COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2022/567

of 4 April 2022

on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Partnership Council established by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, on the adoption of the operational guidelines for the conduct of the Civil Society Forum

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Articles 43 and 91, Article 100(2) and Article 207(4), first subparagraph, in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) The Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part (‘the Trade and Cooperation Agreement’) was concluded by the Union by means of Council Decision (EU) 2021/689 (1) and entered into force on 1 May 2021, having been provisionally applied since 1 January 2021.

(2) Article 14 of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement requires the Partnership Council established by that Agreement to adopt the operational guidelines for the conduct of the Civil Society Forum (the ‘guidelines’).

(3) It is therefore appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf within the Partnership Council on the adoption of the guidelines.

(4) In order to allow for the timely adoption of the guidelines, this Decision should enter into force on the date of its adoption,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The position to be taken on the Union’s behalf within the Partnership Council established by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, on a decision to be taken in accordance with Article 14 thereof, shall be based on the draft operational guidelines for the conduct of the Civil Society Forum attached to this Decision.

Article 2

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

Done at Luxembourg, 4 April 2022.

For the Council

The President

R. BACHELOT-NARQUIN

(1)  Council Decision (EU) 2021/689 of 29 April 2021on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, and of the Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning security procedures for exchanging and protecting classified information (

OJ L 149, 30.4.2021, p. 2

).

ANNEX

GUIDELINES FOR THE CIVIL SOCIETY FORUM

under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement

Article 14(1) and Article 14(2) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part (the ‘Trade and Cooperation Agreement’) provides that the Parties shall facilitate the organisation of a Civil Society Forum composed of representatives of the civil society of the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the United Kingdom) that shall meet at least once a year, unless otherwise agreed by the Parties. The Trade and Cooperation Agreement further provides that the Partnership Council shall adopt the operational guidelines for the conduct of the Forum.

1.   

PARTICIPANTS

According to Article 14(3) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (1), the Civil Society Forum will gather representatives of the civil society of the European Union and the United Kingdom, namely representatives of business and employers’ organisations (but not individual private companies), trade unions, academia, and non-governmental organisations in different branches of society relevant to the areas covered by Part II of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The Parties will apply their respective rules and practices on the registration of civil society representatives in order to promote a balanced representation of civil society organisations.

For practical reasons, the number of physical participants in the Civil Society Forum will be limited to 60 representatives from Civil Society on each side, unless the Parties agree otherwise. Those representatives will be able to attend the Civil Society Forum meetings in person or by electronic means. The Parties may agree to hold the meeting entirely virtually in accordance with Article 14(2) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The Civil Society Forum will be open to other members of civil society organisations, who register in advance, to observe.

2.   

SCOPE

The discussions of the Civil Society Forum will cover the areas in Part II of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement: trade, aviation, road transport, social security coordination and visas for short-term visits, fisheries and other provisions.

3.   

TIMING, ORGANISATION AND AGENDAS

The Trade and Cooperation Agreement establishes that the Civil Society Forum will meet at least once a year, unless otherwise agreed by the Parties. The Civil Society Forum will meet in close proximity to the meeting of the Trade Partnership Committee, unless otherwise agreed by the Parties. The co-chairs of the Trade Partnership Committee and Trade Specialized Committees and the co-chairs of the Specialised Committees on Energy, Air Transport, Aviation Safety, Road Transport, Social Security Coordination and Fisheries will be able to participate in the Forum when matters within their remit are discussed in the Forum.

The Civil Society Forum will be organised by the Party that is responsible for hosting the meeting of the Trade Partnership Committee, meaning that the location of the Forum will alternate between the European Union and the United Kingdom, unless otherwise agreed by the Parties. The Party hosting the Forum will provide the venue and facilitate the meeting (e.g. provide links for registration and virtual participation).

The Parties will endeavour to consult their respective Domestic Advisory Groups on possible agenda items before agreeing a draft agenda with the other party. The Parties will endeavour to publish the draft agendas 15 days before the date of the Civil Society Forum meeting.

The hosting Party will draft the results and conclusions of the Civil Society Forum in agreement with the other Party, within 30 days of the meeting. The results and conclusions of each of the meetings will be shared with the Partnership Council, Trade Partnership Committee and the Specialised Committees on Energy, Air Transport, Aviation Safety, Road Transport, Social Security Coordination, Fisheries and will be made publicly available.

In accordance with Article 14(1), second sentence of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the Partnership Council may amend the present guidelines, including to address issues arising during their implementation.

(1)  The Civil Society Forum shall be open for the participation of independent civil society organisations established in the territories of the Parties, including members of the domestic advisory groups referred to in Article 13 of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Each Party shall promote a balanced representation, including non-governmental organisations, business and employers' organisations and trade unions, active in economic, sustainable development, social, human rights, environmental and other matters.