Introductory text

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 723/2009 of 25 June 2009 on the Community legal framework for a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC)^f1, and in particular point (a) of Article 6(1) thereof,

Whereas:

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom requested the Commission to set up the Consortium of European Social Science Data Archives — European Research Infrastructure Consortium (CESSDA ERIC). They have agreed that Norway will be the host country of CESSDA ERIC. The Swiss Confederation has made known its decision to participate in CESSDA ERIC initially as an observer. It also has agreed that Norway will be the host country of CESSDA ERIC.

Since the United Kingdom notified on 29 March 2017 its intention to leave the Union, pursuant to Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, the Treaties will cease to apply to the United Kingdom from the date of entry into force of the withdrawal agreement or, failing that, two years after the notification, unless the European Council, in agreement with the United Kingdom, decides to extend that period. As a consequence, and without prejudice to any provisions of the withdrawal agreement, this Implementing Decision only applies until the United Kingdom ceases to be a Member State.

Regulation (EC) No 723/2009 has been incorporated in the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) by Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 72/2015^f2.

The Commission has, in accordance with Article 5(2) of Regulation (EC) No 723/2009, assessed the application and concluded that it meets the requirements set out in that Regulation.

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established by Article 20 of Regulation (EC) No 723/2009,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: