The Partnership Council
            
            
               The Partnership Council is established by Article 362 of the Agreement. It supervises and regularly reviews the implementation of the Agreement. 
            
            
               The Partnership Council consists of representatives of the Parties at ministerial level and meets at regular intervals, at least once a year, and when circumstances require. The Partnership Council may meet in any configuration, by mutual agreement. It adopts its own rules of procedure.
            
            
               The Partnership Council takes decisions within the scope of the Agreement in cases provided for therein. The decisions are binding upon the Parties, which are to take appropriate measures to implement them. The Partnership Council may also make recommendations. It adopts its decisions and recommendations by agreement between the Parties, subject to the completion of the Parties' respective internal procedures. 
            
            
               2.3. The Partnership Committee
            
            
               The Partnership Committee is established by Article 363 of the Agreement. It assists the Partnership Council in the performance of its duties and functions, and prepares the meetings of the Partnership Council.  
            
            
               The Partnership Committee has the power to adopt decisions in areas in which the Partnership Council has delegated powers to it in the cases provided for in the Agreement. Those decisions are binding upon the Parties, which are to take appropriate measures to implement them. The Partnership Committee adopts its decisions by agreement between the Parties, subject to the completion of the Parties' respective internal procedures. 
            
            
               It is composed of representatives of the Parties, in principle at senior official level. It is chaired alternately by a representative of the EU or of the Republic of Armenia. It normally meets at least once a year. Its rules of procedure are adopted by the Partnership Council.
            
            
               2.4. Envisaged act of the Partnership Council
            
            
               The Partnership Council is to adopt a decision on its own rules of procedure and those of the Partnership Committee, as well as on the establishment of sub-committees and other bodies.
            
            
               The purpose of the envisaged act is to adopt, in accordance with Articles 362(4) and 363(4) of the Agreement, rules of procedure governing the functioning of the Partnership Council and of the Partnership Committee, and to establish sub-committees and other bodies to allow for implementation of the CEPA.
            
         
         
            
               3.POSITION TO BE ADOPTED ON BEHALF OF THE UNION
            
            
               The position to be adopted on behalf of the Union should enable the adoption of the rules of procedure of the Partnership Council and of the Partnership Committee.
            
            
               4.LEGAL BASIS
            
            
               4.1. Procedural legal basis
            
            
                4.1.1. Principles
            
            
               Article 218(9) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) provides for decisions establishing ‘the positions to be adopted on the Union’s behalf in a body set up by an agreement, when that body is called upon to adopt acts having legal effects, with the exception of acts supplementing or amending the institutional framework of the agreement’.
            
            
               The notion of ‘acts having legal effects’ includes acts that have legal effects by virtue of the rules of international law governing the body in question. It also includes instruments that do not have a binding effect under international law, but that are ‘capable of decisively influencing the content of the legislation adopted by the EU legislature’
                  1
               .
            
            
               4.1.2.Application to the present case
            
            
               The Partnership Council and the Partnership Committee are bodies established by the CEPA.
            
            
               The acts set out in the annex to this Decision constitute acts having legal effects, because Article 362(6) of the Agreement empowers the Partnership Council to adopt decisions that are binding on the parties. The acts do not supplement or amend the institutional framework of the Agreement.
            
            
               Therefore, the procedural legal basis for the proposed Decision is Article 218(9) TFEU.
            
            
               4.2. Substantive legal basis 
            
            
               Principles 
            
            
               The substantive legal basis for a decision under Article 218(9) TFEU depends primarily on the objective and content of the envisaged act in respect of which a position is adopted on behalf of the Union. If the envisaged act pursues two aims or has two components and if one of those aims or components is identifiable as the main one, whereas the other is merely incidental, the decision under Article 218(9) TFEU must be founded on a single substantive legal basis, namely that required by the main or predominant aim or component. 
            
            
               With regard to an envisaged act that simultaneously pursues a number of objectives, or that has several components, which are inseparably linked without one being incidental to the other, the substantive legal basis of a decision under Article 218(9) TFEU will have to include, exceptionally, the various corresponding legal basis. 
            
            
               5.CONCLUSION
            
            
               In the light of the above, the legal basis of the proposed Decision should be Article 37 TEU and Articles 91, 100(2), 207 and 209 TFEU in conjunction with Article 218(9) TFEU.
            
            
               2018/0395 (NLE)
            
            
               Joint Proposal for a
            
            
               COUNCIL DECISION
            
         
         
            
               on the position to be adopted on behalf of the European Union in the Partnership Council established by the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Armenia, of the other part, as regards the adoption of decisions on the rules of procedure of the Partnership Council, the Partnership Committee and those of specialised subcommittees or any other body
            
            
               THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
            
            
               Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 37 thereof,
            
            
               Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Articles 91, 100(2), 207 and 209 in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,
            
            
               Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
            
            
               Whereas:
            
            
               (1)The Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Armenia, of the other part (‘the Agreement’)
                  2
               , was signed in Brussels on 24 November 2017 and applied provisionally from 1 June 2018.
            
            
               (2)Articles 362 and 363 of the Agreement establish a Partnership Council and a Partnership Committee to facilitate the implementation of the Agreement.
            
            
               (3)Pursuant to Article 362(4) of the Agreement, the Partnership Council is to establish its own rules of procedure and pursuant to Article 363(4) of the Agreement, the Partnership Council determines in its rules of procedure the duties and functioning of the Partnership Committee.  
            
            
               (4)In order to ensure the effective implementation of the Agreement, the rules of procedure of the Partnership Council and of the Partnership Committee should be adopted.
            
            
               (5)Article 364 (2) of the CEPA provides that the Partnership Council may decide to set up any  subcommittees and other bodies in specific areas that can assist it in carrying out its duties. It further provides that the Partnership Council shall, in its rules of procedure, determine the composition and the duties of such committees and bodies and how they shall function,
            
            
               (6)The Partnership Council, during  its [...] session/meeting  on [date],  is  to  adopt the rules of procedure of the Partnership Council, the Partnership Committee and those of specialised subcommittees or any other body..
            
            
               (7)It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union's behalf in the Partnership Council, as its decisions on the rules of procedure of the Partnership Council, the Partnership Committee and those of specialised subcommittees or any other body, and on the establishment of subcommittees will be binding on the Union.
            
            
               (8)The Union’s position in the Partnership Council should therefore be based on the attached draft texts of the rules of procedure of the Partnership Council and of the Partnership Committee  its annex.
            
            
               HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
            
            
               Article 1
            
            
               The position to be adopted on the Union’s behalf in the EUArmenia Partnership Council as regards the rules of procedure of the Partnership Council, the Partnership Committee and those of specialised subcommittees, including for the subcommittee on Geographical Indication
                  3
               or any other body, and as regards the establishment of subcommittees shall be based on the draft acts of the Partnership Council attached to this Decision. Minor amendments to the draft Decision may be accepted without further decision by the Council.
            
            
               Article 2
            
            
               This Decision is addressed to the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
            
            
               Article 3
            
         
         
            
               This Decision shall enter into force on [...].
            
            
               Done at Brussels,
            
            
               
                     For the Council
               
               
                     The President
               
            
         
         
            
                  
                     (1)
                  
                        Case C-399/12 Germany v Council (OIV), ECLI: EU: C: 2014:2258, paragraphs 61-64.
               
               
                  
                     (2)
                  
                        
                  https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1532441113638&uri=CELEX:22018A0126(01)
               
               
                  
                     (3)
                  
                        The Geographical Indications Sub-Committee created by Article 240 of the agreement is responsible for adopting its own rules of procedure.
               
