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 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 field of research and technological development. It provides a framework for cooperation and sets out the modalities for full participation of the EEA EFTA States in the Community programmes and actions in this field:

- 32002 D 1513: Decision 1513/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2002 concerning the sixth framework programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities, contributing to the creation of the European Research Area and to innovation (2002-2006) (OJ L 232, 29.8.2002, p. 1).

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 Commission is invited to approve the attached draft Decision of the EEA Joint Committee for transmission to the Council. The Commission hope to present the Community position to the EEA Joint Committee in November 2002.

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 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 L [...],[...], p. [...]

(2) It is appropriate to extend the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the Agreement to include Decision No. 1513/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2002 concerning the sixth framework programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities, contributing to the creation of the European Research Area and to innovation (2002-2006) [2].

[2] OJ L 232, 29.8.2002, p. 1

(3) Protocol 31 to the Agreement should therefore be amended in order to allow for this extended cooperation to take place from the entry into force of the sixth framework programme 2002-2006,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The following indent shall be added in Article 1(5) of Protocol 31 to the Agreement:

'- 32002 D 1513: Decision No. 1513/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2002 concerning the sixth framework programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities, contributing to the creation of the European Research Area and to innovation (2002-2006) (OJ L 232, 29.8.2002, p. 1).'

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 [3].

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

It shall apply from the entry into force of the sixth framework programme 2002-2006.

Article 3

This Decision shall be published in the EEA Section of, and in the EEA Supplement to, the Official Journal of the European Communities.

Done at Brussels, [...]

For the EEA Joint Committee

The President

The Secretaries to the EEA Joint Committee