CELEX: 52016PC0656
Language: en
Date: 2016-10-13
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the Union position to be adopted in the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Sub-Committee, the Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee, the Customs Sub-Committee, and in the Geographical Indications Sub-Committee established by the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part, in relation to the adoption of the Rules of Procedure of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Sub-Committee, the Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee, the Customs Sub-Committee, and the Geographical Indications Sub-Committee

EUROPEAN COMMISSION
            Brussels, 13.10.2016
            COM(2016) 656 final
            2016/0324(NLE)
            Proposal for a
            COUNCIL DECISION
            on the Union position to be adopted in the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Sub-Committee, the Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee, the Customs Sub-Committee, and in the Geographical Indications Sub-Committee established by the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part, in relation to the adoption of the Rules of Procedure of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Sub-Committee, the Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee, the Customs Sub-Committee, and the Geographical Indications Sub-Committee
            
               
         
         
            
               EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
            
            
               1.CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL
            
            
               •Reasons for and objectives of the proposal
            
            
               The attached proposal constitutes the legal instrument for authorising the Union position to be adopted in the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Sub-Committee (“SPS Sub-Committee”), in the Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee (“TSD Sub-Committee”), in the Customs Sub-Committee and in the Geographical Indications Sub-Committee (“GI Sub-Committee”) established by the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part (“the Agreement”), in relation to the adoption of the Rules of Procedure of the the SPS Sub-Committee, the Trade and Sustainable Development, the Customs Sub-Committee and the GI Sub-Committee. 
            
            
               The Agreement was signed in Brussels on 27 June 2014 and its Title IV on Trade and Trade-Related Matters (DCFTA) is provisionally applied, since 1 January 2016. 
            
            
               The Agreement established a Sanitary and Phytosanitary Sub-Committee, the Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee, the Customs Sub-Committee, and the Geographical Indications Sub-Committee. These Sub-Committees have to monitor the implementation of the DCFTA part of the Agreement, and resolve related issues. The Sub-Committees have to adopt their Rules of Procedure. The first meetings of the Sub-Committees are expected to take place in the second half of 2016. The Rules of Procedure of these Sub-Committees, attached to this proposal, are based on the Rules of Procedure of the Association Committee. 
            
            
               •Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area
            
            
               This proposal implements the Union’s common commercial policy towards Ukraine, an Eastern Neighbourhood Partner country, based on the provisions of the above-mentioned Agreement and in particular its objective to create a deep and comprehensive free trade area between the parties (DCFTA). 
            
            
               •Consistency with other Union policies
            
            
               This proposal is consistent with and contributes to the implementation of other external policies of the Union, notably the European Neighbourhood Policy and the development cooperation policy in relation to Ukraine.
            
            
               2.
                     LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY
            
            
               •Legal basis
            
            
               The legal basis for establishing the Union position to be taken in the Committees and Sub-Committees set up by the Agreement is the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular its Article 207(4) in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof. 
            
            
               In light of approval of the four draft texts of the Rules of Procedure by Ukraine, on the basis of Article 207(4) and Article 218(9) TFEU, the European Commission proposes that the Council adopts the Decision authorising the Union position on the decisions to be adopted in the first EU-Ukraine SPS Sub-Committee, in the EU-Ukraine Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee, in the EU-Ukraine Customs Sub-Committee and in the EU-Ukraine GI Sub-Committee with regard to their Rules of Procedure.
            
            
               Article 74 of the Agreement establishes the SPS Sub-Committee and provides that it should adopt its working procedures at its first meeting. The meeting of the SPS Sub-Committee is to take place in the second half of 2016. In view of this first meeting it is necessary to prepare the Union position on the draft Rules of Procedure for the said Sub-Committee. The attached draft rules were approved by Ukraine.
            
            
               Article 300 of the Agreement establishes the Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee and provides that it should adopt its Rules of Procedure. The first meeting is expected to take place in the second half of 2016. Therefore it is necessary to prepare the Union position on the Rules of Procedure for that Sub-Committee. The attached draft rules were approved by Ukraine.
            
            
               Article 83 of the Agreement establishes the Customs Sub-Committee and provides that it should adopt its internal Rules of Procedure. The first meeting is expected to take place the second half of 2016. Therefore it is necessary to prepare the Union position on the Rules of Procedure for that Sub-Committee. The attached draft rules were approved by Ukraine.
            
            
               Article 211 of the Agreement establishes the GI Sub-Committee and provides that it should adopt its Rules of Procedure. The first meeting is expected to take place inthe second half of 2016. Therefore it is necessary to prepare the Union position on the Rules of Procedure for that Sub-Committee. The attached draft rules were approved by Ukraine.
            
            
               •Subsidiarity (for non-exclusive competence)
            
         
         
            
               The common commercial policy, in accordance with Article 3 of the TFEU, is defined as an exclusive Union competence. Therefore, the subsidiarity principle does not apply.
            
            
               •Proportionality
            
            
               This proposal is necessary in order to implement the Union’s international commitments set out in the Agreement with Ukraine. 
            
            
               •Choice of the instrument
            
            
               This proposal is in accordance with Article 218(9) TFEU, which envisages the adoption by the Council of decisions establishing the positions to be adopted on the Union's behalf in a body set up by and agreement, when that body is called upon to adopt acts having legal efects. There exists no other legal instrument that could be used in order to achieve the objective expressed in this proposal. 
            
            
               3.
                     RESULTS OF EX-POST EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS
            
            
               •Ex-post evaluations/fitness checks of existing legislation
            
            
               
                  Not applicable.
               
            
            
               •Stakeholder consultations
            
            
               Stakeholder consultations are not applicable to this proposal, as it aims merely at implementimg the Union's commitments set out in the Agreement.
            
            
               •Collection and use of expertise
            
            
               
                  Not applicable.
               
            
            
               •Impact assessment
            
            
               The trade and trade-related provisions of the Agreement have been subject to ex-ante impact assessment (the 2007 Trade Sustainability Impact Assessment commissioned by DG Trade), which fed into the DCFTA negotiation process. That study confirmed that implementation of trade and trade-related provisions would have a positive economic impact for the EU as well as for Ukraine. The proposal does not have any negative impact on the economic, social or environmental policy of the Union.
            
            
               •
                     Regulatory fitness and simplification
            
            
               
                  The Agreement is not subject to REFIT procedures at this stage; it does not imply any costs for the Union SMEs; and it does not raise any issues from the viewpoint of the digital environment. 
               
            
            
               •Fundamental rights
            
            
               The proposal does not have consequences for the protection of fundamental rights in the Union. 
            
            
               4.
                     BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS
            
            
               
                  Not applicable.
               
            
         
         
            
               5.
                     OTHER ELEMENTS
            
            
               •
                     Implementation plans and monitoring, evaluation and reporting arrangements
            
            
               
                  The implementation of the Agreement is reviewed regularly by the EU-Ukraine Association Council and its sub-ordinate bodies established by that Agreement. The European Commission also reports to the European Parliament and the Council following EU-Ukraine Association Committee in Trade configuration meetings which are taking place at least once per year, including on the elements included in this proposal.
               
            
            
               •Explanatory documents (for directives)
            
            
               
                  Not applicable.
               
            
            
               •Detailed explanation of the specific provisions of the proposal
            
            
               
                  The proposal aims to adopt a Union position in relation to: 
               
            
            
               The Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), as part of EU-Ukraine Association Agreement ("the Agreement"), is applied since 1 January 2016. The Agreement established a number of joint institutions, among them the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Sub-Committee, the Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee, the Customs Subcommittee and the Geographical Indications Sub-Committee which are responsible for the implementation of the DCFTA commitments related to their respective areas of expertise. 
            
            
               In accordance with Article 218(9) TFEU, any joint decision with legal consequences to be adopted by a body of the Association Agreement requires a prior Council decision on the Union position. 
            
            
               •
            
            
               2016/0324 (NLE)
            
            
               Proposal for a
            
            
               COUNCIL DECISION
            
            
               on the Union position to be adopted in the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Sub-Committee, the Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee, the Customs Sub-Committee, and in the Geographical Indications Sub-Committee established by the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part, in relation to the adoption of the Rules of Procedure of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Sub-Committee, the Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee, the Customs Sub-Committee, and the Geographical Indications Sub-Committee
            
            
               THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
            
            
               Having regard to the Treaty on the functioning of the European Union, and in particular its Article 207(4) in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,
            
            
               Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
            
            
               Whereas:
            
            
               (1)Article 486 of the Association Agreement (”the Agreement”) between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part, provide for provisional application of the Agreement in part.
            
            
               (2)Article 4 of Council Decision 2014/668/EU
                  1
                of 23 June 2014 specifies the provisions of the Agreement to be applied provisionally, including the provisions on the establishment and functioning of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Sub-Committee (“SPS Sub-Committee”), the Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee (“TSD Sub-Committee”), the Customs Sub-Committee, and the Geographical Indications Sub-Committee (“GI Sub-Committee”).
            
         
         
            
               (3)Article 74 of the Agreement provides that the SPS Sub-Committee should establish its working procedures at the first meeting. 
            
            
               (4)Article 300 of the Agreement provides that the Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee should establish its Rules of Procedure.
            
            
               (5)Article 83 of the Agreement provides that the Customs Sub-Committee should establish its Rules of Procedure.
            
            
               (6)Article 211 of the Agreement provides that the GI Sub-Committee should establish its Rules of Procedure,
            
            
               HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
            
            
               Article 1
            
            
               1.The position to be adopted by the Union in the SPS Sub-Committee established by Article 74 of the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part, shall be based on the draft Decision on the Rules of Procedure of the SPS Sub-Committee attached to this Decision. 
            
            
               2.Minor changes to the draft Decision may be agreed to by the representatives of the Union in the SPS Sub-Committee without further decision of the Council.
            
            
               Article 2
            
            
               1.The position to be adopted by the Union in the Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee established by Article 300 of the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part, shall be based on the draft Decision on the Rules of Procedure of the Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee attached to this Decision.
            
            
               2.Minor changes to the draft Decision may be agreed to by the representatives of the Union in the Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee without further decision of the Council.
            
            
               Article 3
            
            
               1.The position to be adopted by the Union in the Customs Sub-Committee established by Article 83 of the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part, shall be based on the draft Decision on the Rules of Procedure of the Customs Sub-Committee attached to this Decision.
            
            
               2.Minor changes to the draft Decision may be agreed to by the representatives of the Union in the Customs Sub-Committee without further decision of the Council.
            
            
               Article 4
            
            
               1.The position to be adopted by the Union in the GI Sub-Committee established by Article 211 of the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part, shall be based on the draft Decision on the Rules of Procedure of the GI Sub-Committee attached to this Decision.
            
            
               2.Minor changes to the draft Decision may be agreed to by the representatives of the Union in the GI Sub-Committee without further decision of the Council.
            
            
               Article 5
            
            
               This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.
            
            
               Done at Brussels,
            
         
         
            
               
                     For the Council
               
               
                     The President
               
            
         
         
            
                  
                     (1)
                  Council Decision of 23 June 2014 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and provisional application of the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part, as regards Title III (with the exception of the provisions relating to the treatment of third-country nationals legally employed as workers in the territory of the other Party) and Titles IV, V, VI and VII thereof, as well as the related Annexes and Protocols (OJ L 278, 20.9.2014, p. 1).
               
            
      
    ---documentbreak--- 
      
         
               EUROPEAN COMMISSION
            Brussels, 13.10.2016
            COM(2016) 656 final
            ANNEX
            to the
            Proposal for a Council Decision
            on the Union position to be adopted in the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Sub-Committee, the Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee, the Customs Sub-Committee, and in the Geographical Indications Sub-Committee established by the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part, in relation to the adoption of the Rules of Procedure of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Sub-Committee, the Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee, the Customs Sub-Committee, and the Geographical Indications Sub-Committee
            
               
         
         
            
               DRAFT
            
            
               DECISION No 1/2016 OF THE EU-UKRAINE Sanitary and Phytosanitary Sub-Committee
            
            
               of … 2016
            
            
               adopting its rules of procedure
            
            
               THE EU-UKRAINE SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY SUB-COMMITTEE, 
            
            
               Having regard to the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part, (“the Agreement”) and in particular Article 74 thereof,
            
            
               Whereas:
            
            
               (1)In accordance with its Article 486, parts of the Agreement, including Chapter 4 (Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures) of Title IV (Trade and Trade-related Matters), are applied provisionally as of 1 January 2016. 
            
            
               (2)Article 74 of the Agreement provides that the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Sub-Committee (“SPS Sub-Committee”) should consider any matter relating to the implementation of Chapter 4 (Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures) of Title IV (Trade and Trade-related Matters) of the Agreement. 
            
            
               (3)Article 74(5) of the Agreement provides that the SPS Sub-Committee should adopt its rules of procedure. 
            
            
               HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 
            
            
               Article 1
            
            
               The Rules of Procedure of the SPS Sub-Committee, as set out in the Appendix, are hereby adopted.
            
            
               Article 2
            
            
               This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
            
            
               Done at …, …. 
            
            
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        For the SPS Sub-Committee
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        The Chair
                     
                  
               
               Appendix
            
            
               Rules of Procedure of the EU-Ukraine Sub-Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures
            
         
         
            
               Article 1
            
            
               General provisions
            
            
               1.The Sub-Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures (“SPS Sub-Committee”), established in accordance with Article 74(1) of the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other (“Agreement”) shall assist the Association Committee in Trade configuration as provided for in Article 465(4) to Title IV of the Agreement in the performance of its duties. 
            
            
               2.The SPS Sub-Committee shall perform the tasks set out in Article 74(2) of the Agreement in the light of the objectives of Chapter 4 of Title IV set out in Article 59 of the Agreement. 
            
            
               3.The SPS Sub-Committee shall be composed of representatives of the European Commission and of Ukraine, responsible for sanitary and phytosanitary matters. 
            
            
               4.A representative of the European Commission or of Ukraine having responsibility for sanitary and phytosanitary matters shall act as Chair in accordance with Article 2 below. 
            
            
               5.The Parties in these Rules of Procedure shall be defined as provided for in Article 482 of the Agreement. 
            
            
               Article 2
            
            
               Chairmanship
            
            
               The Parties shall hold the Chair of the SPS Sub-Committee, alternately, for a period of 12 months. The first period shall begin on the date of the first Association Council meeting and end on 31 December of the same year.
            
            
               Article 3
            
            
               Meetings
            
            
               1.Save as otherwise agreed by the Parties, the SPS Sub-Committee shall meet within three months after the entry into force of the Agreement, upon request by either Party thereafter, or at least once a year. 
            
            
               2.Each meeting of the SPS Sub-Committee shall be convened by the Chair at a date and a place agreed by the Parties. The notice of convening the meeting shall be issued by the Chair of the SPS Sub-Committee no later than 28 calendar days prior to the start of the meeting, unless the Parties agree otherwise. 
            
            
               3.Whenever possible, the regular meeting of the SPS Sub-Committee shall be convened in due time in advance of the regular meeting of the Association Committee in Trade configuration.
            
            
               4.The meetings of the SPS Sub-Committee may be held by any agreed technological means such as video- or audio-conference.
            
            
               5.The SPS Sub-Committee may address any issue out of session, by correspondence. 
            
            
               Article 4
            
            
               Delegations
            
            
               Before each meeting, the Parties shall be informed, through the Secretariat, of the intended composition of the delegations attending the meeting on either side.
            
         
         
            
               Article 5
            
            
               Secretariat
            
            
               1.An official of the European Commission and an official of Ukraine shall act jointly as Secretaries of the SPS Sub-Committee and shall execute secretarial tasks in a joint manner, in a spirit of mutual trust and cooperation.
            
            
               2.The Secretariat of the Association Committee in Trade configuration shall be informed of any decisions, opinions, recommendations, reports and other agreed actions of the SPS Sub-Committee. 
            
            
               Article 6
            
            
               Correspondence
            
            
               1.Correspondence addressed to the SPS Sub-Committee shall be directed to the Secretary of either of the Parties, who in turn will inform the other Secretary. 
            
            
               2.The Secretariat shall ensure that correspondence addressed to the SPS Sub-Committee is forwarded to the Chair of the SPS Sub-Committee and circulated, where appropriate, as documents referred to in Article 7 of these Rules of Procedure.
            
            
               3.Correspondence from the Chair of the SPS Sub-Committee shall be sent to the Parties by the Secretariat of the SPS Sub-Committee on behalf of the Chair. Such correspondence shall be circulated, where appropriate, as provided for in Article 7 of these Rules of Procedure.
            
            
               Article 7
            
            
               Documents
            
            
               1.Documents shall be circulated through the Secretaries of the SPS Sub-Committee.
            
            
               2.A Party shall transmit its documents to its Secretary. The Secretary shall transmit those documents to the Secretary of the other Party. 
            
            
               3.The Secretary of the Union shall circulate the documents to the responsible representatives of the  and shall copy in such correspondence systematically the Secretary of Ukraine and the Secretaries of the Association Committee in Trade configuration.
            
            
               4.The Secretary of Ukraine shall circulate the documents to the responsible representatives of Ukraine and shall copy in such correspondence systematically the Secretary of the  and the Secretaries of the Association Committee in Trade configuration.
            
            
               5.The Secretaries of the SPS Sub-Committee shall serve as contact points for exchanges provided for in Article 67 of the Agreement.
            
            
               Article 8
            
            
               Confidentiality
            
            
               Unless otherwise decided by the Parties, the meetings of the SPS Sub-Committee shall not be public. When a Party submits to the SPS Sub-Committee information designated as confidential, the other Party shall treat that information as such.
            
            
               Article 9
            
         
         
            
               Agendas for the Meetings
            
            
               1.A provisional agenda for each meeting as well as draft operational conclusions as provided for in Article 10 shall be drawn up by the Secretariat of the SPS Sub-Committee on the basis of proposals made by the Parties. The provisional agenda shall include items in respect of which the Secretariat of the SPS Sub-Committee has received a request for inclusion in the agenda by a Party, supported by relevant documents, no later than 21 calendar days before the meeting date.
            
            
               2.The provisional agenda, together with the relevant documents, shall be circulated as provided for in Article 7 no later than 15 calendar days before the beginning of the meeting. 
            
            
               3.The agenda shall be adopted by the SPS Sub-Committee at the beginning of each meeting. Items other than those appearing on the provisional agenda may be placed on the agenda if the Parties so agree. 
            
            
               4.The Chair of the meeting of the SPS Sub-Committee may, upon agreement of the other Party, invite representiatives 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 SPS Sub-Committee may reduce, in consultation with the Parties, the time periods specified in paragraphs 1 and 2 in order to take account of special circumstances. 
            
            
               Article 10
            
            
               Minutes and Operational Conclusions
            
            
               1.Draft minutes of each meeting shall be drawn up jointly by the two Secretaries. 
            
            
               2.The minutes shall, as a general rule, include in respect of each item on the agenda: 
            
            
               (a)the participants in the meeting, the officials accompanying them and any observer or expert who attended the meeting; 
            
            
               (b)the documents submitted to the SPS Sub-Committee; 
            
            
               (c)the statements which the SPS Sub-Committee has asked to be entered; and
            
            
               (d)the operational conclusions of the meeting, as provided in paragraph (4). 
            
            
               3.The draft minutes shall be submitted to the SPS Sub-Committee for approval. They shall be approved within 28 calendar days after each SPS Sub-Committee meeting. A copy shall be sent to each of the addressees referred to in Article 7 of the Rules of Procedure. 
            
            
               4.Draft operational conclusions of each meeting shall be drawn up by the Secretary of the SPS Sub-Committee of the Party holding the Chairmanship, and circulated to the Parties together with the agenda, normally no later than 15 calendar days before the beginning of the meeting. This draft shall be updated as the meeting proceeds so that at the end of the meeting, unless agreed otherwise, the SPS Sub-Committee adopts the operational conclusions, reflecting the follow-up actions agreed 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 SPS Sub-Committee. To that end the SPS Sub-Committee shall adopt a template, allowing for each action point to be tracked against a specific deadline. 
            
            
               Article 11
            
            
               Decisions and recommendations
            
            
               1.The SPS Sub-Committee adopts decisions, opinions, recommendations, reports and joints actions as provided for in Article 74 of the Agreement. These decisions, opinions, recommendations, reports and joint actions shall be adopted by consensus between the Parties after the completion of respective internal procedures for their adoption. The decisions shall be binding upon the Parties, which shall take appropriate measures to implement them. 
            
            
               2.Each decision, opinion, recommendation or report shall be signed by the Chair and authenticated by the two Secretaries. Without prejudice to paragraph 3, the Chair shall sign these documents during the meeting in which the relevant decision, opinion, recommendation or report is adopted. 
            
         
         
            
               3.The SPS Sub-Committee may take decisions, make recommendations and adopt opinions or reports by written procedure, after the completion of respective internal procedures, if the Parties so agree. The written procedure shall consist of an exchange of notes between the two Secretaries, acting in agreement with the Parties. For this purpose, the text of the proposal shall be circulated pursuant to Article 7, with a time limit of no less than 21 calendar days within which any reservations or amendments must be made known. The Chair of the SPS Sub-Committee may reduce, in consultation with the Parties, the time periods specified in this paragraph in order to take account of special circumstances. Once the text is agreed, the decision, the opinion, the recommendation or the report shall be signed by the Chair and authenticated by the two Secretaries.
            
            
               4.The acts of the SPS Sub-Committee shall be entitled ‘Decision’, 'Opinion', ‘Recommendation’ or 'Report' respectively. Each decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption unless the decision provides otherwise. 
            
            
               5.The decisions, opinions, recommendations and reports shall be circulated to both Parties. 
            
            
               6.Each Party may decide on the publication of the decisions, opinions and recommendations of the SPS Sub-Committee in its respective official publication.
            
            
               Article 12
            
            
               Reports
            
            
               The SPS Sub-Committee shall submit a report on its activities and those of the technical working groups or the ad hoc groups set up by the SPS Sub-Committee to the Association Committee in Trade configuration. The report shall be submitted 25 days before the regular annual meeting of the Association Committee in Trade configuration.
            
            
               Article 13
            
            
               Languages 
            
            
               1.The working languages of the SPS Sub-Committee shall be English and Ukrainian. 
            
            
               2.Unless otherwise decided, the SPS Sub-Committee shall base its deliberations on documentation prepared in these languages. 
            
            
               Article 14
            
            
               Expenses
            
            
               1.Each Party shall meet any expenses it incurs as a result of participating in the meetings of the SPS Sub-Committee, both with regard to staff, travel and subsistence expenditure and with regard to 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.Expenditure in connection with interpreting at meetings and translation of documents into or from English and Ukrainian as referred to in Article 13(1) of these Rules of Procedure shall be borne by the Party hosting the meeting. 
            
            
               Interpreting and translation into or from other languages shall be borne directly by the requesting Party. 
            
            
               Article 15
            
            
               Amendment of Rules of Procedure
            
            
               These Rules of Procedure may be amended by a decision of the SPS Sub-Committee in accordance with Article 74(5) of the Agreement. 
            
         
         
            
               Article 16
            
            
               Technical working groups and ad hoc groups
            
            
               1.The SPS Sub-Committee may by a decision pursuant to Article 74(3) of the Agreement create or abolish, where appropriate, technical working groups or ad hoc working groups, including scientific groups. 
            
            
               2.The membership of the ad hoc working groups need not be restricted to representatives of the Parties. The Parties shall ensure that the members of any groups created by the SPS Sub-Committee respect any appropriate confidentiality requirements. 
            
            
               3.Unless otherwise decided, the groups created by the SPS Sub-Committee shall work under the authority of the SPS Sub-Committee, to which they shall report. 
            
            
               4.The meetings of the working groups may be held when the need arises, in person or by a video- or audio-conference. 
            
            
               5.The Secretariat of the SPS Sub-Committee shall be in copy of all relevant correspondence, documents and communications pertaining to the activities of the working groups. 
            
            
               6.The working groups shall have the power to make recommendations in writing to the SPS Sub-Committee. The recommendations shall be made by consensus and communicated to the SPS Sub-Committee Chair, who shall circulate the recommendations as provided for in Article 7.
            
            
               7.The present rules of procedures shall be applied mutatis mutandis to any technical working group or an ad hoc working group created by the SPS Sub-Committee, unless otherwise specified in this Article. The references to the Association Committee in Trade configuration shall be understood to mean references to the SPS Sub-Committee.
            
            
               DRAFT
            
            
               DECISION No 1/2016 OF THE EU-Ukraine trade and sustainable development Sub-Committee
            
            
               of … 2016
            
            
               adopting its rules of procedure
            
            
               THE EU-UKRAINE TRADE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUB-COMMITTEE, 
            
            
               Having regard to the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part, (“the Agreement”) and in particular Article 300 thereof,
            
            
               Whereas:
            
            
               (1)In accordance with its Article 486, parts of the Agreement including Chapter 13 (Trade and sustainable development) of Title IV (Trade and Trade-related Matters), are applied provisionally as of 1 January 2016. 
            
            
               (2)Article 300 of the Agreement provides that the Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee should oversee the implementation of Chapter 13 (Trade and Sustainable Development) of Title IV (Trade and Trade-related matters) of the Agreement. 
            
            
               (3)Article 300(1) of the Agreement provides that the Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee should adopt its rules of procedure,
            
            
               HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 
            
         
         
            
               Article 1
            
            
               The Rules of Procedure of the Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee, as set out in the Appendix, are hereby adopted.
            
            
               Article 2
            
            
               This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
            
            
               Done at …, …. 
            
            
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        For the Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee
                     
                  
               
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        The Chair
                     
                  
               
               Appendix
            
            
               Rules of Procedure of the EU-Ukraine Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee 
            
            
               Article 1
            
            
               General provisions
            
            
               1.The Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee established in accordance with Article 300 of the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part ("the Agreement") shall assist the Association Committee in Trade configuration, as set out in Article 465(4) of the Agreement in the performance of its duties. 
            
            
               2.The Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee shall perform the functions set out in Chapter 13 (Trade and Sustainable Development) of Title IV (Trade andtrade-related matters) of the Agreement. 
            
            
               3.The Trade and Sustainable Development SubCommittee shall be composed of representatives of the European Commission and of Ukraine, responsible for trade and sustainable development matters.
            
            
               4.A representative of the European Commission or of Ukraine who is responsible for trade and sustainable development matters shall act as Chair of the Trade and Sustainable Development SubCommittee.
            
            
               5.The term “the Parties” in these Rules of Procedure shall be defined as provided for in Article 482 of the Agreement.
            
            
               Article 2
            
            
               Specific provisions
            
            
               1.Articles 2 to 14 of the Rules of Procedure of the EU-Ukraine Association Committee shall apply, unless otherwise provided for in these Rules of Procedure. 
            
            
               2.The references to the Association Council shall be read as references to the Association Committee in Trade configuration. The references to the Association Committee or the Association Committee in Trade configuration shall be read as references to the Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee.
            
            
               Article 3
            
         
         
            
               Meetings
            
            
               The Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee shall meet as necessary. The Parties shall aim to meet once per year.
            
            
               Article 4
            
            
               Amendment of Rules of Procedure
            
            
               These Rules of Procedure may be amended by a decision of the EU-Ukraine Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee in accordance with Article 240 of the Agreement.
            
            
               DRAFT
            
            
               DECISION No 1/2016 OF THE EU-UKRAINE CUSTOMS SUB-COMMITTEE 
            
            
               of … 2016
            
            
               adopting its rules of procedure
            
            
               THE EU-UKRAINE CUSTOMS SUB-COMMITTEE, 
            
            
               Having regard to the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part, (“the Agreement”) and in particular Article 83 thereof,
            
            
               Whereas:
            
            
               (1)In accordance with its Article 486, parts of the Agreement, including Chapter 5 (Customs and Trade Facilitation) of Title IV (Trade and Trade-related Matters) are applied provisionally as of 1 January 2016. 
            
            
               (2)Article 83 of the Agreement provides that the Customs Sub-Committee monitors the implementation and administration of Chapter 5 (Customs and Trade Facilitation) of Title IV (Trade and Trade-related Matters) of the Agreement. 
            
            
               (3)Article 83(e) of the Agreement provides that the Customs Sub-Committee should adopt its rules of procedure,
            
            
               HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 
            
            
               Article 1
            
            
               The Rules of Procedure of the Customs Sub-Committee, as set out in the Appendix, are hereby adopted.
            
            
               Article 2
            
            
               This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
            
         
         
            
               Done at …, ….. 
            
            
                     
                        For the Union
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        For Ukraine
                     
                  
               
               Appendix
            
            
               Rules of Procedure of the EU-Ukraine Customs Sub-Committee 
            
            
               Article 1
            
            
               General provisions
            
            
               1.The Customs Sub-Committee, established in accordance with Article 83 of the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other (“Agreement”) shall perform its duties as provided for in the same Article of the Agreement.
            
            
               2.The Customs Sub-Committee shall be composed of representatives of the European Commission and of Ukraine, responsible for customs and customs-related matters. 
            
            
               3.A representative of the European Commission or of Ukraine having responsibility for customs and customs-related matters shall act as Chair in accordance with Article 2 below. 
            
            
               4.The Parties in these Rules of Procedure shall be defined as provided for in Article 482 of the Agreement. 
            
            
               Article 2
            
            
               Chairmanship
            
            
               The Parties shall hold the Chair of the Customs Sub-Committee, alternately, for a period of 12 months. The first period shall begin on the date of the first Association Council meeting and end on 31 December of the same year.
            
            
               Article 3
            
            
               Meetings
            
            
               1.Save as otherwise agreed by the Parties, the Customs Sub-Committee shall meet once a year or upon request by either Party. 
            
            
               2.Each meeting of the Customs Sub-Committee shall be convened by the Chair at a date and a place agreed by the Parties. The notice of convening the meeting shall be issued by the Chair of the Customs Sub-Committee no later than 28 calendar days prior to the start of the meeting, unless the Parties agree otherwise. 
            
            
               3.The meetings of the Customs Sub-Committee may be held by any agreed technological means such as video- or audio-conference.
            
            
               5.The Customs Sub-Committee may address any issue out of session, by correspondence. 
            
            
               Article 4
            
         
         
            
               Delegations
            
            
               Before each meeting, each Party shall inform, through the Secretariat, of the intended composition of its delegation attending the meeting.
            
            
               Article 5
            
            
               Secretariat
            
            
               1.An official of the European Commission and an official of Ukraine having responsibility for customs and customs-related matters shall act jointly as Secretaries of the Customs Sub-Committee and shall execute secretarial tasks in a joint manner, in a spirit of mutual trust and cooperation.
            
            
               2.The Secretariat of the Association Committee in Trade configuration shall be informed of any decisions, opinions, recommendations, reports and other agreed actions of the Customs Sub-Committee. 
            
            
               Article 6
            
            
               Correspondence
            
            
               1.Correspondence addressed to the Customs Sub-Committee shall be directed to the Secretary of either of the Parties, who in turn will inform the other Secretary. 
            
            
               2.The Secretariat shall ensure that correspondence addressed to the Customs Sub-Committee is forwarded to the Chair of the Customs Sub-Committee and circulated, where appropriate, as documents referred to in Article 7 of these Rules of Procedure.
            
            
               3.Correspondence from the Chair of the Customs Sub-Committee shall be sent to the Parties by the Secretariat of the Customs Sub-Committee on behalf of the Chair. Such correspondence shall be circulated, where appropriate, as provided for in Article 7 of these Rules of Procedure.
            
            
               Article 7
            
            
               Documents
            
            
               1.Documents shall be circulated through the Secretaries of the Customs Sub-Committee.
            
            
               2.A Party shall transmit its documents to its Secretary. The Secretary shall transmit those documents to the Secretary of the other Party. 
            
            
               3.The Secretary of the Union shall circulate the documents to the responsible representatives of the Union and shall copy in such correspondence systematically the Secretary of Ukraine. The Secretary of the Union shall send a copy of the final documents to the Secretaries of the Association Committee in Trade configuration. 
            
            
               4.The Secretary of Ukraine shall circulate the documents to the responsible representatives of Ukraine and shall copy in such correspondence systematically the Secretary of the Union. The Secretary of Ukraine shall send a copy of the final documents to the Secretaries of the Association Committee in Trade configuration. 
            
            
               Article 8
            
            
               Confidentiality
            
            
               Unless otherwise decided by the Parties, the meetings of the Customs Sub-Committee shall not be public. When a Party submits to the Customs Sub-Committee information designated as confidential, the other Party shall treat that information as such.
            
         
         
            
               Article 9
            
            
               Agendas for the Meetings
            
            
               1.A provisional agenda for each meeting shall be drawn up by the Secretariat of the Customs Sub-Committee on the basis of proposals made by the Parties. The provisional agenda shall include items in respect of which the Secretariat of the Customs Sub-Committee has received a request for inclusion in the agenda by a Party, supported by relevant documents, no later than 21 calendar days before the meeting date.
            
            
               2.The provisional agenda, together with the relevant documents, shall be circulated as provided for in Article 7 no later than 15 calendar days before the beginning of the meeting. 
            
            
               3.The agenda shall be adopted by the Customs Sub-Committee at the beginning of each meeting. Items other than those appearing on the provisional agenda may be placed on the agenda if the Parties so agree. 
            
            
               4.The Chair of the meeting of the Customs Sub-Committee may, upon agreement of the other Party, invite representiatives 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 Customs Sub-Committee may reduce, in consultation with the Parties, the time periods specified in paragraphs 1 and 2 in order to take account of special circumstances. 
            
            
               Article 10
            
            
               Minutes and Operational Conclusions
            
            
               1.Draft minutes, inlcuding operational conclusions, of each meeting shall be drawn up by the Secretary of the Customs Sub-Committee of the Party holding the Chairmanship. 
            
            
               2.The draft minutes, including the operational conclusions, shall be submitted to the Customs Sub-Committee for approval. They shall be approved within 28 calendar days after each Customs Sub-Committee meeting. A copy shall be sent to each of the addressees referred to in Article 7 of the Rules of Procedure. 
            
            
               Article 11
            
            
               Decisions and recommendations
            
            
               1.The Customs Sub-Committee adopts practical arrangements, measures, decisions (hereinafter referred to as "decisions") and recommendations as provided for in Article 83 of the Agreement. They shall be adopted by consensus between the Parties after the completion of respective internal procedures for their adoption. The decisions shall be binding upon the Parties, which shall take appropriate measures to implement them. 
            
            
               2.Each decision or recommendation shall be signed by a representative of each Party. Without prejudice to paragraph 3, the representatives shall sign these documents during the meeting in which the relevant decision or recommendation is adopted. 
            
            
               3.The Customs Sub-Committee may take decisions or make recommendations by written procedure, after the completion of respective internal procedures, if the Parties so agree. The written procedure shall consist of an exchange of notes between the two Chairs, acting in agreement with the Parties. For this purpose, the text of the proposal shall be circulated pursuant to Article 7, with a time limit of no less than 21 calendar days within which any reservations or amendments must be made known. The Chair of the Customs Sub-Committee may reduce, in consultation with the Parties, the time periods specified in this paragraph in order to take account of special circumstances. Once the text is agreed, the decision or the recommendation shall be signed by a representative of each Party.
            
            
               4.The acts of the Customs Sub-Committee shall be entitled ‘Decision’ or ‘Recommendation’ respectively. Each decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption unless the decision provides otherwise. 
            
            
               5.The decisions and recommendations of the Customs Sub-Commitee shall be authenticated by the two Secretaries. 
            
            
               6.The decisions and recommendations shall be circulated to both Parties. 
            
            
               7.Each Party may decide on the publication of the decisions and recommendations of the Customs Sub-Committee in its respective official publication.
            
         
         
            
               Article 12
            
            
               Reports
            
            
               The Customs Sub-Committee shall report to the Association Committee in Trade configuration at each regular annual meeting of the Association Committee in Trade configuration.
            