            
      
    ---documentbreak--- 
      
         
               EUROPEAN COMMISSION
            Brussels, 29.11.2018
            JOIN(2018) 29 final
            Joint Proposal for a
            ANNEXES
            to the
            Council Decision
            on the position to be adopted on behalf of the European Union, in the Partnership Council established by  the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Armenia, of the other part, as regards the adoption of the decisions on the rules of procedure of the Partnership Council, The PartnershipCommittee and those of specialised subcommittees or any other body
            
               
         
         
            
               ANNEX I
            
            
            
               DECISION No ……OF THE EUropean Union-REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA 
                  PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL
            
            
               on
            
            
               Adopting its Rules of Procedure and those of the Partnership Committee, 
                  subcommittees or any other bodies
            
            
               THE PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL,
            
            
               Having regard to the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Armenia, of the other part (‘the Agreement’) signed in Brussels on 24th November, 2017 
            
            
               Whereas:
            
            
               (1)In accordance with Article 385 of the Agreement, parts of the Agreement are to be applied provisionally
            
            
               (2)Pursuant to Article 362(4) of the Agreement, the Partnership Council is to establish its own rules of procedure.
            
            
               (3)Pursuant to Article 363(4) of the Agreement, the Partnership Council is to determine in its Rules of Procedure the duties and functioning of the Partnership Committee.
            
            
               (4)Pursuant to Article 364 (2) of the Agreement, the Partnership Council may decide to set up any subcommittees and other bodies in specific areas necessary for the implementation of this Agreement and is to determine their composition, duties and functioning.
            
            
            
               HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
            
            
               Article 1
            
            
               The Rules of Procedure of the Partnership Council and those of the Partnership Committee, subcommittees or any other bodies, as set out in Annexes A, B and C are hereby adopted.
            
            
               Article 2
            
            
               The subcommittees listed in the Annex are hereby established.
            
            
               Article 3
            
         
         
            
               This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
            
            
            
               Done at ...., xxxx,
            
            
            
                  For the Partnership Council
                     
                  The Chair 
            
            
            
               ANNEX A
            
            
               RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL
            
            
               Article 1
            
            
               General provisions
            
            
               1.The Partnership Council established in accordance with Article 362 (1) of the Agreement shall perform its duties as provided for in Article 362 of the Agreement.
            
            
               2.As provided for in Article 362(2) of the Agreement, the Partnership Council shall consist of representatives of the Parties at ministerial level and meet at regular intervals, at least once a year, and when circumstances require. The composition of the Partnership Council shall take into consideration the specific issues to be addressed at any given meeting.
            
            
               3.As provided for in Article 362(6) of the Agreement, and for the purpose of attaining the objectives thereof, the Partnership Council shall have the power to take decisions within the scope of this Agreement in cases provided for therein. The decisions shall be binding upon the Parties, which should take appropriate measures to implement them. The Partnership Council may also make recommendations. It shall adopt its decisions and recommendations by agreement between the Parties, with due respect for the completion of the Parties' respective internal procedures. 
            
            
               4.For the purpose of these Rules of Procedure the term "Parties" shall be understood as defined in Article 382 of the Agreement. 
            
            
               Article 2
            
            
               Chairmanship
            
            
               The Parties shall hold the chairmanship of the Partnership Council alternately. The first period shall begin on the date of the first Partnership Council meeting and end on 31 December of the same year. The EU shall chair the first Partnership Council.
            
            
               Article 3
            
            
               Meetings
            
            
               1.The Partnership Council shall meet once a year, and when circumstances require, by mutual agreement of the Parties. Unless otherwise agreed by the Parties, the Partnership Council shall be held at the usual venue for meetings of the Council of the European Union.
            
         
         
            
               2.Each session of the Partnership Council shall be held at a date agreed by the Parties.
            
            
               3.The meetings of the Partnership Council shall be convened jointly by the secretaries of the Partnership Council, in agreement with the chair of the Partnership Council no later than 30 calendar days before the date of the meeting.
            
            
               Article 4
            
            
               Representation
            
            
               1.The representatives of the Parties in the Partnership Council may attend the meetings in person or delegate other official who shall exercise all the rights on his/her behalf.
            
            
               2.The name of the delegated official shall be communicated to the chair of the Partnership Council in writing before the meeting.    
            
            
               Article 5
            
            
               Delegations
            
            
               1.The representatives of the Parties in the Partnership Council may be accompanied by officials. Before each meeting, the chair of the Partnership Council shall be informed, through the secretariat of the Partnership Council, of the intended composition of the delegation of each Party.
            
            
               2.The Partnership Council may, by agreement between the Parties, invite representatives of other bodies of the Parties or independent experts in a subject area to attend its meetings as observers or in order to provide information on particular subjects. The Parties shall agree on the terms and conditions under which those observers may attend the meetings.
            
            
               Article 6
            
            
               Secretariat
            
            
               An official of the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union and an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia shall act jointly as secretaries of the Partnership Council.
            
            
               Article 7
            
            
               Correspondence
            
            
               1.Correspondence addressed to the Partnership Council shall be directed to the secretary of either the European Union or of the Republic of Armenia, who in turn shall inform the other secretary.
            
            
               2.The secretaries of the Partnership Council shall ensure that correspondence is forwarded to the chair of the Partnership Council, the Head of the Delegation of the other Party and, where appropriate, circulated to the representatives of the Parties in the Partnership Council.
            
            
               3.Communications from the chair shall be sent to the addressees by the Secretaries on behalf of the Chair. Such communications shall be circulated, where appropriate, to the representative of the Parties in the Partnership Council.
            
            
               Article 8
            
            
               Confidentiality
            
         
         
            
               Unless otherwise decided by the Parties, the meetings of the Partnership Council shall be held in camera. When a Party submits information designated as confidential to the Partnership Council, the other Party shall treat that information as such.
            
            
               Article 9
            
            
               Agendas for meetings
            
            
               1.The chair of the Partnership Council shall draw up a provisional agenda for each meeting of the Partnership Council. It shall be sent by the secretaries of the Partnership Council to the addressees referred to in Article 7 no later than 20 calendar days before the meeting.
            
            
               2.The provisional agenda shall include the items proposed to the chair for inclusion in the agenda no later than 21 calendar days before the meeting. Such items shall not be included in the provisional agenda unless the relevant supporting documents have been sent to the secretaries before the date of dispatch of the agenda.
            
            
               3.The agenda shall be adopted by the Partnership Council at the start of each meeting. Any item other than those featuring on the provisional agenda may be added on the agenda if the representatives of the Parties so agree.
            
            
               4.The chair may reduce, in consultation with the representatives of the Parties, the time-limits specified in paragraph 1 in order to take account of the requirements of a particular circumstance.
            
            
               Article 10
            
            
               Minutes
            
            
               1.Draft minutes of each meeting shall be drawn up jointly by the secretaries of the Partnership Council.
            
            
               2.The minutes shall, as a general rule, indicate for each item on the agenda:
            
            
               (a)the documentation submitted to the Partnership Council
            
            
               (b)statements which a representative of the Party in the Partnership Council requested to be entered in the minutes; and
            
            
               (c)issues agreed upon by the Parties, such as decisions adopted, statements agreed upon and any conclusions.
            
            
               3.The draft minutes shall be submitted to the Partnership Council for approval. The Partnership Council shall endorse those draft minutes at its next meeting. Alternatively, those draft minutes may be endorsed in writing.
            
            
               Article 11
            
            
               Decisions and recommendations
            
            
               1.As provided for by Article 362(6) of the Agreement the Partnership Council shall take decisions and make recommendations by mutual agreement between both Delegations and on completion of their respective internal procedures.
            
            
               2.The Partnership Council may also take decisions or make recommendations by written procedure if the representatives of the Parties so agree. For this purpose, the draft decision or recommendation shall be circulated in writing by the chair of the Partnership Council to its representatives of the Parties pursuant to Article 7, no later than 21 calendar days before the meeting is due to take place. The representatives of the Parties in the Partnership Council shall make known any reservations or amendments they wish to make within that time limit. The chair may, in consultation with the Parties, shorten the time limit to take account of the requirements of a particular case.
            
