Council Decision (EU) 2022/2003 of 13 October 2022 on the position to be adopted on behalf of the European Union in the International Grains Council with respect to amending the Rules of Procedure under the Grains Trade Convention, 1995, as regards the external auditor’s contract period

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

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

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

1. The Grains Trade Convention, 1995 (‘the Convention’), was concluded by the Union by means of Council Decision 96/88/EC⁽¹⁾ and entered into force on 1 July 1995. The Convention was initially concluded for a period of three years and has since been regularly extended.

2. The Rules of Procedure under the Convention (‘the Rules of Procedure’) were approved by the International Grains Council on 6 July 1995.

3. Rule 31, point (a), of the Rules of Procedure lays down that an independent external auditor is to be designated for three years, which may be renewed once, for a maximum of two years.

4. On 14 April 2022, the Secretariat of the International Grains Council proposed to amend Rule 31, point (a), with a view to increasing the period of designation of the independent external auditor from three to five years, which may be renewed once, for a maximum of three years. The objective of the amendment is to offer a longer contract period for potential auditors, who would in return offer more competitive prices for their services.

5. It is appropriate to establish the position to be adopted on the Union’s behalf in the International Grains Council with respect to the amendment of the Rules of Procedure concerning the contract period of the external auditor. The proposed amendment aims at improving the financial sustainability of the International Grains Council and is therefore in the interest of the Union,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: