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 paragraph of Article 207(4) in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

The Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Korea, of the other part^f1 (‘the Agreement’) was concluded by the Union by Council Decision (EU) 2015/2169^f2. The Agreement entered into force on 13 December 2015.

Article 15.3(1) of the Agreement establishes the Working Group on Geographical Indications, under the auspices of the Trade Committee established by Article 15.1(1) of the Agreement.

Pursuant to Article 15(4) of the rules of procedure of the Trade Committee, adopted by Decision No 1 of the EU-Korea Trade Committee^f3, each Working Group may establish its own rules of procedure which shall be reported to the Trade Committee.

Rules of procedure of the Working Group on Geographical Indications should be established.

It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union's behalf in the Working Group on Geographical Indications with regard to its rules of procedure, as these rules will be binding on the Union,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: