Article 1 Composition and Chair

The Joint Council established under Article 100 of the Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the SADC EPA States, of the other part (‘the Agreement’), shall perform its duties as provided for in Articles 100 and 101 of the Agreement.

Reference to ‘the Parties’ in these rules of procedure shall be made in accordance with the definition provided for in Article 104 of the Agreement, namely the SADC EPA States and the EU Party (meaning the European Union or its Member States or the European Union and its Member States, having regard to their respective areas of competence).

In accordance with Article 101(1) of the Agreement, the Joint Council shall be composed, on the one hand, of the relevant members of the Council of the European Union and relevant members of the European Commission or their representatives, and, on the other hand, of the relevant Ministers of the SADC EPA States or their representatives.

The Joint Council meetings shall be chaired, at ministerial level, alternately for periods of 12 months by representatives of the EU Party, having regard to the respective areas of competence of the Union and its Member States, and by a representative of the SADC EPA States. The first Joint Council meeting shall be co-chaired by the Parties.

The mandate referred to in paragraph 4 that corresponds to the first period shall begin on the day following the first Joint Council meeting and end on 31 December of the same year. The chairmanship of that first period shall be held by [a representative of the SADC EPA States] [by the EU Party].