            
               3.The Partnership Council, within the meaning of Article 362(6) of the Agreement, may take ‘Decisions’ or make ‘Recommendations’ respectively, followed by a serial number, the date of their adoption and a description of their subject matter. Those decisions and recommendations shall be signed by the chair and authenticated by the secretaries of the Partnership Council. Those decisions and recommendations shall be circulated pursuant to Article 7 of these Rules of Procedure. Each Party may decide on the publication of the decisions and recommendations of the Partnership Council in its respective official publication.
            
         
         
            
               4.Each decision of the Partnership Council shall enter into force on the date of its adoption unless the decision or recommendation provides otherwise.
            
            
               Article 12
            
            
               Languages
            
            
               1.The official languages of the Partnership Council shall be the official languages of the Parties.
            
            
               2.The working language of the Partnership Council shall be English. Unless otherwise decided, the Partnership Council shall base its deliberations on documentation prepared in this language.
            
            
               Article 13
            
            
               Expenses
            
            
               1.Each Party shall meet any expenses which it incurs as a result of participating in the meetings of the Partnership Council, both with regard to staff, travel and subsistence expenditure and postal and telecommunications expenditure.
            
            
               2.Expenditure in connection with interpretation during meetings held in Luxembourg or Brussels, translation and reproduction of documents shall be borne by the Union.
            
            
               3.Other expenditure relating to the material organisation of meetings shall be borne by the Party which hosts the meetings.
            
            
               Article 14
            
            
               Partnership Committee and subcommittees
            
            
               1.In accordance with Article 363(1) of the Agreement, the Partnership Committee shall assist the Partnership Council in in the performance of its duties and functions. The Partnership Committee shall be composed of representatives of the Parties at senior official level.
            
            
               2.In cases where the Agreement refers to an obligation to consult or a possibility of consultation or where the Parties decide by mutual agreement to consult each other, such consultation may take place within the Partnership Committee, except as otherwise provided for in the Agreement. The consultation may continue in the Partnership Council if the Parties so agree.
            
            
               3.In accordance with Article 364(2) of the Agreement, the Partnership Council may decide to set up any subcommittees or other bodies in specific areas necessary for the implementation of this Agreement and shall determine their composition, duties and functioning. 
            
            
               4.Upon agreement of the Parties, the Partnership Council may modify the list of subcommittees and other bodies as set out in Annex II. 
            
            
               Article 15
            
            
               Amendment of Rules of Procedure
            
            
               These Rules of Procedure may be amended in accordance with Article 11.
            
            
         
         
            
            
               ANNEX B
            
            
               RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE PARTNERSHIP COMMITTEE 
            
            
               Article 1
            
            
               General provisions
            
            
               1.The Partnership Committee established in accordance with Article 363(1) of the Agreement shall assist the Partnership Council in the performance of its duties and perform the tasks provided for in the Agreement and assigned to it by the Partnership Council. 
            
            
               2.The Partnership Committee shall prepare the meetings and deliberations of the Partnership Council, implement the decision of the Partnership Council where appropriate and ensure the proper functioning of the Agreement in general. The Partnership Committee shall consider any matter referred to it by the Partnership Council as well as any other matter which may arise in the course of the day-to-day implementation of the Agreement. 
            
            
               3.The Partnership Committee shall be composed of representatives of the Parties at senior official level.
            
            
               4.As provided for in Article 363 (6) of the Agreement the Partnership Committee shall have the power to adopt decisions in areas in which the Partnership Council has delegated powers to it and in the cases provided for in the Agreement. Those decisions shall be binding upon the Parties, which shall take appropriate measures to implement them. The Partnership Committee shall adopt its decisions by agreement between the Parties, subject to the completion of the Parties' respective internal procedures.
            
            
               5.For the purpose of these Rules of Procedure the term "Parties" shall be understood as defined in Article 382 of the Agreement.
            
            
               Article 2
            
            
               Configuration
            
            
               1.The Partnership Committee shall deliberate and act in a trade configuration when addressing matters related to Title VI (Trade and trade related matters) of the Agreement.
            
            
               2.Pursuant to Article 363(7) of the Agreement, when the Partnership Committee meets in a special composition (‘trade configuration’) to address relevant issues related to Title VI (Trade and trade related matters), it shall be composed of senior officials of the European Commission and of the Republic of Armenia who are responsible for trade and trade-related matters. In accordance with Article 2 of these Rules of Procedure, a representative of the European Commission or of the Republic of Armenia who is in charge of trade and trade-related matters shall act as chair of the Partnership Committee when it meets in a trade configuration. The meetings may be attended by a representative of the European External Action Service.
            
            
            
            
               Article 3
            
            
               Delegations
            
            
               1.The Partnership Committee shall be composed of two Delegations, the Delegation of the European Union on the one part, and the Delegation of the Republic of Armenia, on the other part.
            
            
               2.The Head of Delegation may delegate his function to another representative of that Party.
            
         
         
            
               3.The representatives of the Partnership Committee may be accompanied by officials. Before each meeting, the chair of the Partnership Council shall be informed, through the secretariat of the Partnership Council, of the intended composition of each delegation.
            
            
               4.The Partnership Committee may, by agreement between the Parties, invite representatives of other bodies of the Parties or independent experts in a subject area to attend its meetings as observers or in order to provide information on particular subjects. The Parties shall agree on the terms and conditions under which those observers may attend the meetings.
            
            
               5.Before each meeting, the Parties shall be informed, through the secretariat of the Partnership Committee, of the intended composition of the delegations attending the meeting on either side.
            
            
               Article 4
            
            
               Chairmanship
            
            
               1.The Partnership Committee shall be chaired alternately by a representative of the European Union and a representative of the Republic of Armenia. 
            
            
               2.The Party holding the chairmanship of the Partnership Council shall also hold the chair of the Partnership Committee. 
            
            
               Article 5
            
            
               Meetings
            
            
               1.Unless otherwise agreed by the Parties, the Partnership Committee shall meet regularly and at least once a year. Special sessions of the Partnership Committee may be held at the request of either Party, if both Parties agree.
            
            
               2.Each meeting of the Partnership Committee shall be convened by its chair at a place and on a date agreed by the Parties. The notice convening the meeting shall be issued by the secretariat of the Partnership Committee no later than three months prior to the start of the meeting, unless the Parties agree otherwise.
            
            
               3.The Partnership Committee shall meet at least once a year in trade configuration and when circumstances so require. 
            
            
               4.Whenever possible, the regular meeting of the Partnership Committee shall be convened in good time before the regular meeting of the Partnership Council.
            
            
               5.By way of exception and if the Heads of Delegations so agree, the meetings of the Partnership Committee may be held by any agreed technological means such as videoconference.
            
            
               Article 6
            
            
               Secretariat
            
            
               1.An official of the European External Action Service and an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia shall jointly act as secretaries of the Partnership Committee in a general configuration. They shall execute secretarial tasks jointly and in a spirit of mutual trust and cooperation, unless these Rules of Procedure provide otherwise.
            
            
               2.An official of the European Commission and an official of the Republic of Armenia who are responsible for trade and trade-related matters shall jointly act as secretaries of the Partnership Committee in trade configuration.
            
            
               Article 7
            
            
               Correspondence
            
         
         
            
               1.Correspondence addressed to the Partnership Committee shall be directed to the secretary of either Party, who in turn will inform the other secretary.
            
            
               2.The secretariat of the Partnership Committee shall ensure that correspondence addressed to the Partnership Committee is forwarded to the chair of the Partnership Committee and circulated, where appropriate, to the representatives of the Partnership Committee as documents referred to in Article 7.
            
            
               3.Correspondence from the chair shall be sent to the Parties by the secretariat on behalf of the chair. Such correspondence shall be circulated, where appropriate, to the representatives of the Partnership Committee in accordance with Article 7.
            
            
               Article 8
            
            
               Documents
            
            
               1.Documents shall be circulated through the secretaries of the Partnership Committee.
            
            
               2.A Party shall transmit its documents to its secretary who shall transmit those documents to the secretary of the other Party.
            
            
               3.The secretary of the Union shall circulate the documents to the relevant representatives of the Union and shall copy systematically the secretary of the Republic of Armenia in such correspondence.
            
