CELEX: 52019PC0556
Language: en
Date: 2019-10-31
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Joint Implementation Committee established pursuant to Article 18 of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on forest law enforcement, governance and trade as regards the adoption of the Rules of Procedure of the Joint Implementation Committee

EUROPEAN COMMISSION
            Brussels, 31.10.2019
            COM(2019) 556 final
            ANNEX 
            to the
            Proposal for a Council Decision
            on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Joint Implementation Committee established pursuant to Article 18 of the Voluntary Partnership agreement between the European Union and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on forest law enforcement, governance and trade as regards the adoption of the Rules of Procedure of the Joint Implementation Committee
            
               
         
         
            
               ANNEX 
            
            
               RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE JOINT IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE
            
            
               under the Voluntary Partnership agreement on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the European Union (‘the Agreement’)
            
            
            
               Article 1
            
            
               Composition and Chair
            
            
               1. The Joint Implementation Committee ('JIC') is composed as provided for in Article 18 of the Agreement.
            
            
               2. The JIC shall be jointly chaired by the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on behalf of the European Union and by the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on behalf of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam ('the Parties').
            
            
               Article 2
            
            
               Representation
            
            
               Either Party shall inform the other of the intended composition of its Delegation in advance of all JIC meetings.
            
            
               Article 3
            
            
               Observers and Experts
            
            
               The Chairs of the JIC, in agreement with the Parties, may invite experts and observers to attend its meetings in order to provide information on specific subjects and as useful to inform implementation of the Agreement.
            
            
               Article 4
            
            
               Working Groups and Subsidiary Bodies
            
            
               The Parties to the JIC may by mutual agreement establish working groups or other subsidiary bodies, including:
            
            
               (i) Joint Expert Meetings to support the work of the JIC on a technical level and explore technical issues as deemed necessary
            
            
               (ii) Any other bodies as it may be deemed appropriate by the JIC.
            
         
         
            
               Article 5 
            
            
               Secretariat
            
            
               An Official of the Delegation of the European Union to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and an Official of the Administration of Forestry under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam shall jointly act as Secretariat of the JIC to provide administrative support to the JIC and the bodies it decides to establish.
            
            
               Article 6 
            
            
               Correspondence
            
            
               1. The representatives of the Parties responsible for official communications concerning implementation of the Agreement shall be the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam as set out in Article 20 of the Agreement.  
            
            
               2. All correspondence addressed to the JIC shall be directed to the Secretariat of the JIC.
            
            
               3. The Secretariat shall ensure that correspondence addressed to the JIC is forwarded to the two Chairs of the JIC and, where appropriate, circulated as documents referred to in Article 9 of these Rules of Procedure to all other members of the JIC. 
            
            
               4. Correspondence from either of the Chairs of the JIC shall be sent to the recipients by the Secretariat and, where appropriate, circulated as documents referred to in Article 9 of these Rules of Procedure to all other members of the JIC.
            
            
               Article 7 
            
            
               Meetings
            
            
               1. The JIC shall meet at least twice a year in the first two years and once per year in following years, on a date and with an agenda, which are agreed in advance by the Parties. 
            
            
               2. Either party may request additional meetings whenever circumstances so require, if the Parties so agree. Such additional meetings can be held in person or by video conference if mutually agreed by the Parties. 
            
            
               3. The meetings of the JIC shall be convened by the Secretariat of the JIC.
            
            
               Article 8 
            
            
               Agenda for the meetings
            
            
               1. A provisional agenda for each JIC meeting shall be drafted by the Secretariat of the JIC on the basis of proposals made by the Parties. It shall be forwarded to the Chairs and members of the JIC no later than fifteen (15) working days before the beginning of the meeting.
            
            
               2. Additions or changes to the agenda must be received by the Secretariat no later than ten (10) working days before the beginning of the meeting, although such items will not be included in the provisional agenda unless the relevant supporting documents have been received by the Secretariat no later than ten (10) working days before the meeting. 
            
            
               3. The agenda shall be adopted by the JIC at the beginning of each meeting. Any item other than those appearing on the provisional agenda may be placed on the agenda if the Parties mutually agree.
            
            
               4. With the agreement of the Parties, the Secretariat may abridge the time limits specified in paragraph 1 in order to take account of the circumstances of a particular case.
            
         
         
            
               Article 9
            
            
               Documents
            
            
               Either Party shall send all relevant documents to the Secretariat at least ten (10) working days prior to the next JIC meeting. When documents will not necessarily affect the deliberations of the JIC, documents can be sent at any time before the next JIC meeting.
            
