# L_2018169EN.01005101.xml

| 6.7.2018 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | L 169/51 |
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6.7.2018

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 169/51

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COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2018/961

of 26 June 2018

on the position to be adopted, on behalf of the European Union, within the EEA Joint Committee concerning the amendment of Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement, on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms (Budget Line 02 03 01: ‘Internal Market’ and Budget line 02 03 04: ‘Internal Market Governance Tools’)

(Text with EEA relevance)

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. |
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(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 on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms (‘Protocol 31’) to the EEA Agreement. |
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(2)

Pursuant to Article 98 of the EEA Agreement, the EEA Joint Committee may decide to amend, inter alia, Protocol 31 on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms (‘Protocol 31’) to the EEA Agreement.

| (3) | Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement contains provisions on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms. |
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(3)

Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement contains provisions on 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 Union regarding the operation and development of the internal market of goods and services and regarding internal market governance tools. |
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(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 Union regarding the operation and development of the internal market of goods and services and regarding internal market governance tools.

| (5) | Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement should therefore be amended in order to allow for that extended cooperation to take place from 1 January2018. |
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(5)

Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement should therefore be amended in order to allow for that extended cooperation to take place from 1 January2018.

| (6) | The position of the Union within the EEA Joint Committee should therefore be based on the attached draft decision, |
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(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 of 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 Luxembourg, 26 June 2018.

For the Council

The President

E. ZAHARIEVA

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

1

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

2

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DRAFT

DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE No .../2018

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 Union regarding the operation and development of the internal market of goods and services and regarding internal market governance tools. |
| --- | --- |

(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 Union regarding the operation and development of the internal market of goods and services and regarding internal market governance tools.

| (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 2018, |
| --- | --- |

(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 2018,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

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

| (1) | In paragraph 12, the words ‘and 2017’ are replaced by the words ‘, 2017 and 2018’. |
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(1)

In paragraph 12, the words ‘and 2017’ are replaced by the words ‘, 2017 and 2018’.

| (2) | In paragraph 14, the words ‘the financial year 2017’ are replaced by the words ‘the financial years 2017 and 2018’. |
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(2)

In paragraph 14, the words ‘the financial year 2017’ are replaced by the words ‘the financial years 2017 and 2018’.

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 2018.

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,

For the EEA Joint Committee

The President

The Secretaries to the EEA Joint Committee

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

*1

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