Introductory text
United Kingdom
Council Decision (EU) 2018/777
of 22 May 2018
on the position to be adopted, on behalf of the European Union, within the EEA Joint Committee concerning the amendment of Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement, on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms (budget line 02 04 77 03: ‘Preparatory action on defence research’)
(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 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 Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union and repealing Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002f2 and in particular point (b) of Article 54(2), Article 84(2) and Article 124 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1)
The Agreement on the European Economic Areaf3 (‘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)
The EFTA States are to continue to participate in Union activities related to budget line 02 04 77 03: ‘Preparatory action on defence research’, entered into the general budget of the Union for the financial year 2018.
(5)
Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement should therefore be amended in order to allow for that extended cooperation to continue from 1 January 2018.
(6)
The position of the Union within the EEA Joint Committee should be based on the attached draft decision,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: