Draft DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE amending Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement, on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms - Draft common position of the Community

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1. Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement contains specific provisions on the cooperation between the Community and the EEA EFTA States outside the four freedoms.

2. The attached draft Decision of the EEA Joint Committee aims to modify Protocol 31 to extend cooperation in the field of social policy. It provides a framework for cooperation and sets out the modalities for full participation of the EEA EFTA States in the Community programme and actions in this field:

- 32001 D 0903: Council Decision 2001/903/EC of 3 December 2001 on the European Year of People with Disabilities 2003 (OJ L 335, 19.12.2001, p. 15).

3. Article 1.3(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2894/94 concerning the arrangements for implementing the EEA Agreement envisages that the Council establish the Community position for such Decisions on a proposal from the Commission.

4. The draft Decision of the EEA Joint Committee is submitted for the approval of the Council. The Commission would hope to be able to put forward the position of the Community in the EEA Joint Committee in May 2002.

Draft DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE 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, as amended by the Protocol adjusting the Agreement on the European Economic Area, hereinafter referred to as 'the Agreement', and in particular Articles 86 and 98 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Protocol 31 to the Agreement was amended by Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No .../... of ... [1].

[1] OJ L ....

(2) Council Decision 2001/903/EC of 3 December 2001 on the European Year of People with Disabilities 2003 [2] is to be incorporated into the Agreement,

[2] OJ L 335, 19.12.2001, p. 15.

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The following indent shall be added in Article 5(8) of Protocol 31 to the Agreement:

'- 32001 D 0903: Council Decision 2001/903/EC of 3 December 2001 on the European Year of People with Disabilities 2003 (OJ L 335, 19.12.2001, p. 15).'

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on [...], provided that all the notifications under Article 103(1) of the Agreement have been made to the EEA Joint Committee [3].

[3] [No constitutional requirements indicated.] [Constitutional requirements indicated.]

It shall apply from 1 January 2002.

Article 3

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

Done at Brussels, [...].

For the EEA Joint Committee

The President [...]

The Secretaries to the EEA Joint Committee [...]