            
               Article 10
            
            
               Decisions and recommendations
            
            
               1. Where empowered under the Agreement, the JIC shall adopt decisions and recommendations by mutual agreement.
            
            
               2. In the period between meetings, the JIC may adopt decisions or recommendations by written procedure if both Parties so agree. A written procedure shall consist of an exchange of notes between the Parties. The Co-Chairs shall have the power to exchange such notes and to confirm the agreement on any decision, as necessary. 
            
            
               3. Decisions and recommendations of the JIC shall be entitled 'Decision' and 'Recommendation' respectively, and followed by a serial number, the date of their adoption and a description of their subject. Each decision shall provide for the date of its entry into force.
            
            
               4. Decisions and recommendations adopted by the JIC shall be authenticated by the representative of the European Union in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on behalf of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. 
            
            
               5. Decisions and recommendations shall be forwarded to each of the co-chairs as referred to in Article 20 of the Agreement.
            
            
               Article 11
            
            
               Minutes of meeting
            
            
               1. Both parties shall jointly prepare Minutes of meeting at the conclusion of each JIC meeting. The Minutes of meeting shall be signed and made public. 
            
            
               2. The Minutes of meeting shall include any statement or decision that either Party has requested to include.
            
            
               3. The Minutes of meeting shall be in English and Vietnamese.
            
            
            
               Article 12  
            
            
               Field Missions
            
            
               If either Party requests to conduct a joint field mission related to the Agreement, both Parties shall mutually agree on the Terms of Reference and timing of the mission.
            
            
               Article 13
            
         
         
            
               Languages
            
            
               1. The working language of the JIC shall be English and Vietnamese.
            
            
               2. The JIC shall base its deliberations and adopt decisions and recommendations on documentation and proposals prepared in English and Vietnamese.
            
            
               Article 14
            
            
               Expenses
            
            
               Each Party shall meet any expenses it incurs as a result of participating in the meetings of the JIC, both with regard to staff, travel and subsistence expenditure and with regard to postal and telecommunications expenditure.
            
         
         
      
    ---documentbreak--- 
      
         
               EUROPEAN COMMISSION
            Brussels, 31.10.2019
            COM(2019) 556 final
            2019/0244(NLE)
            Proposal for a
            COUNCIL DECISION 
            on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Joint Implementation Committee established pursuant to Article 18 of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on forest law enforcement, governance and trade as regards the adoption of the Rules of Procedure of the Joint Implementation Committee
            
               
         
         
            
               EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
            
            
               1.Subject matter of the proposal
            
            
               This proposal concerns the decision establishing the position to be taken on the European Union's behalf in the Joint Implementation Committee (‘JIC’) established pursuant to Article 18 of the Voluntary Partnership agreement between the European Union and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in conjunction with the envisaged adoption of its rules of procedure
            
            
               2.Context of the proposal
            
            
               2.1.The Voluntary Partnership agreement between the European Union and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on forest law enforcement, governance and trade 
            
            
               The Voluntary Partnership agreement between the European Union and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on forest law enforcement, governance and trade (‘the Agreement’) aims to ensure that that all imports into the European Union from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam of timber and timber products covered by the Agreement have been legally produced. This will be achieved through the establishment and implementation of a Vietnam Timber Legality Assurance System ('VNTLAS') to verify that timber and timber products have been legally produced and to ensure that only shipments verified as such are exported to the Union. The Agreement entered into force on 1 June 2019.
            
            
               2.2.The Joint Implementation Committee
            
            
               The JIC, foreseen in Article 18 of the Agreement and described in more detail in Annex IX to the Agreement, serves to facilitate the management, monitoring and review of this Agreement. The JIC shall also facilitate dialogue and exchanges of information between the Parties to the Agreement. The JIC shall make its decisions by consensus. The JIC shall be co-chaired by the Vice Minister, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Head of Delegation, Delegation of the European Union to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
            
            
               2.3.The envisaged act of the JIC
            
            
               In the week of 11 to 15 November 2019, during its first meeting, the JIC is to adopt its Rules of Procedure (‘the envisaged act’).
            
            
               The purpose of the envisaged act is to regulate the way the Parties to the Agreement shall cooperate within the JIC. It describes its composition, the possibility to establish subsidiary bodies under it, its Secretariat and how meetings of the JIC shall be organised. The envisaged act foresees that the JIC adopts decisions and recommendations by consensus through written procedure, consisting in an exchange of notes, as empowered under the Agreement.
            
            
               3.Position to be taken on the Union's behalf
            
            
               The envisaged act establishes the position to be taken on the Union's behalf in the JIC established in accordance with Article 18 of the Agreement with regard to the adoption of the Rules of Procedure of the JIC.
            
            
               The Parties to the Agreement agreed on the draft Rules of Procedure. Subject to the Union’s decision making procedures, they should be adopted at the first meeting of the JIC, which is scheduled for November 2019.
            
            
               The attached Rules of Procedure of the JIC are very similar to those adopted by the Joint Implementation Committees established by other Voluntary Partnership Agreements.
            
            
               The adoption of this document is essential for rendering the Agreement's provisions operational. More specifically, it enables the JIC to implement the provisions in Articles 9 (persistent disagreements or difficulties arising in consultations concerning FLEGT licenses), 10 (complaints arising from the Independent Evaluator referred to the Joint Implementation Committee) 12 (notification, commissioning of an independent assessment of the FLEGT licensing scheme, and recommendation of a date on which full FLEGT licensing will start operating), 18 (establishment and functioning of the Joint Implementation Committee) of the Agreement and Annex IX to the Agreement (Functions of the Joint Implementation 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 concept 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 JIC is a body set up by an agreement, namely the Voluntary Partnership agreement between the European Union and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on forest law enforcement, governance and trade.
            
            
               The act which the JIC is called upon to adopt constitutes an act having legal effects as it regulates the way the Parties to the Agreement shall collaborate in the implementation of the Agreement, including with regard to possibly adopting amendments to its Annexes.
            
            
               The envisaged act does 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
            
            
               4.2.1.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 taken on the Union's behalf. 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.
            
            
               4.2.2.Application to the present case
            
            
               The main objective and content of the envisaged act relate, generally, to the functioning of the international bodies set up on the basis of the Agreement. It follows that the field within which the contested decision falls must be determined in the light of the Agreement as a whole (Case C-244/17 Commission v Council (Kazakhstan), ECLI:EU:C:2018:662). The objective of the Agreement is to provide a legal framework aimed at ensuring that all imports into the European Union from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam of timber and timber products covered by the Agreement have been legally produced. The main component of the Agreement is the common commercial policy.
            
            
               Therefore, the substantive legal bases of the proposed decision are Article 207(3) and Article 207(4), first subparagraph TFEU.
            
            
               4.3.Conclusion
            
            
               The legal basis of the proposed decision should be Article 207(3) and Article 207(4), first subparagraph TFEU, in conjunction with Article 218(9) TFEU.
            
            
               2019/0244 (NLE)
            
            
               Proposal for a
            
            
               COUNCIL DECISION
            
            
               on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Joint Implementation Committee established pursuant to Article 18 of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on forest law enforcement, governance and trade as regards the adoption of the Rules of Procedure of the Joint Implementation Committee
            
            
               THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
            
         
         
            
               Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 207(3) and Article 207(4), first subparagraph, in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,
            
            
               Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
            
            
               Whereas:
            
            
               (1)The Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on forest law enforcement, governance and trade (‘the Agreement’) was concluded by the Union by Council Decision EU) 2019/854 of 15 April 2019
                  2
                and entered into force on 1 June 2019. 
            
            
               (2)Pursuant to Article 18(3) of the Agreement, the Joint Implementation Committee of the Agreement ('JIC') adopts its rules of procedure.
            
            
               (3)The JIC, during its meeting on 13 November 2019, is to adopt its rules of procedure. 
            
            
               (4)It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union's behalf in the JIC, as the Rules of Procedure will be binding on the Union.
            
            
               (5)The JIC should adopt at its first meeting the rules of procedure as attached to this Decision, to ensure a smooth and transparent collaboration of the European Union and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam from the outset on the implementation of the Agreement and eventually the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade licensing scheme,
            
            
               HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
            
            
               Article 1
            
            
            
               1.The position to be taken on the Union's behalf in the first meeting of the JIC shall be based on the draft rules of procedure of the JIC attached to this Decision. 
            
            
               2.Minor changes to the draft rules of procedure attached to this Decision may be agreed to, in the light of developments at the upcoming Conference of the Parties, by representatives of the Union, in consultation with Member States, during on-the-spot coordination meetings, without a further decision of the Council.
            
            
               Article 2
            
            
               This Decision is addressed to the Commission.
            
            
            
               Done at Brussels,
            
            
               
                     For the Council
               
               
                     The President
               
            
         
         
            
                  
                     (1)
                  
                        Judgment of the Court of Justice of 7 October 2014, Germany v Council, C-399/12, ECLI:EU:C:2014:2258, paragraphs 61 to 64.