Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2014)577 - EU position concerning an amendment to Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement (Copernicus programme) - Main contents
Please note
This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2014)577 - EU position concerning an amendment to Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement (Copernicus programme). |
|---|---|
| source | COM(2014)577  |
| date | 19-09-2014 |
In order to ensure the requisite legal security and homogeneity of the Internal Market, the EEA Joint Committee is to integrate all the relevant EU legislation into the EEA Agreement as soon as possible after its adoption.
Article 78 of the EEA Agreement provides that the Contracting Parties shall strengthen and broaden cooperation in the framework of the Union’s activities in the fields of, inter alia, environment, and research and technological development.
Contents
The draft Decision of the EEA Joint Committee (annexed to the proposed Council Decision) aims to amend Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms in order to extend the cooperation of the Contracting Parties in the area of environment, and research and technological development.
In order to extend the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the EEA Agreement in this area (to take place from 1 January 2014), Regulation (EU) No 377/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 establishing the Copernicus Programme and repealing Regulation (EU) No 911/2010 i needs to be incorporated into the EEA Agreement through the above mentioned amendment.
It should be noted that Norway and Liechtenstein decided not to participate in this programme. Norway is considering starting its participation as of 2015.
Article 1 i of Council Regulation (EC) No 2894/94 concerning arrangements for implementing the EEA Agreement provides that the Council establishes the position to be adopted on the Union’s behalf on such Decisions, on a proposal from the Commission.
The Commission submits the Draft Decision of the EEA Joint Committee for adoption by the Council as the Union’s position. The Commission would hope to be able to present it in the EEA Joint Committee at the earliest possible opportunity.
The Decision of the EEA Joint Committee should serve also as the agreement of the Parties, pursuant to Article 1(8) of Protocol 32 to the EEA Agreement, to commence the cooperation under Regulation (EU) No 377/2014 from 1 January 2014, even if this EEA Joint Committee Decision is adopted, or if the fulfilment of constitutional requirements for this EEA Joint Committee Decision, if any, is notified after 10 July 2014.