Considerations on COM(2023)722 - Positions to be taken on behalf of the EU at the third session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products

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dossier COM(2023)722 - Positions to be taken on behalf of the EU at the third session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol to Eliminate ...
document COM(2023)722 EN
date January 29, 2024
 
table>(1)The Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products (1) (the ‘Protocol’) was concluded by the Union by Council Decision 2016/1749 (2) and entered into force on 25 September 2018.
(2)Pursuant to Article 33(5) of the Protocol, the Meeting of the Parties (‘MOP’) is to take the decisions necessary to promote the effective implementation of the Protocol.

(3)At its third session from 12 to 15 February 2024, the MOP is expected to adopt certain acts having legal effects. Therefore, it is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf at the third session of the MOP, pursuant to Article 218(9) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

(4)In order to enable appropriate preparation and representation of the Union positions, the Union should propose an amendment to the Rules of Procedure of the MOP to require the Secretariat to distribute the official meeting documents at least 120 days before each MOP.

(5)For the purpose of simplifying the work of the MOP and to arrange for virtual sessions of the MOP, as well as to provide for the possibility of designating an acting Head of the Convention Secretariat, the Union should also support the amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the MOP, which are proposed with these aims.

(6)The Union should support the improvement of the process for the selection and appointment of the Head of the Convention Secretariat, in particular to simplify the procedure for a single renewal of the term of office of that appointee, while respecting the objective performance criteria.

(7)In view of the preceding 10th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and in order to ensure coherence between the Rules of Procedure applicable to the COP and MOP, adjustments of the Rules of Procedure of the COP should be reflected in the Rules of Procedure of the MOP,