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 EFTA-EEA 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 education, training and youth. It provides for a framework for cooperation and sets out the modalities for full participation of the EFTA-EEA States in the Community programme and actions in this field:

- 399 D 0051: Council Decision 1999/51/EC of 21 December 1998 on the promotion of European pathways in work-linked training, including apprenticeship (OJ L 17, 22.1.1999, p. 45).

3. Article 1.3 (b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 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 January 2000.

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 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 22/1999 of 26 February 1999 [1];

[1] OJ L ...

Whereas it is appropriate to extend the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the Agreement to include the promotion of European pathways in work-linked training, including apprenticeship (Council Decision 1999/51/EC [2];

[2] OJ L 17, 22.1.1999, p. 45.

Whereas Protocol 31 to the Agreement should therefore be amended in order to allow for this extended cooperation to take place from 1 January 2000,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Article 4(2c) of Protocol 31 to the Agreement shall be amended as follows:

1. The word 'programme' in the introductory sentence shall be replaced by 'programmes'.

2. The following indent shall be added:

'- 399 D 0051: Council Decision 1999/51/EC of 21 December 1998 on the promotion of European pathways in work linked training, including apprenticeship (OJ L 17, 22.1.1999, p. 45).'

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 2000.

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, ..... 2000.

For the EEA Joint Committee

The President

The Secretaries to the EEA Joint Committee