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Brussels, 4.9.2006

SEC(2006) 1084 final

Draft

DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE

amending Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement, on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms (Eures)

- 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 EEA EFTA 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 employment, through the inclusion of Liechtenstein in the European Employment Services network (Eures). It provides a framework for cooperation and sets out the modalities for participation of Liechtenstein in the Eures network, as from 1 January 2007 , based on EEA Joint Committee Decision N° 56/96 of 28 October 1996.

3. Article 1.3(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2894/94 concerning the arrangements for implementing the EEA Agreement envisages that the Council establish 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, after which the Commission will put forward the position of the Community in the EEA Joint Committee at the earliest possible occasion.

Draft

DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE

amending Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement, on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms (Eures)

THE EEA JOINT COMMMITTEE,

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 Articles 86 and 98 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Protocol 31 to the Agreement was amended by Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No ... of …[1].

(2) Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 56/96 of 28 October 1996[2] extended the cooperation between the Contracting Parties to the Agreement by including in Protocol 31 to the Agreement the European Employment Services network (Eures).

(3) Liechtenstein originally reserved its right to participate in Eures subject to the results of the joint review of the transitional measures in the field of free movement of persons as contained in Protocol 15 to the Agreement.

(4) On the basis of this joint review, Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 191/1999[3] introduced new sectoral adaptations[4] in Annex V and Annex VIII to the Agreement with regard to Liechtenstein, which are restricted to the taking up of residence in Liechtenstein.

(5) The reservation with regard to Liechtenstein’s participation in Eures shall no longer apply.

(6) Protocol 31 to the Agreement should therefore be amended in order to allow for the participation of Liechtenstein in Eures to take place with effect from 1 January 2007,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The text of Article 15(4) of Protocol 31 to the Agreement shall be replaced by the following:

”Paragraphs 1 to 3 above shall apply to Liechtenstein as from 1 January 2007.”

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the day following the last notification to the EEA Joint Committee under Article 103(1) of the Agreement*.

It shall apply from 1 January 2007.

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

[1] OJ L …

[2] OJ L 58, 27.2.1997, p. 50.

[3] OJ L 74, 15.3.2001, p. 29.

[4] Amended by the Agreement on the Participation of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic in the European Economic Area (OJ L 130, 29.4.2004, p. 11).

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