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Date: 2015-07-01Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Decision No 1/2014 of the EU-Colombia-Peru Trade Committee of 16 May 2014 Adoption of the Rules of Procedure of the Trade Committee referred to in point (j) of Article 13(1) of the Trade Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Colombia and Peru, of the other part [2015/1045]
Executive Summary:
This document establishes the Rules of Procedure for the Trade Committee, as outlined in the Trade Agreement between the EU, Colombia, and Peru. It details the composition, responsibilities, and operational guidelines for the Committee and its subsidiary bodies. The decision adopting these rules entered into force on October 7, 2014.
Key Points / Main Content:
Composition and Chair:
* The Trade Committee is composed of representatives from the EU and each signatory Andean country.
* The Chair rotates annually between the Minister for Trade of Colombia, the Minister for Foreign Trade of Peru, and the responsible Member of the European Commission.
* The Chairperson may be represented by designees.
* The Trade Committee may convene in sessions involving only the EU and one Andean country for bilateral matters, co-chaired by both parties.
Representation:
* Parties must provide a list of Trade Committee members in writing to the Secretariat.
* Alternate representatives must be notified before the meeting and have full member rights.
Meetings:
* The Trade Committee meets annually or upon request, rotating between Bogota, Brussels, and Lima.
* Meetings may be held via technological means if agreed upon.
* Meeting notices are issued by the Secretariat at least 28 days in advance.
Operational Procedures:
* Members may be accompanied by officials; delegations' composition must be communicated beforehand.
* Observers may be invited on an ad hoc basis.
* Coordinators designated by the parties act as the Secretariat.
* Supporting documents are numbered and circulated by the Secretariat.
Communication:
* Correspondence to the Chairperson is forwarded to the Secretariat.
* The Secretariat sends correspondence from the Chairperson and circulates it as appropriate.
* Bilateral matters are handled directly between the EU and the relevant Andean country, with other countries informed.
Agenda and Minutes:
* The Secretariat prepares a provisional agenda based on party proposals, circulated 14 days before the meeting.
* The agenda is adopted at the beginning of each meeting; additional items may be added with agreement.
* Draft minutes are prepared by the Secretariat within 21 days of the meeting and approved in writing by the Parties within 28 days.
Decision-Making:
* Decisions and recommendations are adopted by consensus.
* Written procedures for decision-making are allowed between meetings, with a 21-day review period.
Languages and Confidentiality:
* Official languages are the official languages of the Parties.
* Meetings are generally not public.
* Confidential information is protected according to the Agreement's rules.
Financial:
* Each Party covers its own expenses for participation.
* The host Party bears expenses for meeting organization and document reproduction.
Specialised Bodies:
* The Trade Committee is assisted by specialised bodies, whose rules of procedure apply mutatis mutandis.
* The Trade Committee receives reports from each specialised body.
Amendment:
* The Rules of Procedure may be amended according to the provisions of Article 11.
Impact Analysis:
EU Party, Colombia, and Peru Representatives:
* Impact: Must adhere to the Rules of Procedure for effective participation in the Trade Committee.
* Action Required: Review and understand the rules to ensure compliance and effective engagement.
Secretariat:
* Impact: Responsible for coordinating meetings, managing documents, and facilitating communication.
* Action Required: Ensure timely distribution of information and accurate record-keeping.
Specialised Committees and Working Groups:
* Impact: Must align their procedures with the Trade Committee's Rules of Procedure.
* Action Required: Review and adapt internal processes to comply with the established rules.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: One of the parties in the Trade Agreement with Colombia and Peru.
Colombia: One of the signatory Andean Countries in the Trade Agreement with the European Union.
Peru: One of the signatory Andean Countries in the Trade Agreement with the European Union.
Trade Committee: A committee established by the Trade Agreement between the European Union, Colombia, and Peru to supervise the agreement and the work of specialized bodies.
Trade Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Colombia and Peru, of the other part: The international agreement that establishes the framework for trade relations and the basis for the Trade Committee's existence and function.
Brussels: The city where the Trade Agreement between the European Union, Colombia, and Peru was signed.
Lima: The city where the Decision No 1/2014 of the EU-Colombia-Peru Trade Committee was done.
Bogota: One of the cities where the meetings of the Trade Committee shall be held on a rotational basis
1.7.2015 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 167/69
ACTS ADOPTED BY BODIES CREATED BY INTERNATIONAL
AGREEMENTS
DECISION No 1/2014 OF THE EU-COLOMBIA-PERU TRADE COMMITTEE
of 16 May 2014
Adoption of the Rules of Procedure of the Trade Committee referred to in point (j) of
Article 13(1) of the Trade Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the
one part, and Colombia and Peru, of the other part [2015/1045]
THE TRADE COMMITTEE,
Having regard to the Trade Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and
Colombia and Peru, of the other part (‘the Agreement’), signed in Brussels on 26 June 2012, and in particular point (j)
of Article 13(1) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) The Trade Committee shall adopt its own Rules of Procedure and shall supervise the work of all specialised
bodies established under the Agreement.
