Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

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

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

The Agreement between the European Union and Japan for an Economic Partnership^f1 (‘the Agreement’) was concluded by the Union on 20 December 2018 by Council Decision (EU) 2018/1907^f2 and entered into force on 1 February 2019. Pursuant to Article 22.1(4) of the Agreement, the Joint Committee is to ensure that the Agreement operates properly and effectively.

Article 21.9(1) of the Agreement provides that the Joint Committee, during its first meeting, is to establish a list of at least nine individuals who are willing and able to serve as arbitrators. Pursuant to Article 22.2(3) of the Agreement, decisions of the Joint Committee may be adopted also in writing.

It is appropriate to establish the position to be adopted on the Union's behalf in the Joint Committee, as the Decision establishing the list of arbitrators will be binding on the Union.

The position of the Union within the Joint Committee should therefore be based on the attached draft Decision,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: