PURPOSE: to approve, on behalf of the European Union, the amended Constitution and Rules of Procedure of the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG).

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2012/283/EU on the conclusion by the European Union of the amended Constitution and Rules of Procedure of the International Rubber Study Group.

CONTENT: the Council approved the conclusion of an amended constitution and rules of procedure of the international rubber study group, following the consent given by the European Parliament.

Further to several rounds of negotiation, on 14 July 2011 the Heads of Delegation of the International Rubber Study Group (‘the Group’) agreed on the text of the amendments to the Group’s Constitution and Rules of Procedure.

Those Member States of the Union that were members of the Group have served formal notices of withdrawal and have withdrawn from the Group as from 1 July 2011.

The adoption of the Group’s amended Constitution and Rules of Procedure is indispensable for confirming the Group’s new Headquarters and for making explicit provisions regarding the status of the Union within the Group, as well as for realigning the organisational structure, budget contributions and decision-making procedures.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 24/04/2012.

Decision 2012/283
OJ L 141 31.05.2012, p. 0001

Results of vote in Parliament

The European Parliament adopted a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion by the European Union of the amended Constitution and Rules of Procedure of the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG).

Parliament gives its consent to the conclusion of the amended Constitution and Rules of Procedure of the International Rubber Study Group. It calls on the Commission to work on the expansion of the membership base of the International Rubber Study Group, in particular by engaging with the main rubber producing and consuming countries, to closely monitor the workings of the Group, and to report back to the Parliament on any relevant developments within two years of the date of entry into force of the Group's amended Constitution and Rules of Procedure.

T7-0098/2012

The Committee on International Trade unanimously adopted the report by Vital MOREIRA (S&D, PT) in which it recommends the European Parliament to give its consent to the draft Council decision on the conclusion by the European Union of the amended Constitution and Rules of Procedure of the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG).

Members call on the Commission to work on the expansion of the membership base of the International Rubber Study Group, in particular by engaging with main rubber producing and consuming countries, to closely monitor the workings of the Group, and to report back to the Parliament on any relevant developments within two years of the entry into force of the Group's amended Constitution and Rules of Procedure.

A strong membership base remains a prerequisite for the long-term viability and effectiveness of the IRSG as an authoritative body.

A7-0060/2012

PE478.518

PURPOSE: to approve on behalf of the European Union the amended Constitution and Rules of Procedure of the International Rubber Study Group.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND: further to several rounds of negotiation, on 14 July 2011 the Heads of Delegation of the International Rubber Study Group agreed on the text of the amendments to the Group's Constitution and Rules of Procedure. The Union is a member of the Group.

Those Member States of the Union that were members of the Group have served formal notices of withdrawal and have withdrawn from the Group as from 1 July 2011.

The adoption of the Group's amended Constitution and Rules of Procedure is indispensable for confirming the Group's new Headquarters and for making explicit provisions regarding the status of the Union within the Group, as well as for realigning the organisational structure, budget contributions and decision-making procedures.

The signature, on behalf of the Union, of the Group's amended Constitution and Rules of Procedure has been authorised by a Council Decision which also has provided for their application on a provisional basis, pending the completion of the procedures for their conclusion.

The Group's amended Constitution and Rules of Procedure should be approved

IMPACT ASSESSMENT: no impact assessment was undertaken.

LEGAL BASIS: Article 207(3) and (4) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a)(v) thereof.

CONTENT: with this proposal for a decision, the amended Constitution and Rules of Procedure of the International Rubber Study Group are approved on behalf of the Union.

The text of the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure are attached to the proposal. For further details of the content of the Constitution and Rules of Procedure, please refer to the summary of the previous initial legislative document dated 18 May 2011.

BUDGETARY IMPACT: the proposal has no impact on the EU’s budget.

13123/2011

13350/2011

PURPOSE: to approve, on behalf of the European Union, the amended Constitution and Rules of Procedure of the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG).

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT: no impact assessment was carried out.

LEGAL BASIS: Article 207(3) and (4) in conjunction with Article 218(6) (a) (v) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

CONTENT: the European Union became a member of the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) on the basis of Council Decision (2002/651/EC) of 22 July 2002 concerning the participation of the Community to the International Rubber Study Group.

On 1 July 2008, further to the withdrawal of the UK from the IRSG, the Heads of Delegation of the IRSG adopted a decision to move the Group’s Headquarters to Singapore, which required the corresponding adaptation of the relevant provisions of the IRSG Constitution.

At the Executive Committee meeting of 12-13 February 2008 and the Heads of Delegation meeting of 5-6 March 2008 of the IRSG it has been decided to proceed to a more comprehensive revision of the Constitution and Rules of Procedure, inter alia allowing also for a definition of “Members” or “Countries” that takes into account the particular legal status of the European Union.

The Commission was authorised by the Council to open negotiations for the revision of the Constitution of the International Rubber Study Group. This authorisation also laid down negotiating directives. In the negotiations for the amendment of the Constitution and Rules of Procedure, the Commission has closely followed these directives and the outcome of the negotiations is in line with the Commission’s negotiating mandate.

The IRSG composition has undergone successive changes, mainly as a result of the withdrawal or announced withdrawal of several existing members, rendering the budget contributions more onerous for the remaining members. In the course of the negotiations, according to its negotiating mandate, the Commission has sought to obtain a rebalancing between the basic and the variable contribution in favour of the latter, so as to minimize the financial burden on the Group’s members which are small producing developing countries. However, at the end of the negotiations only limited changes have been acceptable to other members of the IRSG.

A final draft amendment of the IRSG Constitution and new Rules of Procedure were agreed at the extra-ordinary meeting of the Heads of Delegation on 18-19 November 2010 and formally adopted at the meeting of the Heads of Delegation in 2011. The signature by the European Union of the amended IRSG Constitution and Rules of Procedure was decided by the Council.

Therefore, it is necessary that the Council adopts a decision to conclude the agreement.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: the proposal has no implications for the EU budget.

COM(2011)0267
EUR-Lex