            
               4.The secretary of the Republic of Armenia shall circulate the documents to the relevant representatives of the Republic of Armenia and shall copy systematically the secretary of the Union in such correspondence.
            
            
            
            
               Article 9
            
            
               Confidentiality
            
            
               Unless otherwise decided between the Parties, the meetings of the Partnership Committee shall not be open to the public. When a Party submits information designated as confidential to the Partnership Committee, the other Party shall treat that information as such.
            
            
               Article 10
            
            
               Agendas for meetings
            
            
               1.A draft agenda for each meeting of the Partnership Committee as well as draft operational conclusions as provided for in Article 10 shall be drawn up by the secretariat of the Partnership Committee on the basis of proposals made by the Parties. The draft agenda shall include items which the secretariat of the Partnership Committee has received for inclusion in the agenda by a Party. 
            
            
               2.The draft agenda, together with the relevant supporting documents, shall be circulated in accordance with Article 7 and no later than one month before the start of the meeting. 
            
            
               3.The agenda shall be adopted by the Partnership Committee at the start of each meeting. Items other than those featuring on the provisional agenda may be added on the agenda if the Parties so agree.
            
            
               4.The chair of the Partnership Committee meeting may, upon agreement of the other Party, invite representatives of other bodies of the Parties or independent experts in a subject area on an ad hoc basis, to attend its meetings in order to provide information on specific subjects. The Parties shall ensure that those observers or experts respect any confidentiality requirements.
            
         
         
            
               5.The chair of the Partnership Committee meeting may reduce, in consultation with the Parties, the time limits provided for in paragraph 2 in order to take account of special circumstances.
            
            
               Article 11
            
            
               Minutes and operational conclusions
            
            
               1.Draft minutes of each Partnership Committee meeting shall be drawn up jointly by the secretaries of the Partnership Committee within 1 month following the meeting.
            
            
               2.The minutes shall, as a general rule, provide the agenda, a list of participants at the meeting including any observers or experts attending, operational conclusions from the meeting, as provided in paragraph 4 and indicate in respect of each item on the agenda:
            
            
               (a)the documentation submitted to the Partnership Committee
            
            
               (b)statements which the Partnership Committee requested to be entered in the minutes.
            
            
               3.The draft minutes shall be submitted to the Partnership Committee for approval at its next meeting. Alternatively, those draft minutes can be approved in writing. The draft minutes of the Partnership Committee in trade configuration shall be approved within 3 months of each meeting. A copy shall be sent to each of the addressees referred to in Article 7.
            
            
               4.Draft operational conclusions of each meeting should be drawn up by the secretary of the Partnership Committee of the Party holding the chairmanship of the Partnership Committee. These draft operational conclusions shall be circulated to the Delegations together with the agenda, normally no later than 7 calendar days prior the start of the subsequent meeting. That draft shall be updated as the meeting proceeds so that at the end of the meeting, unless agreed otherwise by the Parties, the Partnership Committee adopts the operational conclusions, reflecting the proposed follow-up actions by the Parties. Once agreed, the operational conclusions shall be attached to the minutes and their implementation shall be reviewed during any subsequent meeting of the Partnership Committee. To that end, the Partnership Committee shall adopt a template, allowing for each action point to be tracked against a specific deadline.
            
            
               Article 12
            
            
               Decisions and recommendations
            
            
               1.In specific cases where the Agreement confers the power to take decisions or where such power has been delegated to it by the Partnership Council, the Partnership Committee shall take those decisions. Decisions and recommendations shall be made by mutual agreement between the Parties. Each decision or recommendation shall be signed by the chair of the Partnership Committee and authenticated by the secretaries of the Partnership Committee.
            
            
               2.The Partnership Committee may take decisions or make recommendations by written procedure if both Parties agree. Each decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption unless it provides otherwise. The written procedure shall consist of an exchange of notes between the secretaries, acting in agreement with the Parties. For that purpose, the text of the proposal shall be circulated pursuant to Article 7 no later than 21 calendar days within which any reservations or amendments shall be made known. In consultation with the Parties, the chair may reduce or extend the time limits specified in this paragraph in order to take account of special circumstances. Once the text is agreed, the decision or recommendation shall be signed by the chair and authenticated by the secretaries.
            
