Proposal for a Council Decision on the Union position to be adopted in the Joint Committee established by the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, on the one part, and the Republic of Korea, on the other part, in relation to the adoption of the rules of procedure of the Joint Committee, and the establishment of specialised working groups and the adoption of their terms of reference

The Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, on the one part, and the Republic of Korea, on the other part was signed on 10 May 2010 and entered into force on 1 June 2014. This comprehensive EU-Republic of Korea Agreement was the first of its kind between the EU and an Asian country. The Agreement provides a legal framework covering issues from regular political dialogue to sectoral cooperation. It underlines the EU's determination to engage with the Republic of Korea and to take bilateral relations to a higher level.

The Agreement strengthens the cooperation across a wide spectrum of policy fields, including inter alia human rights, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, combating terrorism, the fight against corruption and organised crime, trade, migration, environment, energy, climate change, transport, science and technology, employment and social affairs, education, agriculture, development assistance, culture, etc.

According to Article 44 of the Agreement, a Joint Committee was established, composed of representatives of the members of the Council of the European Union and representatives of the European Commission, on the one hand, and representatives of the Republic of Korea, on the other hand. Consultations will be held in the Joint Committee to facilitate the implementation and to further the general aims of the Agreement, to maintain the overall coherence in the relations and to ensure the proper functioning of any other agreement between the Parties.

In order to assist the Joint Committee in the performance of its tasks and with a view to facilitating for expert level discussions on some key areas falling within the scope of application of the Agreement, it is suggested to establish two specialised working groups, designated as follows: (1) specialised working group on energy, environment, climate change; (2) specialised working group on counterterrorism. Additional specialised working groups may be established at a later stage, following agreement of the Parties.

Both sides have committed to an effective implementation of the Agreement. The aim of this proposal is therefore to establish the position to be adopted by the European Union within the Joint Committee set up under Article 44 of the Agreement in relation to (i) the adoption of the rules of procedure of the Joint Committee, and (ii) the establishment of specialised working groups and the adoption of their terms of reference. The position of the European Union shall be based on the draft Decisions of the Joint Committee, attached to this proposal.

EUR-Lex: COM(2016)147: Follow the progress of this proposal through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2016:147:FIN

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