Pristatymas
DCAR: The Delegation to the CARIFORUM-EU Parliamentary Committee
The European Parliament's Delegation to the CARIFORUM-EU Parliamentary Committee monitors the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) that the EU and 15 Caribbean countries signed in 2008. The 15 countries of CARIFORUM are: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.
That treaty aims to promote EU-CARIFORUM trade - and ultimately contribute, through trade and investment, to sustainable development and poverty reduction.
The structures established by the agreement include a "Parliamentary Committee", which is intended to "be a forum for members of the European Parliament and the CARIFORUM States legislatures to meet and exchange views", scrutinising the work of the Joint Council and the Joint Trade and Development Agreement, the other bodies created by the Agreement."
The 15 MEPs who compose the DCAR delegation represent half of the Parliamentary Committee. Another 15 members of Caribbean parliaments who participate in the Committee represent the other half.
Composition
The European Parliament's delegation includes a number of substitute members as well as its 15 full members.
MEP Bolesław Piecha, a Polish member of the Parliament's European Conservatives and Reformists Group, is currently the delegation's chair. His two vice-chairs are Anna Záborská and Maurice Ponga.
The chair and vice-chairs are elected by the other members of the delegation.
The members of the DCAR delegation are selected in a slightly different way than the members of other European Parliament delegations. Given that the delegation focuses on an Economic Partnership Agreement, its members must also be members of either the International Trade Committee (INTA, which provides 9 members) or Development Committee (DEVE, which provides 6 members).
Parliamentary Committee Meetings
Members of the DCAR delegation have met their counterparts in the CARIFORUM-EU Parliamentary Committee twice since the Committee was established, once in 2011 and once in 2013.
A third joint Parliamentary Committee was planned for 2015, but had to be postponed due to organisational difficulties. It is currently scheduled to take place in November 2017.
These meetings allow delegates to confer on issues of mutual concern. At both of the meetings that have been held, the best way of promoting the opportunities offered by the EPA has been a major point of discussion. The development component of the bilateral relationship has also elicited lively discussions.
Other delegation activities
The DCAR delegation meets in Brussels and Strasbourg independently of the Parliamentary Committee.
The agenda for these meetings often includes issues of substance related to the Economic Partnership Agreement and the countries covered by the agreements. Senior staff from the Commission, the European External Action Service (EEAS) and ambassadors of the CARIFORUM countries regularly contribute to the sessions.
In addition, delegation members consider administrative matters, such as preparations for the Parliamentary Committee.
That treaty aims to promote EU-CARIFORUM trade - and ultimately contribute, through trade and investment, to sustainable development and poverty reduction.
The structures established by the agreement include a "Parliamentary Committee", which is intended to "be a forum for members of the European Parliament and the CARIFORUM States legislatures to meet and exchange views", scrutinising the work of the Joint Council and the Joint Trade and Development Agreement, the other bodies created by the Agreement."
The 15 MEPs who compose the DCAR delegation represent half of the Parliamentary Committee. Another 15 members of Caribbean parliaments who participate in the Committee represent the other half.
Composition
The European Parliament's delegation includes a number of substitute members as well as its 15 full members.
MEP Bolesław Piecha, a Polish member of the Parliament's European Conservatives and Reformists Group, is currently the delegation's chair. His two vice-chairs are Anna Záborská and Maurice Ponga.
The chair and vice-chairs are elected by the other members of the delegation.
The members of the DCAR delegation are selected in a slightly different way than the members of other European Parliament delegations. Given that the delegation focuses on an Economic Partnership Agreement, its members must also be members of either the International Trade Committee (INTA, which provides 9 members) or Development Committee (DEVE, which provides 6 members).
Parliamentary Committee Meetings
Members of the DCAR delegation have met their counterparts in the CARIFORUM-EU Parliamentary Committee twice since the Committee was established, once in 2011 and once in 2013.
A third joint Parliamentary Committee was planned for 2015, but had to be postponed due to organisational difficulties. It is currently scheduled to take place in November 2017.
These meetings allow delegates to confer on issues of mutual concern. At both of the meetings that have been held, the best way of promoting the opportunities offered by the EPA has been a major point of discussion. The development component of the bilateral relationship has also elicited lively discussions.
Other delegation activities
The DCAR delegation meets in Brussels and Strasbourg independently of the Parliamentary Committee.
The agenda for these meetings often includes issues of substance related to the Economic Partnership Agreement and the countries covered by the agreements. Senior staff from the Commission, the European External Action Service (EEAS) and ambassadors of the CARIFORUM countries regularly contribute to the sessions.
In addition, delegation members consider administrative matters, such as preparations for the Parliamentary Committee.
Article 231 of the CARIFORUM-EC Economic Partnership Agreement
ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
between the CARIFORUM States, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part
Article 231
CARIFORUM-EC Parliamentary Committee
1. A CARIFORUM-EC Parliamentary Committee is hereby established. It shall be a forum for members of the European Parliament and the CARIFORUM States legislatures to meet and exchange views. It shall meet at intervals which it shall itself determine. It shall cooperate with the Joint Parliamentary Assembly provided for in Article 17 of the Cotonou Agreement.
2. The CARIFORUM-EC Parliamentary Committee shall consist of members of the European Parliament, on the one hand, and of members CARIFORUM States legislatures, on the other. Representatives of the Parties may attend the meetings of the CARIFORUM-EC Parliamentary Committee.
3. The CARIFORUM-EC Parliamentary Committee shall establish its rules of procedure and inform the Joint CARIFORUM-EC Council thereof.
4. The CARIFORUM-EC Parliamentary Committee shall be chaired in turn by a representative of the European Parliament and a representative of a CARIFORUM State legislature, in accordance with the provisions to be laid down in its rules of procedure.
5. The CARIFORUM-EC Parliamentary Committee may request of the Joint CARIFORUM-EC Council relevant information regarding the implementation of this Agreement, and the Joint CARIFORUM-EC Council shall supply the Committee with the requested information.
6. The CARIFORUM-EC Parliamentary Committee shall be informed of the decisions and recommendations of the Joint CARIFORUM-EC Council.
7. The CARIFORUM-EC Parliamentary Committee may make recommendations to the Joint CARIFORUM-EC Council and the CARIFORUM-EC Trade and Development Committee.
between the CARIFORUM States, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part
Article 231
CARIFORUM-EC Parliamentary Committee
1. A CARIFORUM-EC Parliamentary Committee is hereby established. It shall be a forum for members of the European Parliament and the CARIFORUM States legislatures to meet and exchange views. It shall meet at intervals which it shall itself determine. It shall cooperate with the Joint Parliamentary Assembly provided for in Article 17 of the Cotonou Agreement.
2. The CARIFORUM-EC Parliamentary Committee shall consist of members of the European Parliament, on the one hand, and of members CARIFORUM States legislatures, on the other. Representatives of the Parties may attend the meetings of the CARIFORUM-EC Parliamentary Committee.
3. The CARIFORUM-EC Parliamentary Committee shall establish its rules of procedure and inform the Joint CARIFORUM-EC Council thereof.
4. The CARIFORUM-EC Parliamentary Committee shall be chaired in turn by a representative of the European Parliament and a representative of a CARIFORUM State legislature, in accordance with the provisions to be laid down in its rules of procedure.
5. The CARIFORUM-EC Parliamentary Committee may request of the Joint CARIFORUM-EC Council relevant information regarding the implementation of this Agreement, and the Joint CARIFORUM-EC Council shall supply the Committee with the requested information.
6. The CARIFORUM-EC Parliamentary Committee shall be informed of the decisions and recommendations of the Joint CARIFORUM-EC Council.
7. The CARIFORUM-EC Parliamentary Committee may make recommendations to the Joint CARIFORUM-EC Council and the CARIFORUM-EC Trade and Development Committee.