DECISION No 1/2014 OF THE JOINT CARIFORUM-EU COUNCIL

of 24 October 2014

set up by the Economic Partnership Agreement between the CARIFORUM States, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part, concerning participation in the CARIFORUM-EU Consultative Committee

(2014/820/EU)

THE JOINT CARIFORUM-EU COUNCIL,

Having regard to the Economic Partnership Agreement between the CARIFORUM States, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part (‘the Agreement’), and in particular Article 232(2) thereof,

Whereas in the light of the objectives laid down under Article 1 of the Agreement, and the commitment to its monitoring provided for in Article 5 of the Agreement, it is appropriate to determine participation in the CARIFORUM-EU Consultative Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

1.   The CARIFORUM-EU Consultative Committee (‘the Committee’) shall be made up of forty (40) standing representatives of organisations of the civil society as follows:

(a) twenty-five (25) in representation of organisations located in the CARIFORUM States; and

(b) fifteen (15) in representation of organisations located in the European Union.

2.   In each set of representatives referred to above, there shall be a balanced representation of:

(a) employers' organisations;

(b) trade unions;

(c) other economic, social and non-governmental organisations, including development and environmental organisations; and

(d) the academic community.

3.   Standing representatives shall serve for two years. Relevant expertise and broad geographical and sectoral representation shall be ensured.

4.   For the purposes of this Decision, ‘organisations of civil society’ includes institutions, associations, foundations, advocacy groups and other entities of a non-governmental nature which have a non-profit making aim and which are able to provide advice or contribute specialised information on matters covered by the Agreement, as well as representatives of the academic community.

5.   An organisation shall be deemed to be located in the territory of a CARIFORUM State or European Union if such an organisation has its statutory office, central management and control in the territory of a CARIFORUM State or the European Union as the case may be.

Article 2

1.   The Committee shall be composed by the Joint CARIFORUM-EU Council of representatives of organisations of the civil society selected in accordance with Article 1 by the European Union and the CARIFORUM States, respectively.

2.   The Joint CARIFORUM-EU Council may also modify the list of members when necessary.

3.   Any vacancy in the membership of the Committee shall not invalidate the constitution of the Committee or impair the right of the remaining members to act.

4.   A majority of the members selected by the European Union and a majority of the members selected by the CARIFORUM States shall constitute a quorum of the Committee.

Article 3

Standing representatives may receive financial assistance for the discharge of their duties within the Committee.

Article 4

Any organization fulfilling the requirements of paragraph 1 of Article 232 of the Agreement may attend meetings of the Committee as an observer.

Article 5

The European Economic and Social Committee shall serve as the secretariat of the Committee for an initial period ending on 31 December 2014. Thereafter an organisation or entity selected by the CARIFORUM States followed by an organisation or entity selected by the European Union shall act alternatively for periods of 12 months as the secretariat of the Committee.

Article 6

This Decision shall enter into force on 24 October 2014.

Done in Georgetown, on 24 October 2014.

For the CARIFORUM States

C. RODRIGUES-BIRKETT

For the EU Party

K. DE GUCHT