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28.6.2013 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
177/1
II
(Non-legislative acts)
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
COUNCIL DECISION
of 22 April 2013
on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union with regard to the adoption of the
Rules of Procedure of the EPA Committee, the Customs Cooperation Committee and the Joint
Development Committee provided for by the Interim Agreement establishing a framework for an
Economic Partnership Agreement between the Eastern and Southern Africa States, on the one part,
and the European Community and its Member States, on the other part
(2013/331/EU)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
(5)
It is appropriate to establish the position to be adopted
on behalf of the Union with regard to the adoption of
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European
the Rules of Procedure of the EPA Committee, the
Union, and in particular Articles 207 and 209 in conjunction
Customs Cooperation Committee and the Joint Devel
with Article 218(9) thereof,
opment Committee,
Having regard to Council Decision 2012/196/EC of 13 July
2009 on the signing and provisional application of the
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Interim Agreement establishing a framework for an Economic
Partnership Agreement between the Eastern and Southern Africa
Article 1
States, on the one part, and the European Community and its
The position to be adopted on behalf of the Unionwith regard
Member States, on the other part ( 1 ),
to the adoption of a decision of the EPA Committee provided
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
for by the Interim Agreement establishing a framework for an
Economic Partnership Agreement between the Eastern and
Whereas:
Southern Africa States, on the one part, and the European
(1)
The Interim Agreement establishing a framework for an
Community and its Member States, on the other part, on its
Economic Partnership Agreement between the Eastern
Rules of Procedure, on the Rules of Procedure of the Customs
and Southern Africa States, on the one part, and the
Cooperation Committee and on the Rules of Procedure of the
European Community and its Member States, on the
Joint Development Committee shall be based on the draft
other part (
Decision of the EPA Committee attached to this Decision.

2 ) (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’)
was signed on 29 August 2009 and is provisionally
applied since 14 May 2012.
Minor changes to the draft Decision of the EPA Committee may
be agreed to without further decision of the Council.
(2) Article
64
of
the
Agreement
establishes
an
EPA
Committee, which is responsible for the administration
Article 2
of the Agreement and for the fulfilment of any of the
tasks mentioned therein.
This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.
(3) Article
64
of
the
Agreement
provides
that
the
EPA
Committee adopts its rules of procedure.
Done at Luxembourg, 22 April 2013.
(4) The
EPA
Committee
is
assisted
in
the
performance
of
its
duties by the Customs Cooperation Committee, which is
established in accordance with Article 41 of Protocol 1
For the Council
to the Agreement, and the Joint Development
Committee, which is established in accordance with
The President
Article 52 of the Agreement.
C. ASHTON
( 1 ) OJ L 111, 24.4.2012, p. 1.
( 2 ) OJ L 111, 24.4.2012, p. 2.

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Official Journal of the European Union
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DRAFT
DECISION No …/2013 OF THE EPA COMMITTEE
of
set up by the Interim Agreement establishing a framework for an Economic Partnership Agreement
between the Eastern and Southern Africa States, on the one part, and the European Community and
its Member States, on the other part concerning the adoption of the Rules of Procedure of the EPA
Committee, the Customs Cooperation Committee and the Joint Development Committee
THE EPA COMMITTEE,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Having regard to the Interim Agreement establishing a
1. The
Rules
of
Procedure
of
the
following
committees
are
framework for an Economic Partnership Agreement between
hereby established as set out in the Annexes:
the Eastern and Southern Africa States, on the one part, and
the European Community and its Member States, on the other
Annex I – the EPA Committee;
part (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’), signed in Grand
Baie on 29 August 2009 and provisionally applied since
Annex II – the Customs Cooperation Committee;
14 May 2012, and in particular Article 64 thereof,
Annex III – the Joint Development Committee.
2. Those
Rules
of
Procedure
are
without
prejudice
to
any
Whereas:
special rules provided for in the Agreement or which may be
decided by the EPA Committee.
(1) The
Agreement
provides
that
the
EPA
Committee
adopts
Article 2
its rules of procedure.
This Decision shall enter into force on ….
(2) The
EPA
Committee
is
to
be
assisted
in
the
performance
of its duties by the Customs Cooperation Committee,
Done at (place), on (date)
which is established in accordance with Article 41 of
the Protocol 1 of the Agreement, and the Joint Devel
opment Committee, which is established in accordance
with Article 52 of the Agreement,
For the signatory ESA States For
the
EU
Party

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EN
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Journal
of
the
European
Union L
177/3
ANNEX I
RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE EPA COMMITTEE
set up by the Interim Agreement establishing a framework for an Economic Partnership Agreement between the
Eastern and Southern Africa States, on the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, on
the other part
Article 1
Scope of application
These Rules of Procedure shall apply to the proceedings of any of the meetings of the EPA Committee.
Article 2
Composition and Chair
1. The EPA Committee is composed, on the one hand, of representatives of Signatory States from the Eastern and
Southern Africa (‘Signatory ESA States’) ( 1 ) and, on the other of representatives ofthe EU Party, at ministerial or senior
official level.
2. Reference to ‘the Parties’ in these Rules of Procedure is in accordance with the definition provided for in Article 61
of the Agreement.
3. The EPA Committee at ministerial level shall be co-chaired by a representative of the Signatory ESA States and by a
representative of the European Union (‘EU’). The EPA Committee at senior official level shall be co-chaired by the
representatives of the Signatory ESA States, normally at senior official level and by the senior officials of the
European Commission, on behalf of the EU Party. The Signatory ESA States assume chairmanship on a yearly
rotating basis.
Article 3
Observers
1. Representatives of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and representatives of the
Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) shall be invited to participate in the EPA Committee meetings as observers.
2. The Secretary of the EPA Committee shall notify representatives of COMESA and the IOC of any meeting of the
EPA Committee so that they may participate as observers.
3.
The Parties may collectively decide to invite additional observers on an ad hoc basis. Such observers may participate
at the meeting, upon invitation of a Co-chairman and approval of the EPA Committee.
4. The EPA Committee may determine that any part of meetings involving sensitive matters may be closed to
observers.
Article 4
Meetings
1. The EPA Committee shall meet once a year or when circumstances so require, if the Parties so agree. If both Parties
agree, the meetings of the EPA Committee may be held by video- or tele-conference. In such a case each Party bears its
respective cost associated with holding the meeting by such means, unless agreed otherwise.
2. Each
session
of
the
EPA
Committee
shall
be
held
at
a
date
and
place
agreed
by
both
Parties.
3. The meetings of the EPA Committee shall be convened by the Secretary of the EPA Committee.
Article 5
Delegations
Before each meeting, the Co-chairs of the EPA Committee shall be informed of the intended composition of the
delegations of the Signatory ESA States and of the EU Party.
Article 6
Secretariat
1.
Officials of the Signatory ESA States and of the European Commission shall act alternately for periods of 12 months
as Secretary of the EPA Committee. The Signatory ESA State may be assisted by the COMESA Secretariat.
( 1 ) Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles and Zimbabwe.

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2.
Notwithstanding paragraph 1, the first period shall begin on the date of the first meeting of the EPA Committee and
end on 31 December of the year thereafter. The Secretariat of the EPA Committee shall be held first by a representative of
the European Commission. The Signatory ESA States assume the Secretariat on a rotating basis.
Article 7
Documents
Where the deliberations of the EPA Committee are based on written supporting documents, such documents shall be
numbered and circulated as documents of the EPA Committee by the Secretary at least 14 days before the beginning of
the meeting.
Article 8
Correspondence
1. All correspondence addressed to the EPA Committee shall be directed to the Secretary of the EPA Committee.
2. The Secretary shall ensure that correspondence addressed to the EPA Committee is forwarded to the Co-chairs of
the Committee and circulated, where appropriate as documents referred to in Article 7.
3. Correspondence from the Co-chairs of the EPA Committee shall be sent to the Parties by the Secretary and
circulated where appropriate as documents referred to in Article 7.
Article 9
Agenda for the meetings
1. A provisional annotated agenda for each meeting shall be drawn up by the Secretary of the EPA Committee on the
basis of proposals made by the Parties. It shall be forwarded by the Secretary of the EPA Committee to the Parties no later
than three weeks before the beginning of the meeting.
2. The provisional annotated agenda shall include the items for which a request for inclusion in the agenda has been
received by the Secretary no later than one month before the beginning of the meeting, although such items will not be
included in the provisional agenda unless the relevant supporting documents have been received by the Secretary no later
than the date of dispatch of the provisional agenda.
3. The agenda shall be adopted by the EPA Committee at the beginning of each meeting. An item other than those
appearing on the provisional agenda may be placed on the agenda if the Parties so agree.
4. The Co-chairs of the EPA Committee, in agreement with the Parties, may invite experts to attend its meetings in
order to provide information on specific subjects.
5.
With the agreement of the Parties, the Secretary may abridge the time limit specified in paragraph 1 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 Secretary as soon as possible, normally within a month of
the meeting.
2. The
minutes
shall,
as
a
general
rule,
summarise
each
item
on
the
agenda,
specifying
where
applicable:
(a) all documents submitted to the EPA Committee,
(b) any statement that a member of the EPA Committee has asked to be entered,
(c) the decisions taken, recommendations made, statements agreed upon and conclusions adopted on specific items.
3. The minutes shall also include a list of participants to the EPA Committee and a list of any observers to the
meeting.
4. Approval of the minutes shall be confirmed in writing within two months of the date of the meeting by the
Signatory ESA states and the EU Party. Once approved, the minutes shall be signed by the Secretary. Each Signatory ESA
State and the EU Party shall receive one original of these authentic documents.
Article 11
Decisions and Recommendations
1. The
EPA
Committee
shall
adopt
decisions
and
recommendations
by
consensus.

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2. The EPA Committee may decide to submit any general matter of an all ACP-EU interest arising under the
Agreement to the ACP-EU Council of Ministers as defined in Article 15 of the Partnership Agreement between the
Members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States of the one part, and the EC and its Member States of the
other part (the Cotonou Agreement).
3. In the period between meetings, the EPA Committee may adopt decisions and recommendations by written
procedure if both Parties so agree. A written procedure shall consist of an exchange of notes between the Parties.
4. Decisions and recommendations of the EPA Committee shall be entitled ‘Decision’ or ‘Recommendation’ respect
ively, and followed by a serial number, the date of their adoption and a description of their subject. Each decision shall
provide for the date of its entry into force.
5. Decisions and recommendations adopted by the EPA Committee shall be authenticated by a representative of the
Signatory ESA States and by a representative of the European Commission on behalf of the EU Party.
6. Decisions and recommendations shall be forwarded to the Parties as documents of the EPA Committee.
Article 12
Publicity
1. Unless
otherwise
decided,
meetings
of
the
EPA
Committee
shall
not
be
public.
2. Each Party may decide on the publication of the decisions or recommendations of the EPA Committee in its
respective official publication.
Article 13
Languages
1. The working languages of the EPA Committee shall be the official languages common to the Parties, English and
French.
2. The EPA Committee shall base its deliberations and adopt decisions on documentation and proposals prepared as
far as possible in both languages referred to in paragraph 1. Decisions and recommendations are provided in both
languages referred to in paragraph 1.
Article 14
Expenses
1. Each Party shall meet any expenses it incurs as a result of participating in the meetings of the EPA 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 the provision of interpretation services at meetings and translation of documents
shall be borne by the Party hosting the meeting. Expenditure associated with the provision of interpretation services and
translation of documents into or from other official languages of the European Union shall be borne by the EU Party.
Article 15
Amendment of Rules of Procedure
These Rules of Procedure may be amended in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 11 hereof.

