Regulamin wewnętrzny

Rules of Procedure

RULES OF PROCEDURE
of the United States of Mexico - European Union Joint Parliamentary Committee

The United States of Mexico - European Union Joint Parliamentary Committee (hereinafter called 'the Committee')

- whereas in recent years a close relationship has developed between the Congress of the Union of the United States of Mexico and the European Parliament, especially through institutionalised interparliamentary dialogue,
- having regard to the Association Agreement between the United States of Mexico, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part, signed in Brussels on 8 December 1997,
- whereas the Agreement entered into force on 1 July 2000, with regard to its trade facet, and on 1 March 2001 in its entirety,


LAYS DOWN THE FOLLOWING RULES OF PROCEDURE:

Rule 1

The role of the Committee shall be to consider all aspects of the relations between the European Community and Mexico, and in particular the implementation of the Association Agreement.

Rule 2

1. The Committee shall comprise a given number of members appointed equally by the European Parliament and the Congress of the United States of Mexico.

2. The length of the members' term of office shall be laid down in accordance with the rules and practices of the European Parliament and of the Mexican Congress respectively.

Rule 3

3. The Committee's bureau shall comprise the chairman of the European Parliament's Delegation to the European Union - United States of Mexico Joint Parliamentary Committee, the chairman of the Congress of the United States of Mexico's delegation and a vice-chairman from each delegation.

2. The Committee shall be chaired in turn by the chairman of the European Parliament's delegation and the chairman of the Congress of the United States of Mexico's delegation.

3. Should the need arise, the first or second vice-chairman of a delegation may deputise for the chairman.

Rule 4

1. On a proposal from the Committee's bureau, recommendations may be put forward to the Association Council, to the relevant committee of the European Parliament and to the National Congress of the United States of Mexico or to the relevant committees thereof.

2. Such recommendations shall be deemed to have been adopted if they are supported by a majority of the members of the European Parliament delegation and a majority of the Mexican Congress delegation.

Rule 5

1. The Committee shall meet at least once a year, at a venue alternating between one of the European Parliament's places of work and Mexico.

2. The draft agenda, which shall be drawn up by the co-chairmen, shall be forwarded to the members of the Committee at least two weeks before the date scheduled for meetings.

3. The meetings shall be held in public, unless the Committee decides otherwise.

Rule 6

In addition to the members of the Committee, members of the Council of Ministers of the European Community and of the European Commission and representatives of the Mexican Government may attend and speak at the meetings held in public. The chairmen, in consultation with the bureau, may invite other persons to attend the meetings.

Rule 7

1. The Committee's secretariat shall be provided by the secretariats of the European Parliament and of the Congress of the United States of Mexico, with each being responsible for organising the Committee's meetings held at its parliament.

2. The Committee secretariat shall take minutes of each meeting, for approval at the start of the following meeting.

Rule 8

At meetings of the Committee, translation and interpretation services shall be provided on the basis of the bureau's decisions (and in accordance with the internal rules of the European Parliament).

Rule 9

1. The Congress of the United States of Mexico and the European Parliament shall separately meet any personnel, travel and subsistence expenses arising from their participation in meetings of the Committee.

2. Expenditure in connection with the practical organisation of meetings shall be borne by the party hosting the meeting.

Rule 10

1. Any amendments to these rules which the Committee may propose shall be submitted for consideration by the Bureau of the European Parliament and by the corresponding body within the Congress of the United States of Mexico.

2. The Committee shall adopt any amendments and additions to these Rules of Procedure on the basis of a majority of the votes of the total number of members of each of the parties.