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 of the EEA Agreement contains specific provisions on the co-operation between the Community and the EFTA-EEA States outside the four freedoms.

2. The attached draft Decision of the EEA Joint Committee aims to modify Protocol 31 to update co-operation in the field of information services and security of information systems. It provides for a framework for co-operation concerning the multiannual Community action plan on promoting safer use of the Internet by combating illegal and harmful content on global networks. The aim is full participation of the EFTA-EEA States in the Community action plan.

3. Article 1.3(b) of Council Regulation (EC) 2894/94 concerning the arrangements for implementing the EEA Agreement envisages that the Council establishes 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 July or September 1999.

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 COMMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, as adjusted 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 Protocol 31 to the Agreement was amended by Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No of [1];

[1] OJ L

Whereas it is appropriate to extend the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the Agreement to include a multiannual Community action plan on promoting safer use of the Internet by combating illegal and harmful content on global networks (Decision No 276/1999/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council [2]);

[2] OJ L 33, 6.2.1999, p. 1.

Whereas Protocol 31 to the Agreement should therefore be amended in order to allow for this extended cooperation to take place from 1 January 1999,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The following indent shall be added in Article 2(5) of Protocol 31 to the Agreement:

'- 399 D 0276: Decision No 276/1999/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 January 1999 adopting a multiannual Community action plan on promoting safer use of the Internet by combating illegal and harmful content on global networks (OJ L 33, 6.2.1999, p. 1).'

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.

It shall apply from 1 January 1999.

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, 1999.

For the EEA Joint Committee

The President

The Secretaries to the EEA Joint Committee