ANNEXSupplementary provisions
ANNEX Terms of Reference and Structure of the EC-Albania Working Parties under the Interim Agreement 1. Composition and Chair The Working Parties shall be composed of representatives of the European Commission and representatives of the government of the Republic of Albania (hereinafter referred to as ‘Albania’). They shall be chaired alternately by the two Parties. The Member States will be informed about the Working Party meetings. 2. Secretariat An official of the European Commission and an official of the government of Albania shall act jointly as secretaries of each of the Working Parties. All communications concerning the Working Parties shall be forwarded to the secretaries of the relevant Working Party. 3. Meetings The Working Parties shall meet regularly once a year, and whenever circumstances require, with the agreement of both Parties. Each meeting of a Working Party shall be held at a time and place agreed by both Parties. If both Parties agree, the Working Parties may invite experts to their meetings to provide the specific information requested. 4. Subject matters The Working Parties shall discuss issues according to the multidisciplinary Working Party structure below. Implementation of the IA and the European Partnership, preparation for implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), and progress regarding the approximation, implementation and enforcement of legislation shall be assessed in all relevant fields. The Working Parties shall examine any problems that may arise in their relevant sectors and shall suggest possible steps to be taken. The Working Parties shall also serve as forums for the further clarification of the acquis communautaire , and shall review progress made by Albania in conforming to the acquis in line with commitments made in the Interim Agreement. 5. Minutes Draft minutes of each Working Party meeting shall be established within the two months following the meeting. Once agreed by both Parties, a copy of the minutes shall be forwarded by the secretary of the Working Party to the secretary of the Joint Committee. 6. Publicity Unless otherwise decided, the meetings of the working parties shall not be public. 7. Working Party Structure: 1. Working Party on Trade, Industry, Customs and Taxation; 2. Working Party on Agriculture and Fisheries; 3. Working Party on Internal Market and Competition; 4. Working Party on Economic and Financial Issues and Statistics; 5. Working Party on Innovation, Information Society and Social Policy; 6. Working Party on Transport, Environment, Energy, and Regional Development.