Draft DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE amending Protocol 31 to the 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 Education, training and youth. It provides a framework for cooperation and sets out the modalities for participation of the EEA EFTA States in the Community programmes and actions in this field:

- 32003 D 2317: Decision No 2317/2003/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 December 2003 establishing a programme for the enhancement of quality in higher education and the promotion of intercultural understanding through co-operation with third countries (Erasmus Mundus) (2004-2008).

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 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.

Draft DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE amending Protocol 31 to the 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 ...

(2) It is appropriate to extend the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the Agreement to include Decision No 2317/2003/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 December 2003 establishing a programme for the enhancement of quality in higher education and the promotion of intercultural understanding through co-operation with third countries (Erasmus Mundus) (2004-2008) [2].

[2] OJ L 345, 31.12.2003, p. 1.

(3) Protocol 31 to the Agreement should therefore be amended in order to allow for this extended cooperation to take place with effect from DD MM YYYY,

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 after paragraph 2g:

'2h. The EFTA States shall, as from 1 January 200Y, participate in the following programme:

- 32003 D 2317: Decision No 2317/2003/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 December 2003 establishing a programme for the enhancement of quality in higher education and the promotion of intercultural understanding through co-operation with third countries (Erasmus Mundus) (2004-2008) (OJ L 345, 31.12.2003, p. 1).'

2. The text of paragraph 3 shall be replaced by the following:

'The EFTA States shall contribute financially in accordance with Article 82(1)(a) to the programmes and actions referred to in paragraphs 1, 2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g and 2h.'

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the first day following the last notification to the EEA Joint Committee under Article 103(1) of the Agreement [3].

[3] Constitutional requirements indicated.

It shall apply from DD MM YYYY.

Article 3

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