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Brussels, 03.03.2005

SEC(2005) 284 final

Draft

DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE

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

- 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 audiovisual sector. It provides a framework for cooperation and sets out the modalities for participation of the EEA EFTA States in the Community programmes and actions in this field, incorporating:

- 32004 D 0845 : Decision No 845/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 163/2001/EC on the implementation of a training programme for professionals in the European audiovisual programme industry (MEDIA-Training) (2001-2005)

- 32004 D 0846: Decision No 846/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of of 29 April 2004 amending Council Decision 2000/821/EC on the implementation of a programme to encourage the development, distribution and promotion of European audiovisual works (MEDIA Plus – Development, Distribution and Promotion) (2001-2005)

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 (MEDIA Training)

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 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) It is appropriate to extend the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the Agreement to include Decision No 845/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 163/2001/EC on the implementation of a training programme for professionals in the European audiovisual programme industry (MEDIA-Training) (2001-2005)[2], as corrected by OJ L 195, 2.6.2004, p. 1.

(3) It is appropriate to extend the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the Agreement to include Decision No 846/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of of 29 April 2004 amending Council Decision 2000/821/EC on the implementation of a programme to encourage the development, distribution and promotion of European audiovisual works (MEDIA Plus – Development, Distribution and Promotion) (2001-2005)[3], as corrected by OJ L 195, 2.6.2004, p. 2.

(4) Protocol 31 to the Agreement should therefore be amended in order to allow for this extended cooperation to take place with effect from 1 January 2006,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Article 9 of Protocol 31 to the Agreement shall be amended as follows:

1. The following sub-indent shall be added in the fourth indent of paragraph 4 (Decision No 163/2001/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council):

‘ - 32004 D 0845 : Decision No 845/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 (OJ L 157, 30.4.2004, p.1), as corrected by OJ L 195, 2.6.2004, p. 1.’

2. The following shall be added in the fifth indent of paragraph 4 (Council Decision No 2000/821/EC):

‘, as amended by:

- 32004 D 0846 : Decision No 846/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 (OJ L 157, 30.4.2004, p. 4), as corrected by OJ L 195, 2.6.2004, p. 2.’

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 2006.

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 C […] […], p. […]

[2] OJ L 157, 30.4.2004, p. 1.

[3] OJ L 157, 30.4.2004, p. 4

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