COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2023/683

of 17 March 2023

on the position to be adopted, on behalf of the European Union, within the Cooperation Council established by the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Iraq, of the other part, in relation to the setting up of a Sub-Committee on Development Cooperation and the adoption of its terms of reference

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 209, in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Iraq, of the other part (‘the Agreement’) was concluded by the Union by Council Decision (EU) 2018/1107 (1) and entered into force on 1 August 2018.

(2) Pursuant to Article 111(1) of the Agreement, a Cooperation Council was established to supervise the implementation of the Agreement. Pursuant to Article 112(2) of the Agreement, the Cooperation Council may decide to set up any specialised sub-committee or body that can assist it in carrying out its duties. The Cooperation Council determines the composition and duties of such committees or bodies and how they are to function.

(3) The Union and Iraq have both expressed interest in setting up a specialised Sub-Committee on Development Cooperation in order to facilitate a dedicated dialogue on all aspects of Union-Iraq development cooperation and to promote the effective implementation of Union development cooperation programmes in Iraq.

(4) The Cooperation Council is to adopt a decision on the setting up of a specialised Sub-Committee on Development Cooperation and on the adoption of its terms of reference during the third session of the Cooperation Council, or, if appropriate, by written procedure beforehand or afterwards, in accordance with Article 10(1) of its Rules of Procedure (2).

(5) It is appropriate to establish the position to be adopted on the Union’s behalf within the Cooperation Council, as the Decision of the Cooperation Council will be binding on the Union,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The position to be adopted on behalf of the European Union within the Cooperation Council established by the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Iraq, of the other part, in relation to the setting up of a specialised Sub-Committee on Development Cooperation and the adoption of its terms of reference, shall be based on the draft Decision of the Cooperation Council attached to this Decision.

Article 2

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

Done at Brussels, 17 March 2023.

For the Council

The President

J. ROSWALL

(1)  Council Decision (EU) 2018/1107 of 20 July 2018 on the conclusion of a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Iraq, of the other part (

OJ L 203, 10.8.2018, p. 1

).

(2)  Decision No 1/2013 of the EU-Iraq Cooperation Council of 8 October 2013 adopting its rules of procedure and those of the Cooperation Committee (2013/802/EU) (

OJ L 352, 24.12.2013, p. 68

).