ANNEX XSupplementary provisions
ANNEX X FUNCTIONS OF THE JOINT IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE The Joint Implementation Committee is responsible for managing the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) and providing monitoring and evaluation of its implementation. It will, in particular, carry out the following tasks. Agreement management — Commission an independent assessment of the FLEGT licensing scheme, in accordance with Article 12 of the Agreement, and recommend a date on which the scheme should enter into full force. — Facilitate a dialogue and exchange of information between the two Parties, in accordance with Article 19 of the Agreement, examine any subject introduced by either of the two Parties and identify the follow-up to be given. — Play the role of mediator and seek to resolve conflicts or disputes in accordance with Article 24 of the Agreement. — Adopt amendments relating to the annexes to this Agreement, in accordance with Article 26. — Monitor the social, economic and environmental effects of Agreement implementation on potentially affected populations. Monitoring and assessment of Agreement implementation — Provide monitoring of the general state of progress of Agreement implementation and evaluate the progress made in relation to the schedule given in the relevant annex, in accordance with Article 14 of this Agreement. — Identify and analyse possible difficulties encountered during Agreement implementation. — Publish an annual report on Agreement implementation, in accordance with Article 19 of the Agreement. — Receive and examine complaints relating to implementation of the Agreement and the FLEGT licensing scheme. — Identify, examine, propose and, where appropriate, take measures aimed at improving the good execution of the Agreement, in particular on the basis of the observations of the independent auditor. — Examine and monitor complaints referred by the ISA. Independent system audit (ISA), in accordance with Annex VI — Approve the procedures manual developed and submitted by the ISA and approve the audit report framework proposed by the ISA in the context of the documented procedures. — Agree the auditor’s schedule of work and recommend additional audits as appropriate. — Send the auditor possible complaints received regarding the FLEGT licensing scheme. — Examine all reports produced by the auditor. — Examine the independent auditor’s provisional reports and comment, as appropriate. — Request a specific additional report from the auditor in case of need. — Examine complaints relating to the work of the independent auditor, in accordance with Article 10. — Approve the renewal of the ISA contract, as appropriate. Participation of actors involved in Agreement implementation — Provide monitoring of the awareness raising and training of actors from the structures involved in the legality assurance system (LAS) described in Annex V. — Provide monitoring of the procedures for LAS non-compliance for actors from structures involved in the LAS. — Monitor and define the appropriate measures to ensure the involvement of all stakeholders in Agreement implementation.