Introductory text
United Kingdom
Council Decision (EU) 2020/1487
of 6 October 2020
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
(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 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 Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement (‘Protocol 31’).
(3)
Protocol 31 contains provisions on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms.
(4)
It is appropriate to extend 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 that extended cooperation to take place from 1 January 2020.
(6)
The position of the Union within the EEA Joint Committee should be based on the draft decision of the EEA Joint Committee,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: