Draft DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE amending Protocol 31 to the 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 EEA EFTA States outside the four freedoms.

2. The attached draft Decision of the EEA Joint Committee aims to modify Protocol 31, with the objective of having the Contracting Parties encourage appropriate cooperation between the competent organizations, institutions and other bodies in their respective territories where it would contribute to the strengthening and broadening of cooperation in matters covered by the activities of the Galileo Joint Undertaking as set up in Council Regulation (EC) No 876/2002 of 21 May 2002.

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 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 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].

[1] OJ C , , p. .

(2) It is appropriate to encourage appropriate cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the Agreement in matters covered by the activities of the Galileo Joint Undertaking as set up in Council Regulation (EC) No 876/2002 of 21 May 2002 [2].

[2] OJ L 138, 28.5.2002, p. 1.

(3) Protocol 31 to the Agreement should therefore be amended in order to allow for this cooperation to take place,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The following paragraph shall be inserted after paragraph 7 in Article 1 (Research and technical development) of Protocol 31 to the Agreement:

'8. The Contracting Parties shall encourage appropriate cooperation between the competent organizations, institutions and other bodies in their respective territories where it would contribute to the strengthening and broadening of cooperation in matters covered by the activities of the Galileo Joint Undertaking (1)

(1) 32002 R 0876: Council Regulation (EC) No 876/2002 of 21 May 2002 setting up the Galileo Joint Undertaking.'

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 [3].

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

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