on the position to be adopted on behalf of the European Union, within the EEA Joint Committee concerning an amendment to Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement, on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms (LIFE Programme)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1.Subject matter of the proposal

This proposal concerns the decision establishing the position to be adopted on the Union's behalf in the EEA Joint Committee in connection with the envisaged adoption of the Joint Committee Decision concerning an amendment of Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement, on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms

2.Context of the proposal

2.1.The EEA Agreement

The Agreement on the European Economic Area (‘the EEA Agreement’) guarantees equal rights and obligations within the Internal Market for citizens and economic operators in the EEA. It provides for the inclusion of EU legislation covering the four freedoms throughout the 30 EEA States comprising of EU Member States, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. In addition, the EEA Agreement covers cooperation in other important areas such as research and development, education, social policy, the environment, consumer protection, tourism and culture, collectively known as “flanking and horizontal” policies. The Agreement entered into force on 1 January 1994. The European Union together with its Member States is a party to the Agreement.

2.2.The EEA Joint Committee

The EEA Joint Committee is responsible for the management of the EEA Agreement. It is a forum for exchanging views linked to the functioning of the EEA Agreement. Its decisions are taken by consensus. In accordance with the Treaty of Lisbon, responsibility for coordinating EEA matters on the EU side is with the European External Action Service.

2.3.The envisaged act of the EEA Joint Committee

The EEA Joint Committee is expected to adopt the EEA Joint Committee Decision (‘the envisaged act’) regarding the amendment of Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement, on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms.

The purpose of the envisaged act is to extend the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the EEA Agreement to include the participation of the EEA EFTA States in the Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE). Regulation (EU) 2021/783 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2021 establishing this programme, and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1293/2013 shall therefore be incorporated into the EEA Agreement.

As Liechtenstein and Norway did not express their interest in participating in the LIFE Programme, the draft Decision of the EEA Joint Committee therefore concerns only Iceland.

In line with the EU budgetary policy, any participation in an EU activity can take place only once the corresponding financial contribution is paid. The payment can however take place once this draft Council Decision is adopted and the subsequent EU call for funds, established by the European Commission, is submitted to the EEA EFTA States.

Therefore, in order to bridge the period between 1st January 2021 and the reception of the respective payment, the draft Joint Committee Decision shall also be retroactively applicable from 1st January 2021. The retroactivity does not affect the rights and obligations of persons concerned and respects the principle of the legitimate expectations.

The envisaged act will become binding on the parties in accordance with Articles 103 and 104 of the EEA Agreement.

3.Position to be taken on the Union's behalf

The Commission submits the draft Decision of the EEA Joint Committee for adoption by the Council as the Union’s position. The Commission would hope to be able to present it in the EEA Joint Committee at the earliest possible opportunity.

The content and nature of the draft of the annexed Decision of the EEA Joint Committee go beyond what can be considered mere technical adjustments in the sense of the Council Regulation No 2894/94. The Union position shall therefore be established by the Council.

4.Legal basis