Introductory text
United Kingdom
Council Decision (EU) 2016/916
of 6 June 2016
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 02.03.01)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 114 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 (‘Protocol 31’).
(3)
Protocol 31 contains provisions and arrangements concerning cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms.
(4)
It is appropriate to continue the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the EEA Agreement in Union actions funded from the general budget of the European Union regarding the operation and development of the internal market of goods and services.
(5)
Protocol 31 should therefore be amended in order to allow for this extended cooperation to continue beyond 31 December 2015.
(6)
The position of the Union within the EEA Joint Committee should therefore be based on the attached draft decision,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: