(1)

Protocol 31 to the Agreement was amended by Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 93/2008 of 4 July 2008 (1).

(2)

Protocol 37 to the Agreement was amended by Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 76/2009 of 30 June 2009 (2).

(3)

The participation of Iceland and Norway in the European GNSS Programmes (EGNOS and Galileo) on the basis of the Agreement is of mutual interest to the Contracting Parties.

(4)

The European GNSS Programmes (EGNOS and Galileo) are of great importance for Iceland and Norway, with their respective territories and ocean areas at high latitudes.

(5)

Iceland and Norway have an interest in all Galileo services, including the Public Regulated Services.

(6)

The agreements between the European Community and Iceland and Norway, respectively, on security procedures for the exchange of classified information should be taken into account.

(7)

The Contracting Parties recognise the intention of the European Commission to propose policies and operational arrangements to govern access to Public Regulated Services and to further develop measures to protect, control and manage sensitive assets, information and technologies of the European GNSS Programmes against interference, misuse, hostile attempts or undesired proliferation.

(8)

Iceland and Norway reiterate their intention to adopt and enforce in a timely manner within their jurisdiction measures providing an equivalent degree of security and safety as those applicable in the European Union.

(9)

Norway has participated in the definition and development phases of Galileo through the European Space Agency and the Community’s Framework Programme for Research and Development.

(10)

Norway has participated as observer in the GNSS Programme Committee since 2008 and in the Galileo Security Board since 2002.

(11)

Since July 2008, changes in the governance, financing and ownership of European GNSS programmes are applicable.

(12)

Additional cooperation principles may, if needed, be agreed between the Contracting Parties to regulate specific areas not covered by this Decision.

(13)

Due account should be paid to the Contracting Parties’ obligations under international law.

(14)

It is appropriate to extend the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the Agreement to include Council Regulation (EC) No 1321/2004 of 12 July 2004 on the establishment of structures for the management of the European satellite radio-navigation programmes (3), as corrected by OJ L 6, 11.1.2007, p. 10.

(15)

It is appropriate to extend the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the Agreement to include Council Regulation (EC) No 1942/2006 of 12 December 2006 amending Regulation (EC) No 1321/2004 on the establishment of structures for the management of the European satellite radio-navigation programmes (4).

(16)

It is appropriate to extend the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the Agreement to include Regulation (EC) No 683/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 on the further implementation of the European satellite navigation programmes (EGNOS and Galileo) (5).

(17)

Protocol 31 to the Agreement should therefore be amended in order to allow for this extended cooperation to take place from 1 January 2009. However, due to economic constraints, the participation of Iceland in the GNSS programmes should be suspended temporarily.

(18)

On the basis of Norway’s continuous participation in the definition and development phases of Galileo, and with a view to its full participation also in the deployment phase, Norway will contribute financially to the EU commitment budgeted for the GNSS programmes for the year 2008.

(19)

For the Agreement to function well, Protocol 37 to the Agreement is to be extended to include the Scientific and Technical Committee and the System Safety and Security Committee set up by the Administrative Board in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1321/2004, and Protocol 31 is to be amended in order to specify the procedures for association with these committees,

1.

the text of paragraph 8 shall be replaced by the following:

2.

the following paragraph shall be inserted after paragraph 8:

3.

the text of paragraph 6 shall be replaced by the following:

‘Evaluation and major direction of activities in the framework programmes of Community activities in the field of research and technological development referred to in paragraphs 5, 8a, 9 and 10 shall be governed by the procedure referred to in Article 79(3) of the Agreement.’

‘30.

The Scientific and Technical Committee (Council Regulation (EC) No 1321/2004).

31.

The System Safety and Security Committee (Council Regulation (EC) No 1321/2004).’