(2) The Trade Committee has the exclusive authority to evaluate and adopt decisions as envisaged in the Agreement
regarding any subject matter which is referred to it by the specialised bodies established in accordance with the
Agreement,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
1. The Rules of Procedure of the Trade Committee are established as set out in the Annex.
2. This Decision shall enter into force on 7 October 2014
Done at Lima, 16 May 2014
For the Trade Committee
Minister for Trade, Industry and Tourism Commissioner for Trade of the European Minister for Foreign Trade and Tourism
of Colombia Commission of Peru
Cecilia ÁLVAREZ-CORREA Karel DE GUCHT Blanca Magali SILVA VELARDE-ÁLVAREZL 167/70 EN Official Journal of the European Union 1.7.2015
ANNEX
RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE TRADE COMMITTEE
Article 1
Composition and Chair
1. The Trade Committee that is established in accordance with Article 12 of the Trade Agreement between the
European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Colombia and Peru, of the other part (‘the Agreement’),
shall perform its duties as provided for in Article 12 of the Agreement and take responsibility for the operation and
correct application of the Agreement.
2. As provided for in Article 12(1) of the Agreement, the Trade Committee shall be composed of the representatives
of the EU Party and representatives of each signatory Andean Country.
3. The Trade Committee shall be chaired on a rotational basis for a period of one year by the Minister for Trade,
Industry and Tourism of Colombia, the Minister for Foreign Trade and Tourism of Peru, or the Member of the European
Commission responsible for Trade. The first period shall begin on the date of the first Trade Committee meeting and
end on 31 December of the same year. The Chairperson may arrange to be represented by respective designees as
provided for in Article 12(2) of the Agreement.
4. The Trade Committee may meet in sessions where only the EU Party and one signatory Andean Country
participate, regarding matters which relate exclusively to their bilateral relationship or which have been referred to the
Trade Committee after being discussed within a specialised body in which only those two Parties participated. Such
sessions will be co-chaired by the EU Party and the signatory Andean Country concerned. Other signatory Andean
Countries may participate in such sessions subject to prior agreement of the EU Party and the signatory Andean
Country concerned.
5. Reference to the Parties in these Rules of Procedure is in accordance with the definition provided for in Article 6
of the Agreement.
Article 2
Representation
1. A Party shall notify in writing to the other Parties of the list of its members of the Trade Committee. The list shall
be administered by the Secretariat of the Trade Committee, as provided for in Article 6.
2. A Party wishing to be represented by an alternate representative shall notify the other Parties the name of his or
her alternate representative before the meeting at which he or she is to be so represented. The alternate representative of
a member of the Trade Committee shall exercise all the rights of that member.
Article 3
Meetings
1. The Trade Committee shall meet once a year or at the request of either Party, as provided for in Article 12(2) of
the Agreement. The meetings shall be held on a rotational basis, in Bogota, Brussels and Lima, unless the Parties agree
otherwise.
2. By way of exception and if the Parties agree, the meetings of the Trade Committee may be held by any agreed
technological means.
3. Each meeting of the Trade Committee shall be convened by the Secretariat of the Trade Committee at a date and
place agreed by the Parties. The convening notice of the meeting shall be issued by the Secretariat of the Trade
Committee to the members of the Trade Committee no later than 28 days prior to the start of the session, unless the
Parties agree otherwise.1.7.2015 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 167/71
Article 4
Delegation
The members of the Trade Committee may be accompanied by officials. Before each meeting, the Parties shall be
informed of the intended composition of the delegations attending the meeting.
Article 5
Observers
The Trade Committee may decide to invite observers on an ad hoc basis.
Article 6
Secretariat
The coordinators designated by the Parties, in accordance with Article 16 of the Agreement, shall jointly act as the
Secretariat of the Trade Committee.
Article 7
Documents
Where the deliberations of the Trade Committee are based on written supporting documents, such documents shall be
numbered and circulated by the Secretariat of the Trade Committee as documents of the Trade Committee.
Article 8
Correspondence
1. Correspondence to the Chairperson of the Trade Committee shall be forwarded to the Secretariat of the Trade
Committee for circulation to the other Parties.
2. Correspondence from the Chairperson of the Trade Committee shall be sent to the recipients by the Secretariat of
the Trade Committee and be numbered and circulated, where appropriate, to the other Parties.
3. For matters which relate exclusively to a bilateral relationship between the EU Party and one signatory Andean
Country, the correspondence will be done between those two Parties, keeping the other signatory Andean Countries
fully informed, as appropriate.
Article 9
Agenda for the Meetings
1. A provisional agenda for each meeting shall be drawn up by the Secretariat of the Trade Committee on the basis
of proposals made by the Parties. It shall be forwarded, together with the relevant documents, to all the Parties no later
than 14 days before the beginning of the meeting as documents referred to in Article 7 of these Rules of Procedure.
2. The provisional agenda shall include items in respect of which the Secretariat of the Trade Committee has received
a request for inclusion in the agenda by a Party, together with the relevant documents, no later than 21 days before the
beginning of the meeting.
3. The agenda shall be adopted by the Trade 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.L 167/72 EN Official Journal of the European Union 1.7.2015
4. The Chairperson of the Trade Committee may, upon agreement of the other Parties, invite experts to attend its
meetings in order to provide information on specific subjects.
5. The Chairperson of the Trade Committee may, upon agreement of the other Parties, reduce the time periods
specified in paragraphs 1 and 2 in order to take account of the requirements of a particular case.
Article 10
Minutes
1. Draft minutes of each meeting shall be drawn up by the Secretariat of the Trade Committee, normally within
21 days from the end of the meeting. The first draft will be prepared by the Party acting as the Chairperson within
10 days from the end of the meeting.
2. The minutes shall, as a general rule, summarise each item on the agenda, specifying where applicable:
(a) the documents submitted to the Trade Committee;
(b) any statement that a member of the Trade Committee has asked to be entered; and
(c) the decisions adopted, recommendations made, statements agreed upon and conclusions adopted on specific items.
3. The minutes shall also include a list of members of the Trade Committee or their alternate representatives who
took part in the meeting, a list of the members of the delegations accompanying them and a list of any observers or
experts to the meeting.
4. The minutes shall be approved in writing by the Parties within 28 days of the date of the meeting. Once approved,
copies of the minutes shall be signed by the Secretariat of the Trade Committee and each of the Parties shall receive one
original copy of those authentic documents.
Article 11
Decisions and Recommendations
1. The Trade Committee shall adopt decisions and recommendations by consensus.
2. In the period between meetings, the Trade Committee may adopt decisions or recommendations by written
procedure if the Parties so agree. For that purpose, the text of the proposal shall be circulated in writing in a
correspondence from the Chairperson to the members of the Trade Committee pursuant to Article 8, with a time limit
no less than 21 days within which members must make known any reservations or amendments they wish to make.
In the course of the written procedure, any member of the Trade Committee may request by writing to the Chairperson
that the proposal be discussed in the next Trade Committee meeting. Such request automatically suspends the writing
procedure.
A proposal on which no Party has made a reservation within the time limit set for a written procedure shall stand
adopted by the Trade Committee. The Chairperson of the Trade Committee shall then inform the Members, upon report
from the Secretariat that agreement has been given by the Parties.
Proposals adopted shall be communicated pursuant to Article 8 once the time limit has elapsed. Adopted proposals shall
be recorded in the minutes of the next meeting.
3. Where the Trade Committee is empowered under the Agreement to adopt decisions or recommendations, such
acts shall be entitled ‘Decision’ or ‘Recommendation’ respectively. The Secretariat of the Trade Committee shall give any
decision or recommendation a serial number, the date of adoption and a description of their subject-matter. Each
decision shall provide for the date of its entry into force.1.7.2015 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 167/73
4. Decisions and recommendations adopted by the Trade Committee shall be authenticated by making an authentic
copy signed by the Chairperson of the Trade Committee available for each Party.
Article 12
Languages
1. The official languages of the Trade Committee shall be the official languages of the Parties.
2. Unless otherwise decided, the Trade Committee shall normally base its deliberations on documentation and
proposals prepared in the languages referred to in paragraph 1.
Article 13
Publicity and Confidentiality
1. Unless otherwise decided, the meetings of the Trade Committee shall not be public.
2. When a Party submits information considered as confidential under its laws and regulations to the Trade
Committee, specialised committees, working groups or any other bodies, the Parties shall treat that information as
confidential according to the rules described in Article 290(2) of the Agreement.
3. Each Party may decide on the publication of the decisions and recommendations of the Trade Committee in its
respective official publication.
Article 14
Expenses
1. Each Party shall meet any expenses it incurs as a result of participating in the meetings of the Trade Committee,
both with regard to staff, travel and subsistence expenses and with regard to postal and telecommunications expenses.
2. Expenses in connection with the organisation of meetings and reproduction of documents shall be borne by the
Party hosting the meeting.
3. Expenses in connection with the interpretation at meetings and translation of documents into or from Spanish and
English shall be borne by the Party hosting the meeting. Interpretation and translation into or from the other languages
shall be borne by the requesting Party.
Article 15
Specialised Committees and Working Groups
1. The Trade Committee shall be assisted in the performance of its duties by the specialised bodies established under
the auspices of the Trade Committee. Unless otherwise provided by the Agreement or agreed by this Trade Committee
or the relevant specialised body created by the Agreement adopting its decision, the present Rules of Procedures shall be
applied mutatis mutandis by the specialised bodies (i.e. sub-committees, working groups, etc.).
2. The Trade Committee shall be informed of the contact points designated by each specialised body. All relevant
correspondences, documents and communications between the contact points of each specialised body shall be
forwarded to the Secretariat of the Trade Committee simultaneously.L 167/74 EN Official Journal of the European Union 1.7.2015
3. The Trade Committee at each regular meeting shall receive reports from each specialised body on its activities.
4. Specialised body may establish its own rules of procedure, as provided for in the Agreement, which shall be
reported to the Trade Committee.
Article 16
Amendment of Rules of Procedure
The Rules of Procedure may be amended according to the provisions of Article 11.