Council Decision (EU) 2025/554 of 11 March 2025 on the position to be adopted, on behalf of the European Union, within the EEA Joint Committee concerning an amendment to Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement, on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms (GOVSATCOM and Secure Connectivity) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2025-03-11
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EEA Joint Committee, EU programme, European Economic Area, critical infrastructure security, information security, protocol to an agreement, revision of an agreement, satellite communications, space technology, use of outer space




L_202500554EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2025/554


25.3.2025







            COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2025/554
         
of 11 March 2025
         
on the position to be adopted, on behalf of the European Union, within the EEA Joint Committee concerning an amendment to Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement, on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms (GOVSATCOM and Secure Connectivity)
(Text with EEA relevance)


THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 189(2) in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,


Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2894/94 of 28 November 1994 concerning arrangements for implementing the Agreement on the European Economic Area (1), and in particular Article 1(3) thereof,


Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:







(1)


The Agreement on the European Economic Area (2) (‘the EEA Agreement’) entered into force on 1 January 1994.












(2)


Pursuant to Article 98 of the EEA Agreement, the EEA Joint Committee may decide to amend, inter alia, Protocol 31 on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms (‘Protocol 31’) to the EEA Agreement.












(3)


It is appropriate to extend the participation rights of the EEA European Free Trade Association States, agreed by the Contracting Parties to the EEA Agreement in Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 319/2021 (3), to the Governmental Satellite Communication (GOVSATCOM) component of the Union Space Programme, and to extend the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the EEA Agreement to include Regulation (EU) 2023/588 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4).












(4)


Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement should therefore be amended accordingly.












(5)


The position of the Union within the EEA Joint Committee should therefore be based on the attached draft Decision,





HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:



Article 1
The position to be adopted, on behalf of the Union, within the EEA Joint Committee on the proposed amendment to Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement, on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms, 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 date of its adoption.




Done at Brussels, 11 March 2025.


For the Council


The President

A. DOMAŃSKI
            





(1)  
            OJ L 305, 30.11.1994, p. 6, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/1994/2894/oj.

(2)  
            OJ L 1, 3.1.1994, p. 3, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/1994/1/oj.

(3)  Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 319/2021 of 29 October 2021 amending Protocol 31 on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms and Protocol 37 containing the list provided for in Article 101 to the EEA Agreement (OJ L, 2024/526, 29.2.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/526/oj).

(4)  Regulation (EU) 2023/588 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2023 establishing the Union Secure Connectivity Programme for the period 2023-2027 (OJ L 79, 17.3.2023, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/588/oj).





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 (‘the EEA Agreement’), and in particular Articles 86 and 98 thereof,

Whereas:







(1)


The Contracting Parties acknowledge the existing formal cooperation in the Union Space Programme established by Regulation (EU) 2021/696 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1). They wish to build on this strong partnership and to extend the cooperation to the Governmental Satellite Communication (GOVSATCOM) component of the Union Space Programme and to the Secure Connectivity Programme established by Regulation (EU) 2023/588 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2).












(2)


It is appropriate to extend the cooperation agreed by the Contracting Parties to the EEA Agreement in Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 319/2021 of 29 October 2021 to the GOVSATCOM component of the Union Space Programme.












(3)


It is appropriate to extend the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the EEA Agreement to include Regulation (EU) 2023/588.












(4)


The conditions for the participation of EFTA States and their institutions, undertakings, organisations and nationals in programmes of the European Union are set out in the EEA Agreement and in particular in Article 81 thereof.












(5)


The agreements between the Union and the respective EFTA States on security procedures for the exchange of classified information should be taken into account.












(6)


Additional cooperation principles may, if needed, be agreed between the Contracting Parties to regulate specific areas not covered by this Decision.












(7)


The participation of the EFTA States in the GOVSATCOM component and the Secure Connectivity Programme on the basis of the EEA Agreement is of mutual interest to the Contracting Parties.












(8)


It is appropriate that the participation of Iceland and Norway in the programme committees, working groups and other activities resulting from the GOVSATCOM component and the Secure Connectivity Programme commence from 1 September 2024, irrespective of when this Decision is adopted or whether the fulfilment of constitutional requirements for this Decision, if any, is notified after 10 July 2025.












(9)


On the basis of Iceland and Norway becoming users of the capacities and services of the GOVSATCOM component, Iceland and Norway will contribute financially to the EU commitments budgeted for the GOVSATCOM component for the financial years 2021 to 2024.












(10)


On the basis of Iceland and Norway becoming users of the capacities and services of the Secure Connectivity Programme, Iceland and Norway will contribute financially to the EU commitments budgeted for the Secure Connectivity Programme for the financial years 2023 and 2024.












(11)


The contributions are determined at this point in time based on significant investments executed in the first years of the implementation of the programme. These investments concern the creation of infrastructure that will be used by all participants of the system, including Iceland and Norway.












(12)


Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement should therefore be amended in order to allow for this extended cooperation to take place,





HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:



Article 1
Article 1 of Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement is amended as follows:






1.


Paragraph 8e is amended as follows:






(a)


in point (a), the words ‘the Governmental Satellite Communication (GOVSATCOM) and’ are deleted;










(b)


points (b) to (o) are renumbered as point (c) to (p);










(c)


the following point is added after point (a):






‘(b)


An EFTA State may become a participant in the Governmental Satellite Communication (GOVSATCOM) component, subject to the conclusion of a specific agreement as referred to in Article 7(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/696.’




;










(d)


the text of point (c) is replaced by the following:

                                          ‘The EFTA States shall contribute financially to the activities referred to under (a) in accordance with Article 82(1)(a) of and Protocol 32 to the Agreement.
The EFTA States shall contribute financially to the activities referred to under (b) in accordance with Article 82(1)(a) of and Protocol 32 to the Agreement, after the conclusion of an agreement as referred to under (b).
In addition, based on Article 82(1)(c) and (2) of the EEA Agreement and as agreed in accordance with paragraphs 8 and 9 of Article 1 of Protocol 32 to the EEA Agreement, Iceland shall, after the conclusion of an agreement as referred to under (b), contribute the amount of EUR 98 000 (ninety-eight thousand) for the financial years 2021 to 2024 to the GOVSATCOM component. This amount shall take the form of three equal instalments, to be included respectively in the call for funds for the financial years 2025, 2026 and 2027, as referred to in the first subparagraph of Article 2(2) of Protocol 32.
In addition, based on Article 82(1)(c) and (2) of the EEA Agreement and as agreed in accordance with paragraphs 8 and 9 of Article 1 of Protocol 32 to the EEA Agreement, Norway shall, after the conclusion of an agreement as referred to under (b), contribute the amount of EUR 1 896 000 (one million eight hundred and ninety-six thousand) for the financial years 2021 to 2024 to the GOVSATCOM component. This amount shall take the form of three equal instalments, to be included in the call for funds for the financial years 2025, 2026 and 2027, respectively, as referred to in the first subparagraph of Article 2(2) of Protocol 32.’
                                       ;









(e)


in point (d), the word ‘(b)’ is replaced by the word ‘(c)’;










(f)


the text of point (o) is replaced by the following:

                                          ‘With regard to Liechtenstein, this paragraph shall be suspended until otherwise decided by the EEA Joint Committee.’.














2.


The following paragraph is inserted after paragraph 8e:







‘8f.








(a)


The EFTA States shall participate in the activities which may result from the following Union act:






—


32023 R 0588: Regulation (EU) 2023/588 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2023 establishing the Union Secure Connectivity Programme for the period 2023-2027 (OJ L 79, 17.3.2023, p. 1).








(b)


An EFTA State may become a participant to the Union Secure Connectivity Programme, subject to the conclusion of a specific agreement as referred to in Article 39(1) of Regulation (EU) 2023/588.




(c)


The EFTA States shall contribute financially to the activities referred to under (a) in accordance with Article 82(1)(a) of and Protocol 32 to the Agreement, after the conclusion of an agreement referred to under (b).
In addition, based on Article 82(1)(c) and (2) of the EEA Agreement and as agreed in accordance with paragraphs 8 and 9 of Article 1 of Protocol 32 to the EEA Agreement, Iceland shall, after the conclusion of an agreement as referred to under (b), contribute the amount of EUR 510 700 (five hundred and ten thousand seven hundred) for the financial years 2023 and 2024. This amount shall take the form of three equal instalments, to be included respectively in the call for funds for the financial years 2025, 2026 and 2027, as referred to in the first subparagraph of Article 2(2) of Protocol 32.
In addition, based on Article 82(1)(c) and (2) of the EEA Agreement and as agreed in accordance with paragraphs 8 and 9 of Article 1 of Protocol 32 to the EEA Agreement, Norway shall, after the conclusion of an agreement as referred to under (b), contribute the amount of EUR 10 124 000 (ten million and one hundred and twenty-four thousand) for the financial years 2023 and 2024. This amount shall take the form of three equal instalments, to be included respectively in the call for funds for the financial years 2025, 2026 and 2027, as referred to in the first subparagraph of Article 2(2) of Protocol 32.




(d)


With regard to Liechtenstein, this paragraph shall be suspended until otherwise decided by the EEA Joint Committee.’.















Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the day following the last notification under Article 103(1) of the EEA Agreement (*1).


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






(1)  Regulation (EU) 2021/696 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 April 2021 establishing the Union Space Programme and the European Union Agency for the Space Programme and repealing Regulations (EU) No 912/2010, (EU) No 1285/2013 and (EU) No 377/2014 and Decision No 541/2014/EU (OJ L 170, 12.5.2021, p. 69, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/696/oj).

(2)  Regulation (EU) 2023/588 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2023 establishing the Union Secure Connectivity Programme for the period 2023-2027 (OJ L 79, 17.3.2023, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/588/oj).

(*1)  [No constitutional requirements indicated.] [Constitutional requirements indicated.]



ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/554/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)