Decision No 1/2023 of the EPA Committee established by the interim agreement with a view to an economic partnership agreement between the European Community and the Member states, of the one part, and the Central Africa Party, of the other part, of 6 July 2023 on the establishment of the EPA Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development [2023/1541]

26.7.2023 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 187/81 ACTS ADOPTED BY BODIES CREATED BY INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS DECISION No 1/2023 OF THE EPA COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED BY THE INTERIM AGREEMENT WITH A VIEW TO AN ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AND THE MEMBER STATES, OF THE ONE PART, AND THE CENTRAL AFRICA PARTY, OF THE OTHER PART, of 6 July 2023 on the establishment of the EPA Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development [2023/1541] THE EPA COMMITTEE, Having regard to the interim agreement with a view to an economic partnership agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Central Africa Party, of the other part, and in particular Article 92 thereof, Having regard to Decision No 1/2016 of the EPA Committee of 15 December 2016concerning the adoption of its Rules of Procedure, and in particular Article 5 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Article 92 of the interim agreement with a view to an economic partnership agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Central Africa Party, of the other part(1) (the ‘agreement’), provides that the EPA Committee is to be responsible for the administration of all areas covered by the agreement and for the completion of all tasks referred to therein.

(2) Article 5 of Decision No 1/2016 of the EPA Committee of 15 December 2016concerning the adoption of its Rules of Procedure(2)states that the EPA Committee may set up subcommittees under its authority to deal with specific matters covered by the agreement.

(3) It is necessary to establish an EPA Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

1. The EPA Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development for the partnership between the European Community and the Central Africa Party is hereby established to carry out the tasks set out in Article 2.

2. The main objective of the EPA Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development is to facilitate exchanges on agricultural, pastoral, and rural development issues.

Article 2

1. The EPA Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development shall be responsible for studying documents with a view to developing and issuing opinions and making proposals on agricultural, pastoral and rural development issues. It shall enable the Parties to exchange their experiences, information and best practices and to consult each other on all matters related to the general and specific objectives defined in Article 2 of Title I of the Agreement, and falling within the scope of the subcommittee as described below.

(1) OJ L 57, 28.2.2009, p. 2.

(2) OJ L 17, 21.1.2017, p. 46.L 187/82 EN Official Journal of the European Union 26.7.2023

2. The EPA Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development shall be responsible, under the authority of the EPA Committee, for:

(a) monitoring all aspects of Titles II, III and V of the Agreement relating to trade in agricultural and livestock products, sanitary and phytosanitary matters, food security and rural development, as well as intellectual property and sustainable development issues, as they apply to agricultural and livestock products;

(b) engaging in policy dialogue on agriculture, livestock and rural development in the following areas:

(i) production, consumption, trade promotion and market development of agricultural and livestock products;

(ii) promotion of investment in the agricultural and pastoral sectors, including small-scale activities;

(iii) agricultural and rural development policies, legislation and regulations, including policies on geographical indications and organic farming;

(iv) new technologies, research and innovation, and knowledge transfer to the agricultural sector as well as actions needed to promote the transition to sustainable food systems.

3. The EPA Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development shall also be responsible for monitoring the implementation of the recommendations of the EPA Committee that relate to the area of competence defined in paragraph 2.

4. The EPA Subcommittee shall submit its opinions to the EPA Committee.

Article 3 The EPA Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development shall be composed, on the one hand, of representatives of the European Commission and, on the other hand, of representatives of the Central Africa Party. The parties represented may jointly decide to invite other participants, in particular representatives of stakeholders concerned by the subcommittee’s field of competence.

Article 4 The EPA Subcommittee shall meet either in person or by any other appropriate means established by mutual agreement between the parties. The agenda and the frequency of meetings of the subcommittee shall be determined by a consensus between the parties.

Article 5 This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.

Done at Yaoundé, 6 July 2023.

For the Republic of Cameroon For the European Union Jean TCHOFFO Cristina MIRANDA GOZALVEZ