COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2021/1249
of 26 July 2021
on the position to be adopted, on behalf of the European Union, within the EEA Joint Committee concerning an amendment to Protocol 31 on cooperation in specific fields outside of the four freedoms, annexed to the EEA Agreement (Budget line 07 20 03 01 – Social Security)
(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 Articles 46 and 48 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 Area (1), and in particular Article 1(3) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1) The Agreement on the European Economic Area (2) (‘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 on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms (‘Protocol 31’), annexed to the EEA Agreement.
(3) It is appropriate to continue the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the EEA Agreement in Union actions funded from the general budget of the Union regarding the free movement of workers, coordination of social security schemes and measures for migrants, including migrants from third countries.
(4) Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement should therefore be amended in order to allow for such extended cooperation to continue from 1 January 2021.
(5) 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:
Article 1
The position to be adopted, on behalf of the Union, within the EEA Joint Committee on the proposed amendment of Protocol 31 on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms, annexed to the EEA Agreement, shall be based on the draft decision of the EEA Joint Committee (3).
Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
Done at Brussels, 26 July 2021.
For the Council
The President
G. DOVŽAN
(1)
OJ L 305, 30.11.1994, p. 6
.
(2)
OJ L 1, 3.1.1994, p. 3
.
(3) See document ST 10507/21 at http://register.consilium.europa.eu.