EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1. CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL

In order to ensure the requisite legal security and homogeneity of the Internal Market, the EEA Joint Committee is to integrate all the relevant European Union legislation into the EEA Agreement as soon as possible after its adoption.

2. RESULTS OF CONSULTATIONS WITH THE INTERESTED PARTIES AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS

The draft Decision of the EEA Joint Committee (annexed to the proposed Council Decision) aims to amend Annex XXI (Statistics) by adding new European Union acquis in this field.

This concerns Regulation (EU) No 691/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2011 on European environmental economic accounts, which is to be incorporated into the Agreement.

For the purpose of the implementation of this act, certain adaptations are proposed:

(a) With regard to Iceland, Annexes I, II and III to the Regulation are to be implemented within 2 years from the first transmission deadline to allow for the further development of the Icelandic national environmental accounts.

(b) Since Liechtenstein is already exempted from the European system of national and regional accounts according to Council Regulation (EC) No 2223/96[1], it is to be exempted from the obligations concerning the European environmental economic accounts as well.

3. LEGAL ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSAL

Article 1(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2894/94 concerning arrangements for implementing the EEA Agreement provides that the Council establishes the position to be adopted on the Union’s behalf on such Decisions, on a proposal from the Commission.

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.

2012/0037 (NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the position to be taken by the European Union in the EEA Joint Committee concerning an amendment to Annex XXI (Statistics)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Articles 338(1) and 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) Annex XXI to the Agreement on the European Economic Area ("the EEA Agreement") contains specific provisions and arrangements concerning statistics.

(2) Regulation (EU) No 691/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2011 on European environmental economic accounts[2] should be incorporated into the Agreement.

(3) With regard to Iceland, Annexes I, II and III to the Regulation are to be implemented within 2 years from the first transmission deadline to allow for the further development of the Icelandic national environmental accounts.

(4) Since Liechtenstein is already exempted from the European system of national and regional accounts according to Council Regulation (EC) No 2223/96[3], it is to be exempted from the obligations concerning the European environmental economic accounts as well,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The position to be taken by the Union within the EEA Joint Committee on the proposed amendment to Annex XXI to the EEA Agreement shall be based on the draft Decision of the EEA Joint Committee attached to this Decision.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President

ANNEX

Draft

DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE No

of

amending Annex XXI (Statistics) to the EEA Agreement

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 Article 98 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Annex XXI to the Agreement was amended by Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No …/… of …[4].

(2) Regulation (EU) No 691/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2011 on European environmental economic accounts[5] is to be incorporated into the Agreement,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The following point shall be inserted after point 27b (Commission Regulation (EC) No 1445/2005) of Annex XXI to the Agreement:

‘27c. 32011 R 0691: Regulation (EU) No 691/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2011 on European environmental economic accounts (OJ L 192, 22.7.2011, p. 1).

The provisions of the Regulation shall, for the purposes of this Agreement, be read with the following adaptations:

(a) With regard to Iceland, Annexes I, II and III to the Regulation shall be implemented within 2 years from the first transmission deadline.

(b) This Regulation shall not apply to Liechtenstein.’

Article 2

The texts of Regulation (EU) No 691/2011 in the Icelandic and Norwegian languages, to be published in the EEA Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Union, shall be authentic.

Article 3

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*.

Article 4

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 […]

[1] OJ L 310, 30.11.1996, p. 1.

[2] OJ L 192, 22.7.2011, p. 1.

[3] OJ L 310, 30.11.1996, p. 1.

[4] OJ L …

[5] OJ L 192, 22.7.2011, p. 1.

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