Introductory text
United Kingdom
Council Decision (EU) 2015/891
of 8 June 2015
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 (budget line 04 03 01 03)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Articles 46 and 48 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 Areaf1, and in particular Article 1(3) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1)
The Agreement on the European Economic Areaf2 (‘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 to the EEA Agreement.
(3)
Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement contains provisions on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms.
(4)
It is appropriate to continue the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the EEA Agreement including cooperation concerning free movement of workers, coordination of social security systems and measures for migrants, including migrants from third countries.
(5)
Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement should therefore be amended, in order to allow for that extended cooperation to continue beyond 31 December 2014.
(6)
The position of the Union in the EEA Joint Committee should therefore be based on the attached draft Decision,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: