Article 1

The Joint Committee shall be composed of representatives of the European Union and representatives of the Swiss Confederation. The committee shall be chaired alternately by the parties for one calendar year.

Before each meeting, the Chairman shall be informed of the intended composition of the delegation of each party.

If both parties agree, the Joint Committee may invite experts to its meetings to provide the specific information requested.

Article 2

The Chairman shall carry out the tasks of secretary of the Joint Committee. All correspondence to the Joint Committee, including requests for items to be included in agendas, must be addressed to the Chairman.

Article 3

Once he has obtained the agreement of both parties, the Chairman of the Joint Committee shall fix the date and place of meetings. Meetings shall be held alternately in Brussels and Switzerland.

Article 4

The Chairman shall draw up a provisional agenda for each meeting. It shall be forwarded to the parties not later than 10 days before the beginning of the meeting.

The provisional agenda shall consist of those items in respect of which the request for inclusion has reached the Chairman at least 15 days before the beginning of the meeting. Supporting documentation must be received by both parties at least seven days ahead of the meeting. In cases of special urgency, these time limits may be shortened provided both parties agree.

The agenda shall be adopted by the Joint Committee at the beginning of each meeting.

Article 5

Unless otherwise agreed, the meetings of the Joint Committee shall not be public.

The Joint Committee’s deliberations shall be confidential.

Article 6

After each meeting, the Chairman shall draw up the minutes. The draft minutes shall be submitted to the Joint Committee for approval. Once the minutes have been approved, they shall be signed by the Chairman and a copy sent to the parties.

Article 7

Recommendations and decisions within the meaning of Article 21 of the Agreement shall be entitled ‘recommendation’ and ‘decision’ respectively, followed by a serial number, the date of their adoption and a description of their subject. They shall be signed by the Chairman and sent to the parties.

Article 8

In cases of special urgency, decisions and recommendations may be adopted by the written procedure provided both parties agree.

Article 9

Each party shall bear the expenses it incurs in taking part in the meetings of the Joint Committee.

Article 10

The Joint Committee shall draw up a list of umpires as required in Annex III to the Agreement within two months of its decision to submit a dispute to arbitration as provided for in Article 29(3) of the Agreement.

Article 11

A working group shall be set up to assist the Joint Committee in carrying out its tasks in the areas referred to in Chapters II (procedures) and III (customs security measures) of the Agreement.

Article 12

Articles 1 to 6 and 9 of this Decision shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the meetings of the working group.

Article 13

This Decision shall take effect on the day following its adoption.