# EUR-Lex - 52012PC0087 - EN

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# 52012PC0087

**Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the position to be taken by the European Union in the EEA Joint Committeeconcerning an amendment to Annex XXI (Statistics) /* COM/2012/087 final - 2012/0037 (NLE) */**

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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 European Union legislation into the EEA Agreement as
soon as possible after its adoption.

2.           RESULTS OF CONSULTATIONS
WITH THE INTERESTED PARTIES AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS

The draft Decision of the EEA Joint
Committee (annexed to the proposed Council Decision) aims to amend Annex XXI
(Statistics) by adding new European Union acquis in this field.

This concerns Regulation (EU) No 691/2011
of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2011 on European
environmental economic accounts, which is to be incorporated into the Agreement.

For the purpose of the implementation of this
act, certain adaptations are proposed:

(a)
With regard to Iceland, Annexes I, II and III to
the Regulation are to be implemented within 2 years from the first transmission
deadline to allow for the further development of the Icelandic national environmental
accounts.

(b)
Since Liechtenstein is already exempted from the
European system of national and regional accounts according to Council
Regulation (EC) No 2223/96[1],
it is to be exempted from the obligations concerning the European environmental
economic accounts as well.

3.           LEGAL ELEMENTS OF THE
PROPOSAL

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.

2012/0037 (NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the position to be taken by the
European Union in the EEA Joint Committee
concerning an amendment to Annex XXI (Statistics)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning
of the European Union, and in particular Articles 338(1) and 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the
European Commission,

Whereas:

(1)
Annex XXI to the Agreement on the European
Economic Area ("the EEA Agreement") contains specific provisions and
arrangements concerning statistics.

(2)
Regulation (EU) No 691/2011 of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2011 on European environmental economic
accounts[2]
should be incorporated into the Agreement.

(3)
With regard to Iceland, Annexes I, II and III to
the Regulation are to be implemented within 2 years from the first transmission
deadline to allow for the further development of the Icelandic national environmental
accounts.

(4)
Since Liechtenstein is already exempted from the
European system of national and regional accounts according to Council
Regulation (EC) No 2223/96[3],
it is to be exempted from the obligations concerning the European environmental
economic accounts as well,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The position to be taken by the Union
within the EEA Joint Committee on the proposed amendment to Annex XXI to the
EEA Agreement 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
day of its adoption.

Done at Brussels,

For
the Council

The
President

ANNEX

Draft

DECISION
OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE
No

of

amending
Annex XXI (Statistics) to the EEA Agreement

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 Article 98 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)
Annex XXI to the Agreement was amended by Decision
of the EEA Joint Committee No .../... of ...[4].

(2)
Regulation (EU) No 691/2011 of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2011 on European environmental economic
accounts[5]
is to be incorporated into the Agreement,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The following point shall be inserted after
point 27b (Commission Regulation (EC) No 1445/2005) of Annex XXI to the
Agreement:

‘27c.      32011 R 0691: Regulation
(EU) No 691/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2011
on European environmental economic accounts (OJ L 192, 22.7.2011, p. 1).

The provisions of the Regulation shall, for the
purposes of this Agreement, be read with the following adaptations:

(a)     With regard to Iceland, Annexes I, II
and III to the Regulation shall be implemented within 2 years from the first
transmission deadline.

(b)     This Regulation shall not apply to
Liechtenstein.’

Article 2

The texts of Regulation (EU) No 691/2011 in
the Icelandic and Norwegian languages, to be published in the EEA Supplement to
the Official Journal of the European Union, shall be authentic.

Article 3

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*.

Article 4

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, [...].

|| For the EEA Joint Committee            The President  [...]

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

[1]               OJ L 310, 30.11.1996, p. 1.

[2]               OJ L 192, 22.7.2011, p. 1.

[3]               OJ L 310, 30.11.1996, p. 1.

[4]               OJ L ...

[5]               OJ L 192, 22.7.2011, p. 1.

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