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 EEA-EFTA 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 Environment. It provides for a framework for cooperation concerning the European consultative forum on the environment and sustainable development. The aim is full participation of the EEA-EFTA States in Community activities in this field.

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 8/94 [1];

[1] OJ L 198, 30.7.1994, p. 142.

Whereas Protocol 31 to the Agreement should be amended in order to allow for participation from the EFTA States in the European consultative forum on the environment and sustainable development (Commission Decision 97/150/EC) [2],

[2] OJ L 58, 27.2.1997, p. 48.

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The first indent in Article 3(1) of Protocol 31 to the Agreement shall be replaced by the following:

'- policy and action programmes on the environment and, in particular, in the framework of Community activities which may result from the following Community acts:

- 493 Y 0517: Resolution of the Council and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council of 1 February 1993 on a Community programme of policy and action in relation to the environment and sustainable development (OJ C 138, 17.5.1993, p. 1);

- 397 D 0150: Commission Decision 97/150/EC of 24 February 1997 on the setting-up of a European consultative forum on the environment and sustainable development (OJ L 58, 27.2.1997, p. 48);

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on ... 1999, provided that all the notifications under Article 103(1) of the Agreement have been made to the EEA Joint Committee [3].

[3] Notification required. No notification required.

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