EN    EN EN 
 
EN    EN  COMMISSION OF THE E UROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 21.4.2009 
SEC(2009) 504 final 
  
Draft 
DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE  
No  
of  
amending Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement, 
on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms 
 
EN 2   EN EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM  
1. Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement contai ns 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 Jo int Committee aims to modify Protocol 31 
to extend cooperation in the field of E ducation, training and youth. It provides a 
framework for cooperation and sets out the modalities for full participation of the 
EEA EFTA States in the Community progr ammes and actions in this field, with 
effect from 1st January 2009 by incorporating: 
 - 32008 D 1298 : Decision 1298/2008/EC of the European Parliament and of the
 Council of 16 December 2008 establishing the Erasmus Mundus 2009-2013 action programme for the enhancement of  quality in higher education and the
 promotion of intercultural unders tanding through cooperation with third
 countries (OJ L 340, 19.12.2008, p. 83). 
3. Article 1.3 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. 
 
EN 3   EN Draft 
DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE  
No  
of  
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 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 amende d by Decision of the EEA Joint Committee 
No …/… of …
1. 
(2) It is appropriate to extend the cooperation of the Contracting Part ies to the Agreement 
to include Decision 1298/2008/EC of the Europ ean Parliament and of the Council of 
16 December 2008 establishing the Erasmus Mundus 2009-2013 action programme for the enhancement of quality in higher e ducation and the promotion of intercultural 
understanding through coopera tion with third countries
2. 
(3) Protocol 31 to the Agreement should therefor e be amended in order to allow for this 
extended cooperation to take place from 1 January 2009, 
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 
Article 1 
Article 4 of Protocol 31 to the Agreement shall be amended as follows: 
1. The following paragraph shall be  inserted afte r paragraph 2l: 
‘2m. The EFTA States shall,  with effect from 1 Januar y 2009, participate in actions 
1 and 3 of the following programme: 
- 32008 D 1298 : Decision 1298/2008/EC of the European Parliament and 
of the Council of 16 December 2008 establishing the Erasmus Mundus 
                                                 
1 OJ L … 
2 OJ L 340, 19.12.2008, p. 83. 
 
EN 4   EN 2009-2013 action programme for the enhancement of quality in higher 
education and the promotion of intercultural understanding through 
cooperation with third count ries (OJ L 340, 19.12.2008, p. 83).’ 
2. The text of paragraph 3 sha ll be replaced by the following: 
‘The EFTA States shall contribute financia lly in accordance with Article 82(1)(a) of 
the Agreement to the programmes and actions  referred to in para graphs 1, 2, 2a, 2b, 
2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g, 2h, 2i, 2j, 2k, 2l and 2m.’ 
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 2009. 
Article 3 
This Decision shall be published in the EEA S ection 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 
  
                                                
 
∗ [No constitutional requirements indicated.]  [Constitutional requirements indicated.]