COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/619

of 30 April 2020

on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Joint Implementation Committee established pursuant to Article 18 of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam on forest law enforcement, governance and trade as regards the adoption of the rules of procedure of the Joint Implementation Committee

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 207(3) and the first subparagraph of Article 207(4) in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) The Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam on forest law enforcement, governance and trade (‘the Agreement’) was concluded by the Union by means of Council Decision (EU) 2019/854 (1) and entered into force on 1 June 2019.

(2) The Joint Implementation Committee established pursuant to Article 18(1) of the Agreement (‘the JIC’) is to establish its rules of procedure in accordance with Article 18(3) of the Agreement.

(3) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the JIC, as the rules of procedure of the JIC will be binding on the Union.

(4) It is appropriate for the Union to support the adoption of the rules of procedure, which will ensure smooth and transparent collaboration between the Union and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam from the outset on the implementation of the Agreement and eventually on the implementation of the forest law enforcement, governance and trade licensing scheme,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

1.   The position to be taken on the Union’s behalf within the Joint Implementation Committee established pursuant to Article 18 of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam on forest law enforcement, governance and trade shall be to support the adoption of the rules of procedure of the JIC (2).

2.   Minor non-substantive changes to the draft rules of procedure may be agreed to, in the light of developments at the upcoming JIC meeting, by representatives of the Union, in consultation with Member States, during on-the-spot coordination meetings, without a further decision of the Council.

Article 2

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

Done at Brussels, 30 April 2020.

For the Council

The President

G. GRLIĆ RADMAN

(1)  Council Decision (EU) 2019/854 of 15 April 2019 on the conclusion of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam on forest law enforcement, governance and trade (

OJ L 147, 5.6.2019, p. 1

).

(2)  See document ST 7027/20 at http://register.consilium.europa.eu