Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2014)522 - EU position concerning an amendment to Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement (Health programme) - Main contents
Please note
This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2014)522 - EU position concerning an amendment to Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement (Health programme). |
|---|---|
| source | COM(2014)522  |
| date | 19-08-2014 |
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.
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 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 282/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 on the establishment of a third Programme for the Union's action in the field of health (2014-2020) and repealing Decision No 1350/2007/EC i needs to be incorporated to the EEA Agreement through the above mentioned amendment.
It shall be noted that Liechtenstein shall be exempted from the participation in, and the financial contribution to, this programme.
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 282/2014 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.