Section 35: No use of written procedure in the Joint Committee
The provision precludes a Minister of the Crown, as the UK’s co-chair, using the written procedure (Annex VIII, Rule 9 of the Withdrawal Agreement) to adopt recommendations or decisions of the Joint Committee. This ensures that decisions made by the Joint Committee are made by a Minister in person. The purpose of this provision is to ensure there is full ministerial accountability, including to Parliament, for all decisions made in the Joint Committee.