Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2016)266 - EU position in the Joint Committee EU-Indonesia on adopting the Joint Committee's rules of procedure, and setting up specialised working groups

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A Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Indonesia, of the other part (‘the Agreement’) was signed on 9 November 2009 and entered into force on 1 May 2014.

The Agreement provides a legal framework covering issues from regular political dialogue to sectoral cooperation. It underlines the EU’s determination to engage with Indonesia and to take bilateral relations to a higher level.

The Agreement strengthens cooperation across a wide spectrum of policy fields, including 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 and culture, etc..

Pursuant to Article 41 of the Agreement, a Joint Committee was established, composed of representatives of both sides at the highest possible level. The Joint Committee is to ensure the proper functioning and implementation of the Agreement, set priorities in relation to the aims of the Agreement and resolve differences arising in its application or interpretation.

To assist the Joint Committee and facilitate expertlevel discussions on some key areas falling within the scope of the Agreement, it is suggested that specialised working groups be established, on:

development cooperation;

trade and investment;

human rights dialogue;

political dialogue; and

security dialogue.

In addition, the EU will propose the establishment of a sixth specialised working group on environment and climate change at the first meeting of the Joint Committee pursuant to Article 14 (2) of the Committee's Rules of Procedure.

The aim of this proposal is to establish the EU’s position in the Joint Committee on:

(i)    adopting the Joint Committee’s rules of procedure; and

(ii)    setting up the specialised working groups.

The EU position will be based on the attached draft Decisions of the Joint Committee.