COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/1486

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 31to 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 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 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 continue the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the EEA Agreement in Union actions funded from the general budget of the European Union regarding financial services.

(5) Protocol 31 should therefore be amended in order to allow for that extended cooperation to continue beyond 31 December 2019.

(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:

Article 1

The position to be adopted, on behalf of the Union, within the EEA Joint Committee concerning the proposed amendment of Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement, on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms, 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, 6 October 2020.

For the Council

The President

M. ROTH

(1)

OJ L 305, 30.11.1994, p. 6

(2)

OJ L 1, 3.1.1994, p. 3

(3) See document ST 10127/20 on http://register.consilium.europa.eu