Enlargement countries 

​Joint Con​sultative Committees (JCCs)

Mission statement

A JCC provides a consistent and stable form of cooperation with the local and regional authorities of a country seeking to join the EU. Among others JCC activities contribute to:

• preparing local and regional representatives for EU membership
• assessing the impact of EU policies from a local and regional perspective
• a direct two-way information flow on political developments in the countries and in the EU
• monitoring the negotiations, focusing on areas of particular relevance to local and regional authorities

How is a JCC established?

• On request from the government of the country concerned
• On the basis of the "Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA)"
• Or in an official declaration of the" Stabilization and Association Council" between the Council of the European Union and the candidate country

Who takes part in the JCCs?

• Half of the representatives are local or regional representatives from the country concerned
• The other half are Members of the Committee of the Regions
• There are two co-chairs, representing the categories mentioned above

How do JCCs work?

• Decisions are taken jointly
• Each JCC adopts its own Rules of Procedure
• JCCs meet twice a year, once in Brussels in the framework of the Enlargement Day event and once in the partner country
  

​Working Groups (WGs)

Inter alia, activities of Working Groups contribute to:

• fostering cooperation with local and regional authorities in the country or countries it covers
• assessing the impact of EU policies from a local and regional perspective
• a direct two-way information flow on political developments in the countries and in the EU
• exchange of good practice in specific fields of cooperation

How is a WG established?

• Via a decision of the CoR Bureau in accordance with the "CoR Rules of Procedure"            

Who takes part in the WGs?

• Members of the CoR
• Participation of local and regional representatives from the partner countries varies according to the topics discussed and the location of the meeting

WGs meet twice a year, once in Brussels in the framework of the Enlargement Day event and once in a partner country