EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels, 20.4.2016

COM(2016) 219 final

2016/0116(NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the position to be adopted, on behalf of the European Union,
within the EEA Joint Committee concerning an amendment to Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement, on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms
(Budget Line 02.03.01)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1.CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL

In order to ensure the requisite of legal security and homogeneity of the Internal Market, the EEA Joint Committee is to integrate all the relevant EU legislation into the EEA Agreement as soon as possible after its adoption and also allow for the participation of the EEA EFTA States in EEA relevant EU actions or programmes.

2.LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY

Article 1(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2894/94 concerning arrangements for implementing the EEA Agreement provides that the Council establishes the position to be adopted on the Union’s behalf on such Decisions, on a proposal from the Commission.

The Commission submits the Draft Decision of the EEA Joint Committee for adoption by the Council as the Union’s position. The Commission would hope to be able to present it in the EEA Joint Committee at the earliest possible opportunity.

3.RESULTS OF EX-POST EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS

The draft Decision of the EEA Joint Committee (annexed to the proposed Council Decision) aims to amend Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms in order to continue the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the EEA Agreement in Union actions funded from the general budget of the European Union concerning " Operation and development of the internal market of goods and services".

2016/0116 (NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the position to be adopted, on behalf of the European Union,
within the EEA Joint Committee concerning an amendment to Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement, on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms
(Budget Line 02.03.01)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 114 in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2894/94 of 28 November 1994 concerning arrangements for implementing the Agreement on the European Economic Area 1 , and in particular Article 1(3) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1)The Agreement on the European Economic Area 2 ('the EEA Agreement') entered into force on 1 January 1994.

(2)Pursuant to Article 98 of the EEA Agreement, the EEA Joint Committee may decide to amend, inter alia, Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement.

(3)Protocol 31 contains provisions and arrangements concerning cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms.

(4)It is appropriate to continue the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the EEA Agreement in Union actions funded from the general budget of the European Union regarding the operation and development of the internal market of goods and services.

(5)Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement should therefore be amended in order to allow for this extended cooperation to continue beyond 31 December 2015.

(6)The position of the Union within the EEA Joint Committee should be based on the attached draft decision,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The position to be adopted, on behalf of the Union, within the EEA Joint Committee on the proposed amendment to Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement, on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms, shall be based on the draft decision of the EEA Joint Committee attached to this Decision.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels,

(1) OJ L 305, 30.11.1994, p. 6.

(2) OJ L 1, 3.1.1994, p. 3.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels, 20.4.2016

COM(2016) 219 final

ANNEX

to the

proposal for a Council Decision

on the position to be adopted, on behalf of the European Union, within the EEA Joint
Committee concerning an amendment to Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement, on
cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms
(Budget Line 02.03.01)

ANNEX

DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE No .../2016
of
amending Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement, on cooperation in specific fields outside
the four freedoms

THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (“the EEA Agreement”), and in particular Articles 86 and 98 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)It is appropriate to continue the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the EEA Agreement in Union actions funded from the general budget of the European Union regarding the operation and development of the internal market of goods and services.

(2)Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement should therefore be amended in order to allow for this extended cooperation to take place from 1 January 2016,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Article 7 of Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement shall be amended as follows:

1.The following paragraph is inserted after paragraph 10:

‘11.The EFTA States shall, as from 1 January 2016, participate in the Union actions related to the following budget line, entered into the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2016:

-Budget line 02.03.01: “Operation and development of the internal market of goods and services”,

2.The words “paragraphs 5 to 10” in paragraphs 3 and 4 are replaced by the words “paragraphs 5 to 11”.’

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the day following the last notification under Article 103(1) of the EEA Agreement 1*.

It shall apply from 1 January 2016.

Article 3

This Decision shall be published in the EEA Section of, and in the EEA Supplement to, the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, .

(1) [No constitutional requirements indicated.] [Constitutional requirements indicated.]