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 of 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 update cooperation in the field of consumer protection. 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 (General framework for Community activities in favour of consumers 1999 to 2003).

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 October 1999.

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 ... of [1];

[1] OJ L

Whereas it is appropriate to extend the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the Agreement to include a general framework for Community activities in favour of consumers (Decision No 283/1999/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council [2]);

[2] OJ L 34, 9.2.1999, p. 1.

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

The following subparagraphs shall be added in Article 6 of Protocol 31 to the Agreement after subparagraph 2:

'3. The EFTA States shall, from 1 January 2000, participate in the Community activities which may result from the following act as well as from acts deriving therefrom:

- 399 D 0283: Decision No 283/1999/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 January 1999 establishing a general framework for Community activities in favour of consumers (OJ L 34, 9.2.1999, p. 1).

4. The EFTA States shall contribute financially to the activities referred to in paragraph 3 in accordance with Article 82(1)(a) of the Agreement.

5. The EFTA States shall, as from the start of cooperation in the activities referred to in paragraph 3, participate fully in the EC committees and other bodies which assist the EC Commission in the management or development of these activities.'

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, 1999.

For the EEA Joint Committee

The President

The Secretaries to the EEA Joint Committee