Council Decision (EU) 2023/151 of 17 January 2023 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the EPA Committee established under the Interim Agreement in view of an Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Central Africa Party, of the other part as regards the establishment of the EPA Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development

The position to be taken on the Union’s behalf within the EPA Committee established under the Interim Agreement for an Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Central Africa Party, of the other part, regarding the establishment of a Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development, shall be based on the draft Decision of the EPA Committee attached to this Decision.

After its adoption, the Decision of the EPA Committee shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

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

1 The EPA Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development for the partnership between the European Community and the Central Africa Party is hereby established to carry out the tasks set out in Article 2.

2 The main objective of the EPA Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development is to facilitate exchanges on agricultural, pastoral, and rural development issues.

1 The EPA Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development shall be responsible for studying documents in order to elaborate on opinions, as well as developing, issuing opinions and making suggestions on agricultural, pastoral and rural development issues. It shall enable the Parties to exchange their experiences, information and best practices and to consult each other on all matters related to the general and specific objectives defined in Article 2 of Title I of the Agreement, and falling within the scope of the subcommittee as described below.

2 The EPA Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development shall be responsible, under the authority of the EPA Committee, for: (a) monitoring all aspects of Titles II, III and V of the Agreement relating to trade in agricultural and livestock products, sanitary and phytosanitary matters, food security and rural development, as well as intellectual property and sustainable development issues, as they apply to agricultural and livestock products; (b) engaging in policy dialogue on agriculture, livestock and rural development in the following areas: (i) production, consumption, trade promotion and respective market developments of agricultural and livestock products; (ii) promotion of investment in the agricultural and pastoral sectors, including small-scale activities; (iii) agricultural and rural development policies, legislation and regulations, including policies on geographical indications and organic farming; (iv) new technologies, research and innovation, and knowledge transfer to the agricultural sectors as well as actions needed to promote the transition to sustainable food systems.

3 The EPA Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development shall also be responsible for monitoring the implementation of the recommendations of the EPA Committee insofar as they relate to the area of competence defined in paragraph 2.

4 The EPA Subcommittee shall submit its opinions to the EPA Committee.

The EPA Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development shall be composed, on the one hand, of representatives of the European Commission and, on the other hand, of representatives of the Central Africa Party. The parties represented may jointly decide to invite other participants, in particular representatives of stakeholders concerned by the subcommittee's field of competence.

The EPA Subcommittee shall meet either in person or by any other appropriate means established by mutual agreement between the Parties. The agenda and the frequency of meetings of the subcommittee shall be determined by a consensus between the parties.

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