Introductory text

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 Area^f1, and in particular Article 1(3) thereof,

Having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union amending Regulations (EU) No 1296/2013, (EU) No 1301/2013, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 1304/2013, (EU) No 1309/2013, (EU) No 1316/2013, (EU) No 223/2014, (EU) No 283/2014, and Decision No 541/2014/EU and repealing Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012^f2 and in particular Articles 58(2)(b), 110(1) and Article 181 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

The Agreement on the European Economic Area^f3 (‘the EEA Agreement’) entered into force on 1 January 1994.

Pursuant to Article 98 of the EEA Agreement, the EEA Joint Committee may decide to amend Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement (‘Protocol 31’).

Protocol 31 contains provisions on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms.

The EFTA States should 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 European Union for the financial year 2020.

Protocol 31 should therefore be amended in order to allow for that extended cooperation to continue from 1 January 2020.

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: