EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Brussels, 20.4.2016
COM(2016) 218 final
2016/0115(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
(ISA2 Programme)
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
1.CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL
In order to ensure the requisite 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.
Article 78 of the EEA Agreement provides that the Contracting Parties should strengthen and broaden cooperation in the framework of the Union’s activities in the fields of, inter alia, information services, and research and innovation.
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 extend the cooperation of the Contracting Parties in the area of information services, and research and innovation.
In order to extend the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the EEA Agreement Decision (EU) 2015/2240 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015 establishing a programme on interoperability solutions and common frameworks for European public administrations, businesses and citizens (ISA2 programme) as a means for modernising the public sector needs to be incorporated in the EEA Agreement.
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.
It should be noted that Liechtenstein shall be exempted from the participation in, and the financial contribution to, this programme.
2016/0115 (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
(ISA2 Programme)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 172 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, 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 ('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 extend the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the EEA Agreement to include Decision (EU) 2015/2240 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
(5)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.
(6)The position of the Union within the EEA Joint Committee should therefore 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,
For the Council
The President