CELEX: 52016PC0280
Language: en
Date: 2016-05-23
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION establishing the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Stabilisation and Association Council established by the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and Kosovo*, of the other part, concerning a Decision of the Stabilisation and Association Council adopting its rules of procedure

EUROPEAN COMMISSION
            Brussels, 23.5.2016
            COM(2016) 280 final
            2016/0146(NLE)
            Proposal for a
            COUNCIL DECISION
            establishing the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Stabilisation and Association Council established by the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and Kosovo*, of the other part, concerning a Decision of the Stabilisation and Association Council adopting its rules of procedure
            
               
         
         
            
               EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
            
            
            
               The Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and Kosovo, of the other part, has entered into force on 1 April 2016.
            
            
               The Stabilisation and Association Council established by Article 126 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 127 of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, the Stabilisation and Association Council shall establish its rules of procedure. In conformity with Article 129 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.
            
            
               In accordance with Article 218 (9) of the TFEU, the position to be taken by the Union in the Stabilisation and Association Council concerning a Decision of the Stabilisation and Association Council adopting its rules of procedure shall be established by a decision of the Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission.
            
            
               The Council is therefore invited to adopt the attached proposal for a Decision on the European Union's position concerning a Decision of the Stabilisation and Association Council on its rules of procedure.
            
            
               For the information of the Council, the draft rules of procedure of the relevant sub-Committees and special groups are provided in a separate document.
            
            
               2016/0146 (NLE)
            
            
               Proposal for a
            
            
               COUNCIL DECISION
            
            
               establishing the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Stabilisation and Association Council established by the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and Kosovo
                  1*, of the other part, concerning a Decision of the Stabilisation and Association Council adopting its rules of procedure
            
            
               THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
            
            
               Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 217 in conjunction with Article 218, paragraph 9 thereof,
            
            
               Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
            
            
               Whereas:
            
            
               (1)Article 126 of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and Kosovo*, of the other part (’theAgreement’), establishes a Stabilisation and Association Council.
            
            
               (2)Article 127 (2) of the Agreement provides that the Stabilisation and Association Council is to adopt its own rules of procedure.
            
            
               (3)Article 129 (1) of the Agreement provides that the Stabilisation and Association Council is to be assisted by a Stabilisation and Association Committee (‘the Committee’). 
            
         
         
            
               (4)Article 129 (2) and (3) of the Agreement provides that the Stabilisation and Association Council is to, in its rules of procedure, determine the duties of the Committee and that the Stabilisation and Association Council may delegate any of its powers to the Committee.
            
            
               (5)Article 131 of the 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 is to, in its rules of procedure, determine the composition and the duties of such committees and bodies and how they are to function,
            
            
               HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
            
            
               Article 1
            
            
               The European Union shall, within the Stabilisation and Association Council established by Article 126 of the Agreement, take the position to support the adoption of the rules of procedures, 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.
            
            
                Article 2
            
            
               The Member States shall form part of the delegation of the European Union to the meetings of the Stabilisation and Association Council. In view of Article 3 of the rules of procedure, Member States shall provide the High Representative of the Union for Foreigh Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the Commission, with the necessary information to that effect.
            
            
               Done at Brussels,
            
            
               
                     For the Council
               
               
                     The President
               
            
         
         
            
                  
                     (1)
                  *This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
               
            
      
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               EUROPEAN COMMISSION
            Brussels, 23.5.2016
            COM(2016) 280 final
            ANNEX
            to the
            PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION
            establishing the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Stabilisation and Association Council established by the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and Kosovo*, of the other part, concerning a Decision of the Stabilisation and Association Council adopting its rules of procedure
            
               
         
         
            
               Decision No 1 of the EU – Kosovo* 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 Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and Kosovo*, (‘the Agreement’) of the other part, and in particular Articles 126, 127, 129 and 131 thereof,
            
            
               Whereas that Agreement entered into force on 1 April 2016,
            
            
               HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 
            
            
               Article 1
            
            
               Chairmanship
            
            
               The Parties shall hold the chairmanship of the Stabilisation and Association Council alternately for a period of 12 months. The first period shall begin on the date of the first Stabilisation and Association Council meeting and end on 31 December of the same year.
            
            
               Article 2
            
            
               Meetings
            
            
               The Stabilisation and Association Council shall meet at high political 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 in Brussels. Meetings of the Stabilisation and Association Council shall be jointly convened by the Secretaries of the Stabilisation and Association Council in agreement with the Chair. 
            
            
               Article 3
            
            
               Delegations
            
            
               Before each meeting, the Chair 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 also invite other persons to attend its meetings in order to provide information on particular subjects.
            
            
               Article 4
            
            
               Secretariat
            
            
               An official of the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union and an official of the representation of Kosovo in Belgium shall act jointly as Secretaries of the Stabilisation and Association Council.
            
            
               
            
               Article 5
            
         
         
            
               Correspondence
            
            
               Correspondence addressed to the Stabilisation and Association Council shall be sent to the Chair 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 Chair 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 European External Action Service and the representation of Kosovo in Belgium.
            
            
               Communications from the Chair 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 referred to in the second paragraph.
            
            
               Article 6
            
            
               Publicity
            
            
               Unless otherwise decided, the meetings of the Stabilisation and Association Council shall not be public.
            
            
               Article 7
            
            
               Agendas for meetings
            
            
               1.The Chair 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 5 not later than 15 days before the beginning of the meeting. The provisional agenda shall include the items in respect of which the Chair 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 Chair 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 8
            
            
               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 Chair 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 a depository of the documents of the Association. . A certified copy shall be forwarded to each of the addressees referred to in Article 5.
            
            
               Article 9
            
            
               Decisions and recommendations
            
         
         
            
               1.The Stabilisation and Association Council shall take its decisions and make recommendations by common agreement of the Parties, without prejudice to Article 5 of the Agreement. The Stabilisation and Association Council may take decisions or make recommendations by written procedure if both Parties so agree.
            
            
               2.The decisions and recommendations of the Stabilisation and Association Council, within the meaning of Article 128 of the 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 Chair and authenticated by the two Secretaries. Decisions and recommendations shall be forwarded to each of the addressees referred to in Article 5. Each Party may decide on the publication of decisions and recommendations of the Stabilisation and Association Council in its respective official publication.
            
            
               Article 10
            
            
               Languages
            
            
               The official languages of the Stabilisation and Association Council shall be the authentic languages of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement. Unless otherwise decided, the Stabilisation and Association Council shall base its deliberations on documentation drawn up in these languages.
            
            
               Article 11
            
            
               Expenses
            
            
               The European Union and Kosovo 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 as well as other expenditure relating to the organisation of meetings shall be borne by the Party hosting the meetings.
            
            
               Article 12
            
            
               Stabilisation and Association Committee
            
            
               1.A Stabilisation and Association Committee (‘the 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 EU, on the one hand, and of Kosovo on the other, normally at senior civil servant level.
            
            
               2.The 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 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. It shall submit proposals or any draft decisions/recommendations for adoption to the Stabilisation and Association Council.
            
            
               3.In cases where the Agreement refers to an obligation to consult or a possibility of consultation, such consultation may take place within the Committee. The consultation may continue in the Stabilisation and Association Council if the two Parties so agree.
            
            
               4.The rules of procedure of the Stabilisation and Association Committee are annexed to this Decision.
            
            
               Done at
            
            
                  For the Stabilisation and Association Council
            
            
                  The Chair
            
            
            
               ANNEX I
                  to
                  Decision No 1 of the EU – Kosovo* Stabilisation and Association Council of [date]
            
            
         
         
            
               Rules of Procedure of the Stabilisation and Association Committee
            
            
               Article 1
            
            
               Chairmanship
            
            
               The Parties shall hold the chairmanship of the Committee alternately for a period of 12 months. The first period shall begin on the date of the first Stabilisation and Association Council meeting and end on 31 December of the same year.
            
            
               Article 2
            
            
               Meetings
            
            
               The Committee shall meet when circumstances require, with the agreement of both Parties. Each meeting of the Committee shall be held at a time and place agreed by both Parties. Meetings of the Committee shall be convened by the Chair.
            
            
               Article 3
            
            
               Delegations
            
            
               Before each meeting, the Chair 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 Kosovo shall act jointly as Secretaries of the Committee. All communications to and from the Chair of the Committee provided for in this Decision shall be forwarded to the Secretaries of the Committee and to the Secretaries and the Chair of the Stabilisation and Association Council.
            
            
               Article 5
            
            
               Publicity
            
            
               Unless otherwise decided, the meetings of the Committee shall not be public.
            
            
               Article 6
            
            
               Agendas for meetings
            
            
               1.
                     The Chair shall draw up a provisional agenda for each meeting. It shall be forwarded by the Secretaries of the Committee to the addressees referred to in Article 4 not later than 30 working days before the beginning of the meeting. The provisional agenda shall include the items in respect of which the Chair has received a request for inclusion on the agenda not later than 35 working 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 Committee may ask experts to attend its meetings in order to provide information on particular subjects. The agenda shall be adopted by the 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 Chair 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 Chair 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 Chair 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 Committee is empowered by the Stabilisation and Association Council under Article 128 of the Agreement to take decisions or make recommendations, these acts shall be made in accordance with Article 9 of the Rules of Procedure of the Stabilisation and Association Council. 
            
            
               Article 9
            
            
               Expenses
            
            
               The European Union and Kosovo shall each defray the expenses they incur by reason of their participation in the meetings of the 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 as well as other expenditure relating to the organisation of meetings shall be borne by the Party hosting the meetings. 
            
            
               Article 10
            
            
               Subcommittees and special groups
            
            
               The Committee may create subcommittees and special groups to work under its authority .  They shall report to the Committee after each of their meetings. The 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.
            
         
         
      
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               EUROPEAN COMMISSION
            Brussels, 23.5.2016
            COM(2016) 280 final
            ANNEX
            to the
            PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION
            establishing the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Stabilisation and Association Council established by the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and Kosovo* , of the other part, concerning a Decision of the Stabilisation and Association Council adopting its rules of procedure
            
               
         
         
            
               For the information of the Council only
            
            
               DRAFT
               
            
               Decision N° 1/2016 of the EU – Kosovo* Stabilisation and Association Committee of [day month] 2016 creating subcommittees and special groups
            
            
            
               THE Stabilisation and Association committee,
            
            
               Having regard to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and Kosovo*, of the other part, and in particular Article 130 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] 2016.
            
            
               For the Stabilisation and Association Committee
            
            
               The Chair
            
            
               Annex I
            
            
            
               Multidisciplinary Subcommittee Structure
            
            
                     
                        Title
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Issues
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        SAA Article
                     
                  
               
                     
                        1. Trade, Industry, Customs and Taxation
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Free Movement of Goods
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 20
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Industrial Products
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 21-25
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Commercial questions
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 36-49
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Standardisation, metrology, accreditation, certification, conformity assessment, and market surveillance
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 80
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Industrial co-operation
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 99
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        SMEs
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 100
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Tourism
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 101
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Customs
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 104
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Taxation
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 105
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Rules of origin
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Protocol III
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Administrative assistance in customs matters
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Protocol IV
                     
                  
               
                     
                        2. Agriculture and Fisheries
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Agricultural products
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 26, 28, 29, 33, 34 and 37
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Fisheries products
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 31 and 32, Annexes IV & V
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Processed agricultural products
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 27, Protocol I
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Wine
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 30 and Protocol II
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Protection of geographical indications for agricultural and fishery products and foodstuffs other than wine and spirits
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 35
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Agriculture and the agro-industrial sector, veterinary and phytosanitary matters
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 102
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Fisheries co-operation
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 103
                     
                  
               
                     
                        3. Internal Market and Competition
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Right of establishment
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 50-54 
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Supply of services
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 55-60
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Other questions related to Title V of the SAA
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 61-73
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Approximation of legislation and law enforcement
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 74
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Competition
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 75-76
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Intellectual, industrial and commercial property
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 77-78
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Public procurement
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 79
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Banking, insurance and other financial services
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 96
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Consumer protection
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 81
                     
                  
               
                     
                        4. Economic and financial issues and statistics
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Current payments and movement of capital
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 64-66
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Economic policy
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 94
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Statistical co-operation
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 95
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Investment promotion and protection
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 98
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Financial co-operation
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 121-125
                     
                  
               
                     
                        5. Justice, freedom and security
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Reinforcement of institutions and rule of law
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 83
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Fundamental rights, including anti-discrimination and data protection
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 4, Art. 83
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 84
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Visa, border control, asylum and migration
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 85-86
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Prevention and control of illegal immigration, readmission
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 87-88
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Money laundering
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 89
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Drugs 
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 90
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Combating terrorism
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 92
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Preventing organised crime and other illegal activities
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 91
                     
                  
               
                     
                        6. Innovation, information society, and social policy
                     
                  
                  
                     
                  
                  
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Working conditions and equal opportunities 
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 82
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Social co-operation 
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 106
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Education and training 
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 107
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Cultural co-operation
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 108
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Information and communication
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 105
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Co-operation in the audio-visual field
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 109
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Information society
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 110
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Electronic communications networks and services
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 111
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Information and communication
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 112
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Research and technological development
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 118
                     
                  
               
                     
                        7. Transport, energy, environment, and regional development
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Transport
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 113
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Energy
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 114
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Environment 
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 115
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Climate change
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 116
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Civil protection
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 117
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Regional and local development
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 119
                     
                  
               
               Structure of the Special groups
            
         
         
            
                     
                        Title
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Issues
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        SAA Article
                     
                  
               
                     
                        Special Group for reform of public administration
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Public administration reform
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 120
                     
                  
               
                     
                        Special Group on normalisation
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Visible and sustainable improvement of Kosovo's relations with Serbia, and effective cooperation with the EU's CSDP mission while in place
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        Art. 5
                     
                  
               
               Annex II
            
            
               Terms of Reference of the EU – Kosovo* Subcommittees and Special Groups
            
            
               Composition and Chair
            
            
               The subcommittees and the special groups on public administration reform (PAR) and on normalisation shall be composed of representatives of the European Commission, the European External Action Service in the case of the special group on normalisation, and representatives of Kosovo. They shall be chaired alternately by the two parties. The Member States will be informed and invited to the meetings of the subcommittees and the special group on PAR and normalisation.
            
            
               Secretariat
            
            
               An official of the European Commission, or of the European External Action Service in the case of the special group on normalisation, and an official of Kosovo shall act jointly as secretaries of each of the subcommittees and the special groups.
            
            
               All communications concerning the subcommittees and special groups shall be forwarded to the secretaries of the relevant subcommittee and of the special groups.
            
            
               Meetings
            
            
               The subcommittees and the special groups shall meet whenever circumstances require, with the agreement of both Parties. Each meeting of a subcommittee or special group shall be held at a time and place agreed by both Parties.
            
            
               If both Parties agree, the subcommittees and the special groups may invite experts to their meetings to provide the specific information requested.
            
            
               Agenda and supporting documentation
            
            
               The Chair and the secretaries shall draw up a provisional agenda for each meeting not later than 30 working days before the beginning of the meeting.
            
            
               The provisional agenda shall include items in respect of which a request for inclusion has been received by the secretaries not later than 35 working days before the beginning of the meeting.
            
            
               Following the agreement of the provisional agenda for each meeting and not later than 10 working days before the beginning of the meeting the secretary on behalf of Kosovo shall submit to the secretary on behalf of the European Commission, or the European External Action Service in the case of the special group on normalisation, the necessary written documentation following the items agreed in the provisional agenda.
            
            
               In case the deadline mentioned in paragraph 3 is not respected, the meeting shall be automatically cancelled without further notice.
            
            
               Subject matters
            
            
               The subcommittees shall discuss issues related to the areas of the Agreement as listed in the multidisciplinary subcommittee structure. Progress regarding the approximation, implementation and enforcement of legislation 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 Kosovo in conforming to the acquis in line with commitments taken under the Agreement.
            
            
               The special group on PAR shall discuss issues related to public administration reform and suggest possible steps to be taken. The special group on normalisation shall discuss issues related to the visible and sustainable improvement of Kosovo's relations with Serbia, and effective cooperation with the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy mission while in place, 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 to the Secretary of the Committee.
            
            
               Publicity
            
            
               Unless otherwise decided, the meetings of the subcommittees and the special groups shall not be public.