Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2016)218 - EU position concerning an amendment to Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement (ISA2 Programme) - Main contents
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This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2016)218 - EU position concerning an amendment to Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement (ISA2 Programme). |
|---|---|
| source | COM(2016)218  |
| date | 20-04-2016 |
1. CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL
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 should strengthen and broaden cooperation in the framework of the Union’s activities in the fields of, inter alia, information services, and research and innovation.
2. LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY
Article 1(3) 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.
3. RESULTS OF EX-POST EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS
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 information services, and research and innovation.
In order to extend the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the EEA Agreement Decision (EU) 2015/2240 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015 establishing a programme on interoperability solutions and common frameworks for European public administrations, businesses and citizens (ISA2 programme) as a means for modernising the public sector 1 needs to be incorporated in the EEA Agreement.
Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement should therefore be amended in order to allow for this extended cooperation to take place from 1 January 2016.
It should be noted that Liechtenstein shall be exempted from the participation in, and the financial contribution to, this programme.