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:

Belgium, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom requested the Commission to set up the European Marine Biological Resource Centre — European Research Infrastructure Consortium (EMBRC-ERIC). They have agreed that France will be the host Member State of EMBRC-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, 2 years after the notification, unless the European Council, in agreement with the United Kingdom, decides to extend that period. As a consequence, after the withdrawal date, and without prejudice to any provisions of the withdrawal agreement, the UK will be considered a third country within the meaning of Article 2(b) of Regulation (EC) No 723/2009 for the purposes of this Implementing Decision.

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 Committee for the implementation of the Regulation on the Community legal framework for a European Research Infrastructure Consortium has not delivered an opinion within the time limit laid down by its chair,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: