52014PC0295

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1.           CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL

The Trade Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Colombia and Peru, of the other part was signed on 26 June 2012, and has been provisionally applied since 1 March 2013 with Peru, and since 1 August 2013 with Colombia.

Article 103 of the Agreement establishes a Sub-committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (the “SPS Sub-committee”), which shall ensure and monitor the implementation of Chapter 5 of the Trade Agreement, which relates to Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures, and consider any matter that could affect compliance with the provisions of this Chapter. The SPS Sub-committee shall adopt its working procedures at its first meeting.

The attached draft Council decision constitutes the proposal for a legal act approving the position to be taken by the European Union in the SPS Sub-committee, to adopt its Rules of Procedure.

2.           RESULTS OF CONSULTATIONS WITH THE INTERESTED PARTIES

The Rules of Procedure for the SPS Sub-committee have been previously discussed with Colombia and Peru and have been the subject of a preliminary agreement in the framework of the preparation of the first SPS Sub-committee for the implementation of the Agreement. These Rules of Procedure should be now submitted to the internal procedures of the Parties for the final agreement.

3.           LEGAL ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSAL

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 218(9) thereof, the Commission is submitting a proposal to the Council for a decision on establishing the position to be adopted on the Union’s behalf in the SPS Sub-committee set up by this Trade Agreement.

2014/0153 (NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on a position to be taken by the European Union within the Sub-committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures set up by the Trade Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Colombia and Peru, of the other part, as regards the adoption of its Rules of Procedure

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1)       On 19 January 2009, the Council authorised the Commission to negotiate a multiparty trade agreement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States with the Member countries of the Andean Community.

(2)       These negotiations have been concluded and the Trade Agreement between the European Union its Member States, of the one part, and Colombia and Peru, of the other part was signed on 26 June 2012.

(3)       Pursuant to its Article 330(3), the Trade Agreement has been provisionally applied with Peru since 1 March 2013, and with Colombia since 1 August 2013, subject to its conclusion at a later date.

(4)       Article 103 of the Agreement establishes a Sub-committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (“SPS Sub-committee”), which shall ensure and monitor the implementation of Chapter 5 of the Trade Agreement, relating to Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures, and consider any matter that could affect compliance with the provisions of this Chapter. The SPS Sub-committee shall adopt its working procedures at its first meeting.

(5)       The Union should determine the position to be taken as regards the adoption of the Rules of Procedure of the SPS Sub-committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The position to be taken by the European Union in the Sub-committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures (“SPS Sub-committee”), set up by the Trade Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Colombia and Peru, of the other part, as regards the adoption of the Rules of Procedure of the SPS Sub-committee, shall be based on the draft Decision of the EU-Colombia-Peru SPS Sub-committee annexed to this Council Decision.

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

After its adoption, the Decision of the EU-Colombia-Peru SPS Sub-committee shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Article 3

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels,

                                                                       For the Council

                                                                       The President

ANNEX

DECISION No […] OF THE EU-COLOMBIA-PERU SUB-COMMITTEE ON SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES

of […]

on the adoption of the Rules of Procedure of the Sub-committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures referred to in Article103 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 SUB-COMMITTEE ON SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES,

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, signed in Brussels on 26 June 2012, and in particular, Article 103 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)          The Sub-committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (“SPS Sub-committee”) shall adopt its working procedure at its first meeting.

(2)          The SPS Sub-committee shall ensure and monitor the implementation of Chapter 5 of the Trade Agreement, referring to Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures, and consider any matter that could affect compliance with the provisions of this Chapter.

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

1.           The rules of procedure of the SPS Sub-committee are adopted as set out in the Annex to this Decision.

2.           This Decision shall enter into force on …

Done at …      on …

Annex to the Decision No […] of the EU-Colombia-Peru Sub-committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures

RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES ESTABLISHED IN CHAPTER 5 OF THE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS MEMBER STATES, OF THE ONE PART AND COLOMBIA AND PERU, OF THE OTHER PART

Article 1 Composition and Chair

1.           The Sub-committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (hereinafter referred to as the “SPS Sub-committee”) that is established in accordance with Article 103 of the Trade Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Colombia and Peru, of the other part shall perform its duties as provided in Article 103 of the Trade Agreement and take responsibility to ensure and monitor the implementation of Chapter 5 on Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures.

2.           As provided for in Article 103.2 of the Trade Agreement, the SPS Sub-committee shall be composed of the representatives designated by each Party with responsibilities for sanitary and phytosanitary matters.

3.           The SPS-Sub-committee shall be chaired, on a rotational basis, for a period of one year by a senior official of the European Commission, on behalf of the Union and its Member States, by a senior official of the Colombian Government, or by a senior official of the Peruvian Government. The first chairing period shall begin on the date of the first Trade Committee meeting and end on 31 December of the same year. The SPS Sub-committee shall be chaired by the Party holding the chair in the Trade Committee.

4.           The SPS Sub-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. Such sessions will be co-chaired by both Parties. Other signatory Andean Countries may participate in such sessions, subject to prior agreement of the Parties concerned.

5.           Reference to the Parties in this Rules of Procedure is in accordance with the definition provided for in Article 6 of the Agreement.

Article 2 Meetings

1.           The SPS Sub-committee shall meet at least once a year and will hold special sessions upon request of any Party, as provided for in Article 103.2 of the Agreement. The meetings shall be held on a rotational basis, in Bogota, Brussels and Lima, unless the Parties agree otherwise.

2.           The meeting of the SPS Sub-committee shall be convened by the Party holding the Chair at a date and venue agreed by the Parties.

3.           The SPS Sub-committee may also meet by video and audio conference.

Article 3 Delegations

Before each meeting, the Parties shall be informed of the intended composition of the delegations attending the meeting.

Article 4 Observers

The SPS Sub-committee may decide to invite observers on an ad hoc basis.

Article 5 Correspondence

1.           The documents of the SPS Sub-committee provided for in Articles 6, 7 and 8 of these Rules of Procedure shall be forwarded to the chairs of the SPS Sub-committee and to the Secretariat of the Trade Committee.

2.           For matters which relate exclusively to a bilateral relationship between the EU and one signatory Andean Country, the correspondence will be done between these two Parties, keeping the other signatory Andean Countries fully informed, as appropriate.

Article 6 Agenda for the Meetings

1.           A provisional agenda for each meeting shall be drawn up by the Parties jointly. It shall be forwarded, together with the relevant documents, to all the Parties no later than 14 days before the beginning of the meeting.

2.           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.

3.           The Chairperson of the SPS Sub-committee may, upon agreement of the other Parties, invite experts to attend its meetings in order to provide information on specific subjects.

Article 7 Minutes

1.           Draft minutes of each meeting shall be drawn up jointly by the Parties. The first draft will be prepared by the Party acting as Chair within 21 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 SPS Sub-committee;

(b)     any statement that a member of the SPS Sub-committee has asked to be entered; and

(c)     the decisions proposed, recommendations made, statements agreed upon and conclusions adopted on specific items.

3.           The minutes shall also include a list of participants in the SPS Sub-committee meeting.

4.           The minutes shall be approved in writing by the Parties within two months of the date of the meeting. Once approved, copies shall be signed by the Chairperson and his/her counterparts of the other Parties. Each of the Parties shall receive one original copy of these authentic documents. A copy of the signed minutes shall be forwarded to the Secretariat of the Trade Committee.

Article 8 Action Plan

1.           The SPS Sub-committee shall adopt an action plan reflecting the actions agreed upon the Parties during the meeting.

2.           The implementation by the Parties of the action plan will be reviewed by the SPS Sub-committee in its next meeting.

Article 9 Languages

1.           The official languages of the SPS Sub-committee shall be the official languages of the Parties.

2.           Unless otherwise decided, the SPS Sub-committee shall normally base its deliberations on documentation and proposals prepared in the languages referred to in paragraph 1.

Article 10 Publicity and Confidentiality

1.           Unless otherwise decided, the meetings of the SPS Sub-committee shall not be public.

2.           When a Party submits information considered as confidential under its laws and regulations to the SPS Sub-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.

Article 11 Expenses

1.           Each Party shall bear 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 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 12 Amendment of Rules of Procedure

These Rules of Procedure, as well as any subsequent amendment, are to be adopted by the SPS Sub-committee as foreseen by Article 103.2 of the Agreement.