            
               Article 13
            
            
               Languages 
            
            
               1.The working languages of the Customs Sub-Committee shall be English and Ukrainian. 
            
            
               2.Unless otherwise decided, the Customs Sub-Committee shall base its deliberations on documentation prepared in these languages. 
            
            
               Article 14
            
            
               Expenses
            
            
               1.Each Party shall meet any expenses it incurs as a result of participating in the meetings of the Customs Sub-Committee, both with regard to staff, travel and subsistence expenditure and with regard to 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.Expenditure in connection with interpreting at meetings and translation of documents into or from English and Ukrainian as referred to in Article 13(1) of these Rules of Procedure shall be borne by the Party hosting the meeting. 
            
            
               Interpreting and translation into or from other languages shall be borne directly by the requesting Party. 
            
            
               Article 15
            
            
               Amendment of Rules of Procedure
            
            
               These Rules of Procedure may be amended by a decision of the Customs Sub-Committee in accordance with Article 83(e) of the Agreement. 
            
            
               DRAFT
            
            
               DECISION No 1/2016 OF THE EU-UKRAINE SUB-COMMITTEE ON GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS
            
            
               of … 2016
            
            
               adopting its rules of procedure
            
         
         
            
               THE EU-UKRAINE SUB-COMMITTEE ON GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS,
            
            
               Having regard to the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part, (“the Agreement”) and in particular Article 211 thereof,
            
            
               Whereas:
            
            
               (1)In accordance with its Article 486, parts of the Agreement, including Sub-section 3 (Geographical indications) of Section 2 of Chapter 9 (Intellectual property) of Title IV (Trade and Trade-related Matters) are applied provisionally as of 1 January 2016. 
            
            
               (2)Article 211 of the Agreement provides that the Sub-Committee on Geographical Indications (“GI Sub-Committee”) monitors the development of the Agreement in the field of geographical indications and serves as a forum for cooperation and dialogue on geographical indications.
            
            
               (2)Article 211(2) of the Agreement provides that the GI Sub-Committee should adopt its rules of procedure,
            
            
               HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
            
            
               Article 1
            
            
               The rules of procedure of the GI Sub-Committee, as set out in the Appendix, are hereby adopted. 
            
            
               Article 2
            
            
               This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
            
            
               Done at,
            
            
                     
                        For the Union
                     
                  
                  
                     
                        For Ukraine
                     
                  
               
               Appendix
            
            
               Rules of Procedure of the EU-Ukraine Sub-Committee on Geographical Indications
            
            
               Article 1
            
            
               General provisions
            
            
               1.The Sub-Committee on Geographical Indications (“GI Sub-Committee”), established in accordance with Article 211 of the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other (“Agreement”) shall assist the Association Committee in Trade configuration set out in Article 465(4) to Title IV of the Agreement in the performance of its functions. 
            
            
               2.The GI Sub-Committee shall perform its functions set out in Article 211 of the Agreement.
            
            
               3.The GI Sub-Committee shall be composed of officials of the European Commission and of Ukraine, who have competence in geographical indications.
            
         
         
            
               4.The Parties shall each appoint a Head of Delegation who shall be the contact person for all matters relating to the Sub-Committee.
            
            
               5.The Heads of Delegation shall act as Chair in accordance with Article 2 below. 
            
            
               6.Each Head of Delegation may delegate all or any of the functions of Head of Delegation to a nominated deputy, in which case all references hereafter to the Head of Delegation apply equally to the nominated deputy.
            
            
               7.The Parties in these Rules of Procedure shall be defined as provided for in Article 482 of the Agreement. 
            
            
               Article 2
            
            
               Chairmanship
            
            
               The Parties shall hold the Chair of the GI Sub-Committee, alternately, for a period of 12 months. The first period shall begin on the date of the first Association Council meeting and end on 31 December of the same year.
            
            
               Article 3
            
            
               Meetings
            
            
               1.Save as otherwise agreed by the Parties, the GI Sub-Committee shall meet at the request of either Party, alternately in the EU and in Ukraine, and in any case no later than 90 days from the request. 
            
            
               2.Each meeting of the GI Sub-Committee shall be convened by the Chair at a date and place agreed by the Parties. The notice of convening the meeting shall be issued by the Chair of the GI Sub-Committee no later than 28 calendar days prior to the start of the meeting, unless the Parties agree otherwise. 
            
            
               3.Whenever possible, the regular meeting of the GI Sub-Committee shall be convened in due time in advance of the regular meeting of the Association Committee in Trade configuration.
            
            
               4.By way of exception, the meetings of the GI Sub-Committee may be held by any technological means agreed by the Parties, including video-conference.
            
            
               Article 4
            
            
               Delegations
            
            
               Before each meeting, each Party shall inform, through the Secretariat, of the intended composition of its delegation attending the meeting.
            
            
               Article 5
            
            
               Secretariat
            
            
               1.A representative of the European Commission and a representative of Ukraine shall act jointly as Secretaries of the GI Sub-Committee, as appointed by the Heads of Delegations, and shall execute secretarial tasks in a joint manner, in a spirit of mutual trust and cooperation.
            
            
               2.The Secretariat of the Association Committee in Trade configuration shall be informed of any decisions, reports and other agreed actions of the GI Sub-Committee. 
            
         
         
            
               Article 6
            
            
               Correspondence
            
            
               1.Correspondence addressed to the GI Sub-Committee shall be directed to the Secretary of either of the Parties, who in turn will inform the other Secretary. 
            
            
               2.The Secretariat shall ensure that correspondence addressed to the GI Sub-Committee is forwarded to the Chair of the GI Sub-Committee and circulated, where appropriate, as documents referred to in Article 7 of these Rules of Procedure.
            
            
               3.Correspondence from the Chair of the GI Sub-Committee shall be sent to the Parties by the Secretariat of the GI Sub-Committee on behalf of the Chair. Such correspondence shall be circulated, where appropriate, as provided for in Article 7 of these Rules of Procedure.
            
            
               Article 7
            
            
               Documents
            
            
               1.Documents shall be circulated through the Secretaries of the GI Sub-Committee.
            
            
               2.A Party shall transmit its documents to its Secretary. The Secretary shall transmit those documents to the Secretary of the other Party. 
            