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L 177/6
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ANNEX II
RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE CUSTOMS COOPERATION COMMITTEE
set up by the Interim Agreement establishing a framework for an Economic Partnership Agreement between the
Eastern and Southern Africa States, on the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, on
the other part
Article 1
Scope of application
These Rules of Procedure shall apply to the proceedings of any of the meetings of the Customs Cooperation Committee.
Article 2
Role of the Customs Cooperation Committee
The Customs Cooperation Committee is established in accordance with Article 41 of Protocol 1 to the Agreement. It shall
also deal with all matters delegated to it by the EPA Committee.
Article 3
Composition and Chair
1.
The Customs Cooperation Committee is composed, on the one hand, of representatives of Signatory States from the
Eastern and Southern Africa (‘Signatory ESA States’) ( 1 ) and, on the other of representatives of the EU Party.
2. Reference to ‘the Parties’ in these Rules of Procedure is in accordance with the definition provided for in Article 61
of the Agreement.
3. The Customs Cooperation Committee shall be co-chaired by a representative of the Signatory ESA States and by a
representative of the European Commission, on behalf of the EU Party. The Signatory ESA States assume the chair
manship on a yearly rotating basis.
Article 4
Observers
1. Representatives of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and representatives of the
Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) shall be invited to participate in the Customs Cooperation Committee meetings as
observers.
2. The Secretary of the Customs Cooperation Committee shall notify representatives of COMESA and the IOC of any
meeting of the Customs Cooperation Committee so that they may participate as observers.
3.
The Parties may collectively decide to invite additional observers on an ad hoc basis. Such observers may participate
at the meeting, upon invitation of a Co-chairman and approval of the Customs Cooperation Committee.
4. The Customs Cooperation Committee may determine that any part of meetings involving sensitive matters may be
closed to observers.
Article 5
Meetings
1. Unless otherwise specified in the Agreement, the Customs Cooperation Committee shall meet upon request of either
Party. If both Parties agree, the meetings of the Customs Cooperation Committee may be held by video- or tele-
conference. In such a case each Party bears its respective cost associated with holding the meeting by such means,
unless agreed otherwise.
2. Each session of the Customs Cooperation Committee shall be held at a date and place agreed by both Parties.
3. The meetings of the Customs Cooperation Committee shall be convened by the Secretary of the Customs
Cooperation Committee.
( 1 ) Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles and Zimbabwe.

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Article 6
Delegations
Before each meeting, the Co-chairs of the Customs Cooperation Committee shall be informed of the intended
composition of the delegations of the Signatory ESA States and of the EU Party.
Article 7
Secretariat
Officials of the Signatory ESA States and of the European Commission shall act alternately for periods of 12 months as
Secretary of the Customs Cooperation Committee. The Signatory ESA State may be assisted by the COMESA Secretariat.
Those periods shall coincide with the holding of the Secretariat of the EPA Committee by respectively the Signatory ESA
States and the European Commission. The Signatory ESA States assume the Secretariat on a rotating basis.
Article 8
Documents
Where the deliberations of the Customs Cooperation Committee are based on written supporting documents, such
documents shall be numbered and circulated as documents of the Customs Cooperation Committee by the Secretary
at least 14 days before the beginning of the meeting.
Article 9
Correspondence
1. All correspondence addressed to the Customs Cooperation Committee shall be directed to the Secretary of the
Customs Cooperation Committee.
2. The
Secretary
shall
ensure
that
correspondence
addressed
to
the
Customs
Cooperation
Committee
is
forwarded
to
the Co-chairs of the Committee and circulated, where appropriate as documents referred to in Article 8.
3. Correspondence from the Co-chairs of the Customs Cooperation Committee shall be sent to the Parties by the
Secretary and circulated where appropriate as documents referred to in Article 8.
Article 10
Agenda for the meetings
1. A provisional annotated agenda for each meeting shall be drawn up by the Secretary of the Customs Cooperation
Committee on the basis of proposals made by the Parties. It shall be forwarded by the Secretary of the Customs
Cooperation Committee to the Parties no later than three weeks before the beginning of the meeting.
2. The provisional annotated agenda shall include the items for which a request for inclusion in the agenda has been
received by the Secretary no later than one month before the beginning of the meeting, although such items will not be
included in the provisional agenda unless the relevant supporting documents have been received by the Secretary no later
than the date of dispatch of the provisional agenda.
3. The agenda shall be adopted by the Customs Cooperation Committee at the beginning of each meeting. An item
other than those appearing on the provisional agenda may be placed on the agenda if the Parties so agree.
4. The Co-chairs of the Customs Cooperation Committee, in agreement with the Parties, may invite experts to attend
its meetings in order to provide information on specific subjects.
5.
With the agreement of the Parties, the Secretary may abridge the time limit specified in paragraph 1 in order to take
account of the requirements of a particular case.
Article 11
Minutes
1. Draft minutes of each meeting shall be drawn up by the Secretary as soon as possible, normally within a month of
the meeting.
2. The
minutes
shall,
as
a
general
rule,
summarise
each
item
on
the
agenda,
specifying
where
applicable:
(a) all documents submitted to the Customs Cooperation Committee,

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(b) any statement that a member of the Customs Cooperation Committee has asked to be entered,
(c) the decisions taken, recommendations made, statements agreed upon and conclusions adopted on specific items.
3. The minutes shall also include a list of participants to the Customs Cooperation Committee and a list of any
observers to the meeting.
4. Approval of the minutes shall be confirmed in writing within two months of the date of the meeting by the
Signatory ESA states and the EU Party. Once approved, the minutes shall be signed by the Secretary. Each Signatory ESA
State and the EU Party shall receive one original of these authentic documents.
Article 12
Decisions and Recommendations
1. The
Customs
Cooperation
Committee
shall
adopt
decisions
and
recommendations
by
consensus.
2. In the period between meetings, the Customs Cooperation Committee may adopt decisions and recommendations
by written procedure if both Parties so agree. A written procedure shall consist of an exchange of notes between the
Parties.
3. Decisions or recommendations of the Customs Cooperation Committee shall be entitled ‘Decision’ or ‘Recom
mendation’ respectively, and followed by a serial number, the date of their adoption and a description of their subject.
Each decision shall provide for the date of its entry into force.
4. Decisions and recommendations adopted by the Customs Cooperation Committee shall be authenticated by a
representative of the Signatory ESA States and by a representative of the European Commission on behalf of the EU Party.
5. Decisions and recommendations shall be forwarded to the Parties and to the EPA Committee as documents of the
Customs Cooperation Committee.
Article 13
Publicity
1. Unless
otherwise
decided,
meetings
of
the
Customs
Cooperation
Committee
shall
not
be
public.
2. Each Party may decide on the publication of the decisions and recommendations of the Customs Cooperation
Committee in its respective official publication.
Article 14
Languages
1. The working languages of the Customs Cooperation Committee shall be the official languages common to the
Parties, English and French.
2. The
Customs
Cooperation
Committee
shall
base
its
deliberations
and
adopt
decisions
on
documentation
and
proposals prepared as far as possible in both languages referred to in paragraph 1. Decisions and recommendations
are provided in both languages referred to in paragraph 1.
Article 15
Expenses
1. Each Party shall meet any expenses it incurs as a result of participating in the meetings of the Customs Cooperation
Committee, both with regard to staff, travel and subsistence expenditure and with regard to postal and telecommuni
cations 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 the provision of interpretation services at meetings and translation of documents
shall be borne by the Party hosting the meeting. Expenditure associated with the provision of interpretation services and
translation of documents into or from other official languages of the European Union shall be borne by the EU Party.

