COUNCIL DECISION
of 7 June 2012
on the position to be taken by the European Union in the EEA Joint Committee concerning an amendment to Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement, on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms
(2012/298/EU)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 153(2), 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)
Protocol 31 to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (2) (‘the EEA Agreement’) contains specific provisions and arrangements concerning cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms.
(2)
It is appropriate to extend the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the EEA Agreement to include Decision No 940/2011/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 September 2011 on the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations (2012) (3).
(3)
Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement should therefore be amended in order to allow for this extended cooperation to take place from 1 January 2012.
(4)
The position of the Union in the EEA Joint Committee should be based on the attached draft Decision,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The position to be taken by the European Union in the EEA Joint Committee on the proposed amendment to Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement shall be based on the draft Decision of the EEA Joint Committee attached to this Decision.
Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.
Done at Luxembourg, 7 June 2012.