            
               3.The Secretary of the Union shall circulate the documents to the responsible representatives of the Union and shall copy in such correspondence systematically the Secretary of Ukraine and the Secretaries of the Association Committee in Trade configuration.
            
            
               4.The Secretary of Ukraine shall circulate the documents to the responsible representatives of Ukraine and shall copy in such correspondence systematically the Secretary of the Union and the Secretaries of the Association Committee in Trade configuration.
            
            
               Article 8
            
            
               Confidentiality
            
            
               Unless otherwise decided by the Parties, the meetings of the GI Sub-Committee shall not be public. When a Party submits to the GI Sub-Committee information designated as confidential, the other Party shall treat that information as such.
            
            
               Article 9
            
            
               Agendas for the Meetings
            
            
               1.A provisional agenda for each meeting as well as draft Operational Conclusions as provided for in Article 10 shall be drawn up by the Secretariat of the GI Sub-Committee on the basis of proposals made by the Parties. The provisional agenda shall include items in respect of which the Secretariat of the GI Sub-Committee has received a request for inclusion in the agenda by a Party, supported by relevant documents, no later than 21 calendar days before the meeting date.
            
            
               2.The provisional agenda, together with the relevant documents, shall be circulated as provided for in Article 7 no later than 15 calendar days before the beginning of the meeting. 
            
            
               3.The agenda shall be adopted by the Chair and the other Head of Delegation at the beginning of each meeting. Items other than those appearing on the provisional agenda may be placed on the agenda if the Parties so agree. 
            
            
               4.The Chair of the meeting of the GI Sub-Committee may, upon agreement of the other Party, invite representiatives 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 GI Sub-Committee may reduce, in consultation with the Parties, the time periods specified in paragraphs 1 and 2 in order to take account of special circumstances. 
            
            
               Article 10
            
            
               Minutes and Operational Conclusions
            
            
               1.Draft minutes of each meeting shall be drawn up jointly by the two Secretaries. 
            
            
               2.The minutes shall, as a general rule, include in respect of each item on the agenda: 
            
            
               (a)the participants in the meeting, the officials accompanying them and any observer or expert who attended the meeting; 
            
            
               (b)the documents submitted to the GI Sub-Committee; 
            
            
               (c)the statements which the GI Sub-Committee has asked to be entered; and
            
            
               (d)if necessary, the operational conclusions of the meeting, as provided in paragraph (4). 
            
            
               3.The draft minutes shall be submitted to the GI Sub-Committee for approval. They shall be approved within 28 calendar days after each GI Sub-Committee meeting. A copy shall be sent to each of the addressees referred to in Article 7 of the Rules of Procedure. 
            
            
               4.Draft operational conclusions of each meeting shall be drawn up by the Secretary of the GI Sub-Committee of the Party holding the Chairmanship, and circulated to the Parties together with the agenda, normally no later than 15 calendar days before the beginning of the meeting. This draft shall be updated as the meeting proceeds so that at the end of the meeting, unless otherwise agreed, the GI Sub-Committee adopts the operational conclusions, reflecting the follow-up actions agreed 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 GI Sub-Committee. To that end the GI Sub-Committee shall adopt a template, allowing for each action point to be tracked against a specific deadline. 
            
            
               Article 11
            
            
               Decisions 
            
            
               1.The GI Sub-Committee shall have the power to adopt decisions in the cases provided for in Article 211(3) of the Agreement. These decisions shall be adopted by consensus between the Parties after the completion of respective internal procedures for their adoption. They shall be binding upon the Parties, which shall take appropriate measures to implement them.
            
            
               2.Each decision shall be signed by a representative of each Party. Without prejudice to paragraph 3, the representatives shall sign these documents during the meeting in which the relevant decision is adopted. 
            
            
               3.The GI Sub-Committee may take decisions by written procedure, after the completion of respective internal procedures, if the Parties so agree. The written procedure shall consist of an exchange of notes between the two Secretaries, acting in agreement with the Parties. For this purpose, the text of the proposal shall be circulated pursuant to Article 7, with a time limit of no less than 21 calendar days within which any reservations or amendments must be made known. The Chair of the GI Sub-Committee may reduce, in consultation with the Parties, the time periods specified in this paragraph in order to take account of special circumstances. Once the text is agreed, the decision shall be signed by a representative of each Party.
            
            
               4.The acts of the GI Sub-Committee shall be entitled ‘Decision’. Each decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption unless the decision provides otherwise. 
            
            
               5.The decisions of the GI Sub-Commitee shall be authenticated by the two Secretaries. 
            
            
               6.The decisions shall be circulated to both Parties. 
            
            
               7.Each Party may decide on the publication of the decisions of the GI Sub-Committee in its respective official publication.
            
         
         
            
               Article 12
            
            
               Reports
            
            
               1.The GI Sub-Committee shall report to the Association Committee in Trade configuration on its activities at each regular meeting of the latter. 
            
            
               2.The reports shall be adopted by consensus between the Parties and shall be entitled ‘Report’. The reports shall be circulated to both Parties.
            
            
               3.The procedure for adoption of decisions set out in Article 11(2) and (3) shall apply mutatis mutandis to reports. 
            
            
               Article 13
            
            
               Languages 
            
            
               1.The working languages of the GI Sub-Committee shall be English and Ukrainian. 
            
            
               2.Unless otherwise decided, the GI Sub-Committee shall base its deliberations on documentation prepared in these languages. 
            
            
               Article 14
            
            
               Expenses
            
            
               1.Each Party shall meet any expenses it incurs as a result of participating in the meetings of the GI Sub-Committee, both with regard to staff, travel and subsistence expenditure and with regards to 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.Expenditure in connection with interpreting at meetings and translation of documents into or from English and Ukrainian as referred to in Article 13(1) of these Rules of Procedure shall be borne by the Party hosting the meeting. 
            
            
               Interpreting and translation into or from other languages shall be borne directly by the requesting Party. 
            
            
               Article 15
            
            
               Amendment of Rules of Procedure
            
            
               These Rules of Procedure may be amended by a decision of the GI Sub-Committee in accordance with Article 211(2) of the Agreement.