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Article 16
Reporting
The Customs Cooperation Committee shall report to the EPA Committee.
Article 17
Amendment of Rules of Procedure
These Rules of Procedure may be amended by the EPA Committee. The Customs Cooperation Committee may submit
recommendations to the EPA Committee proposing changes to the Rules of Procedure.

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ANNEX III
RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE JOINT DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
set up by the Interim Agreement establishing a framework for an Economic Partnership Agreement between the
Eastern and Southern Africa States, on the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, on
the other part
Article 1
Scope of application
These Rules of Procedure shall apply to the proceedings of any of the meetings of the Joint Development Committee.
Article 2
Role of the Joint Development Committee
The Joint Development Committee is established as a sub-committee of the EPA Committee. In accordance with Article 52
of the Agreement, it shall discuss development cooperation issues linked to the implementation of that Agreement.
Article 3
Composition and Chair
1. The Joint Development Committee is composed, on the one hand, of representatives of Signatory States from the
Eastern and Southern Africa (‘Signatory ESA States’) ( 1 ) and, on the other of representatives of the EU Party.
2. Reference to ‘the Parties’ in these Rules of Procedure is in accordance with the definition provided for in Article 61
of the Agreement.
3. The Joint Development Committee shall be co-chaired by a representative of the Signatory ESA States and by a
representative of the European Commission, on behalf of the EU Party. The Signatory ESA States assume the chair
manship on a yearly rotating basis.
Article 4
Observers
1. Representatives of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and representatives of the
Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) shall be invited to participate in the Joint Development Committee meetings as
observers.
2. The Secretary of the Joint Development Committee shall notify representatives of COMESA and the IOC of any
meeting of the Joint Development Committee so that they may participate as observers.
3.
The Parties may collectively decide to invite additional observers on an ad hoc basis. Such observers may participate
at the meeting, upon invitation of a Co-chairman and approval of the Joint Development Committee.
4. The Joint Development Committee may determine that any part of meetings involving sensitive matters may be
closed to observers.
Article 5
Meetings
1. Unless otherwise specified in the Agreement, the Joint Development Committee shall meet upon request of either
Party. If both Parties agree, the meetings of the Joint Development Committee may be held by video- or tele-conference.
In such a case each Party bears its respective cost associated with holding the meeting by such means, unless agreed
otherwise.
2. Each session of the Joint Development Committee shall be held at a date and place agreed by both Parties.
3. The meetings of the Joint Development Committee shall be convened by the Secretary of the Joint Development
Committee.
Article 6
Delegations
Before each meeting, the Co-chairs of the Joint Development Committee shall be informed of the intended composition
of the delegations of the Signatory ESA States and of the EU Party.
( 1 ) Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles and Zimbabwe

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Article 7
Secretariat
Officials of the Signatory ESA States and of the European Commission shall act alternately for periods of 12 months as
Secretary of the Joint Development Committee. The Signatory ESA State may be assisted by the COMESA Secretariat.
Those periods shall coincide with the holding of the Secretariat of the EPA Committee by respectively the Signatory ESA
States and the European Commission. The Signatory ESA States assume the Secretariat on a rotating basis.
Article 8
Documents
Where the deliberations of the Joint Development Committee are based on written supporting documents, such
documents shall be numbered and circulated as documents of the Joint Development Committee by the Secretary at
least 14 days before the beginning of the meeting.
Article 9
Correspondence
1. All correspondence addressed to the Joint Development Committee shall be directed to the Secretary of the Joint
Development Committee.
2. The Secretary shall ensure that correspondence addressed to the Joint Development Committee is forwarded to the
Co-chairs of the Committee and circulated, where appropriate as documents referred to in Article 8.
3. Correspondence from the Co-chairs of the Joint Development Committee shall be sent to the Parties by the
Secretary and circulated where appropriate as documents referred to in Article 8.
Article 10
Agenda for the meetings
1. A
provisional
agenda
for
each
meeting
shall
be
drawn
up
by
the
Secretary
of
the
Joint
Development
Committee
on
the basis of proposals made by the Parties. It shall be forwarded by the Secretary of the Joint Development Committee to
the Parties no later than three weeks before the beginning of the meeting.
2. The provisional agenda shall include the items for which a request for inclusion in the agenda has been received by
the Secretary no later than one month before the beginning of the meeting, although such items will not be included in
the provisional agenda unless the relevant supporting documents have been received by the Secretary no later than the
date of dispatch of the provisional agenda.
3. The agenda shall be adopted by the Joint Development Committee at the beginning of each meeting. An item other
than those appearing on the provisional agenda may be placed on the agenda if the Parties so agree.
4. The Co-chairs of the Joint Development Committee, in agreement with the Parties, may invite experts to attend its
meetings in order to provide information on specific subjects.
5.
With the agreement of the Parties, the Secretary may abridge the time limit specified in paragraph 1 in order to take
account of the requirements of a particular case.
Article 11
Minutes
1. Draft minutes of each meeting shall be drawn up by the Secretary as soon as possible, normally within a month of
the meeting.
2. The
minutes
shall,
as
a
general
rule,
summarise
each
item
on
the
agenda,
specifying
where
applicable:
(a) all documents submitted to the Joint Development Committee,
(b) any statement that a member of the Joint Development Committee has asked to be entered,
(c) the decisions taken, recommendations made, statements agreed upon and conclusions adopted on specific items.
3. The minutes shall also include a list of participants to the Joint Development Committee and a list of any observers
to the meeting.
4. Approval of the minutes shall be confirmed in writing within two months of the date of the meeting by the
Signatory ESA states and the EU Party. Once approved, the minutes shall be signed by the Secretary. Each Signatory ESA
State and the EU Party shall receive one original of these authentic documents.

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Article 12
Recommendations
1. The
Joint
Development
Committee
shall
adopt
recommendations
by
consensus.
2. In the period between meetings, the Joint Development Committee may adopt recommendations by written
procedure if both Parties so agree. A written procedure shall consist of an exchange of notes between the Parties.
3.
Recommendations of the Joint Development Committee shall be entitled ‘Recommendation’ and followed by a serial
number, the date of their adoption and a description of their subject.
4. Recommendations
adopted
by
the
Joint
Development
Committee
shall
be
authenticated
by
a
representative
of
the
Signatory ESA States and by a representative of the European Commission on behalf of the EU Party.
5. Recommendations shall be forwarded to the Parties as documents of the Joint Development Committee and shall be
submitted to the EPA Committee for consideration.
Article 13
Publicity
Unless otherwise decided, meetings of the Joint Development Committee shall not be public.
Article 14
Languages
1. The working languages of the Joint Development Committee shall be the official languages common to the Parties,
English and French.
2. The
Joint
Development
Committee
shall
base
its
deliberations
and
make
recommendations
on
documentation
and
proposals prepared as far as possible in both languages referred to in paragraph 1. Recommendations are provided in
both languages referred to in paragraph 1.
Article 15
Expenses
1. Each Party shall meet any expenses it incurs as a result of participating in the meetings of the Joint Development
Committee, both with regard to staff, travel and subsistence expenditure and with regard to postal and telecommuni
cations 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 the provision of interpretation services at meetings and translation of documents
shall be borne by the Party hosting the meeting. Expenditure associated with the provision of interpretation services and
translation of documents into or from other official languages of the European Union shall be borne by the EU Party.
Article 16
Reporting
The Joint Development Committee shall report to the EPA Committee.
Article 17
Amendment of Rules of Procedure
These Rules of Procedure may be amended by the EPA Committee. The Joint Development Committee may submit
recommendations to the EPA Committee proposing changes to the Rules of Procedure.

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Document Outline

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