            
               3.The decisions and recommendations shall be circulated to the Parties.
            
            
               4.Each Party may decide on the publication of the decisions and recommendations of the Partnership Committee in its respective official publication.
            
            
               Article 13
            
            
               Reports
            
            
               The Partnership Committee shall report to the Partnership Council on its activities and those of its specialised subcommittees or any other bodies at each regular meeting of the Partnership Council.
            
            
            
         
         
            
               Article 14
            
            
               Languages
            
            
               1.The official languages of the Partnership Committee shall be the official languages of the Parties.
            
            
               2.The working language of the Partnership Committee shall be English. Unless otherwise decided, the deliberations of the Partnership Committee shall be conducted in English and the documentation shall be prepared in this language. Each Party may provide on its own expenses for interpretation or translations into its official languages.
            
            
               Article 15
            
            
               Expenses
            
            
               1.Each Party shall meet any expenses it incurs as a result of participating in the meetings of the Partnership Committee, both with regard to staff, travel and subsistence expenditure and 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.
            
            
               3.In cases where translation of documents into the official languages of the European Union is necessary, the expenditure shall be borne by the European Union.
            
            
               Article 16
            
            
               Amendment of Rules of Procedure
            
            
               These Rules of Procedure may be amended by a decision of the Partnership Council in accordance with Article 11 of Annex A.
            
            
            
               ANNEX C
            
            
               RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE SUBCOMMITTEES OR ANY OTHER BODIES SET UP BY THE PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL 
            
            
               Article 1
            
            
               1.Pursuant to Article 364 (2) of the Agreement, the Partnership Council may decide to set up any subcommittees and other bodies in specific areas necessary for the implementation of the Agreement and shall determine their composition, duties and functioning.
            
            
               2.The Subcommittees may, in their respective fields of competence, inter-alia: 
            
            
               (a)exchange views on any points of common interest, including future measures and the resources needed for their implementation and application; 
            
            
               (b)hold regular consultations and monitor the implementation of the Agreement; 
            
         
         
            
               (c)adopt practical arrangements and measures on issues defined in the Agreement;
            
            
               (d)make recommendations;
            
            
               (e)if empowered by the Partnership Council, act on its behalf, for implementing its decisions taken in accordance with Article 1(3) of the Rules of Procedure of the Partnership Council. 
            
            
               Article 2
            
            
               Meetings
            
            
               The meetings of subcommittees or any other bodies may be held flexibly as the need arises, in person, either in Brussels or in the Republic of Armenia or, for example, by videoconference. The subcommittees and any other bodies shall act as a platform to monitor progress, to discuss certain issues and challenges arising from that process and to formulate recommendations and operational conclusions.
            
            
               Article 3
            
            
               Secretariat
            
            
               The secretariat of the Partnership Committee shall receive a copy of all relevant correspondence, documents and communications pertaining to any subcommittee or any other body.
            
            
               Article 4
            
            
               Unless otherwise provided for by the Agreement or agreed in the Partnership Council, the Rules of Procedure of the Partnership Committee as defined in Annex B shall be applied mutatis mutandis to any subcommittee or any other body. 
            
            
            
            
               ANNEX II
            
            
            
               LIST OF SPECIALISED SUB-COMMITTEES
            
            
            
               (1)Sub-Committee on Energy, Transport, Environment, Climate Action and Civil Protection
            
            
               (2)Sub-Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, Public Health, Training, Education and Youth, Culture, Information Society, Audio-visual, Science and Technology ("People-to-People contacts")
            
            
               (3)Sub-Committee on Justice, Freedom and Security
            
         
         
            
               (4)Sub-Committee on Customs
            
            
               (5)Sub-Committee on Geographical Indications
            
            
               (6)Sub-Committee on economic cooperation and other related sectors