Agreement on the European Economic Area

PROTOCOL 31

on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms

Article 1 Research and technological development

(a)

The EFTA States shall, from the entry into force of the Agreement, participate in the implementation of the Framework Programme of Community activities in the field of research and technological development (1990 to 1994)(1) through participation in its specific programmes.

(b)

The EFTA States shall contribute financially to the activities referred to in subparagraph (a) in accordance with Article 82(1)(a) of the Agreement.

(c)

The EFTA States shall, in consequence of subparagraph (b), participate fully in all the EC committees which assist the EC Commission in the management or development of the said Framework Programme and its specific programmes.

(d)

Given the particular nature of the cooperation foreseen in the field of research and technological development, representatives of the EFTA States shall in addition be associated with the work of the Scientific and Technical Research Committee (CREST) and other EC committees which the EC Commission consults in this field, to the extent necessary for the good functioning of that cooperation.

2. In the case of Iceland, however, the provisions of paragraph 1 shall apply from 1 January 1994.

3. Evaluation and major redirection of activities in the Framework Programme for Community activities in the field of research and technological development (1990 to 1994), after the entry into force of the Agreement, shall be governed by the procedure referred to in Article 79(3) of the Agreement.

4. The Agreement shall be without prejudice, on the one hand, to the bilateral cooperation taking place under the Framework Programme for Community activities in the field of research and technological development (1987 to 1991)(2) and, on the other hand, in so far as they concern cooperation which is not covered by the Agreement, to the bilateral framework agreements for scientific and technical cooperation between the Community and the EFTA States.

Article 2 Information services

The EEA Joint Committee shall, from the entry into force of the Agreement, decide the terms and conditions for the participation of the EFTA States in the programmes established under the EC Council decisions mentioned below, or deriving therefrom, in the field of information services:

• 388 D 0524: Council Decision 88/524/EEC of 26 July 1988 concerning the establishment of a plan of action for setting up an information services market (OJ No L 288, 21.10.1988, p. 39)

• 389 D 0286: Council Decision 89/286/EEC of 17 April 1989 on the implementation at Community level of the main phase of the strategic programme for innovation and technology transfer (1989 to 1993) (Sprint programme) (OJ No L 112, 25.4.1989, p. 12).

Article 3 Environment

1. Cooperation in the field of environment shall be strengthened in the framework of the activities of the Community, in particular in the following areas:

• policy and action programmes on the environment;

• integration of environmental protection requirements into other policies;

• economic and fiscal instruments;

• environmental questions which have transboundary implications;

• major regional and global topics under discussion within international organizations.

The cooperation shall include, inter alia, regular meetings.

2. The necessary decisions shall be taken as soon as possible after the entry into force of the Agreement, to ensure the participation of the EFTA States in the European Environment Agency, once this Agency has been established by the Community, to the extent that this matter has not been settled prior to that date.

3. Where it has been decided by the EEA Joint Committee that cooperation shall take the form of parallel legislation of identical or similar content by the Contracting Parties, the procedures referred to in Article 79(3) of the Agreement shall thereafter apply to the preparation of such legislation in the field in question.

Article 4 Education, training and youth

1. The EFTA States shall, from the entry into force of the Agreement, participate in the Community programme Youth for Europe in accordance with Part VI.

2. The EFTA States shall, as from 1 January 1995, participate subject to the provisions of Part VI, in all programmes of the Community in the field of education, training and youth then in force or adopted. The planning and development of programmes of the Community in this field shall, as from the entry into force of the Agreement, be subject to the procedures referred to in Part VI, in particular Article 79(3).

3. The EFTA States shall contribute financially in accordance with Article 82(1)(a) to the programmes referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2.

4. The EFTA States shall, as from the start of cooperation in programmes to which they contribute financially in accordance with Article 82(1)(a), participate fully in all the EC committees which assist the EC Commission in the management or development of these programmes.

5. The EFTA States shall, from the entry into force of the Agreement, participate in the various activities of the Community involving the exchange of information including, where appropriate, contacts and meetings of experts, seminars and conferences. The Contracting Parties shall, furthermore, through the EEA Joint Committee or otherwise, take any other initiatives which may appear appropriate in this regard.

6. The Contracting Parties shall encourage appropriate cooperation between the competent organizations, institutions and other bodies in their respective territories where this would contribute to the strengthening and broadening of cooperation. This shall apply in particular to matters covered by the activities of the European Centre for Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP).(3)

Article 5 Social policy

1. In the field of social policy, the dialogue referred to in Article 79(1) of the Agreement shall comprise, inter alia, the holding of meetings, including contacts between experts, the examination of questions of mutual interest in specific fields, the exchange of information on activities of the Contracting Parties, stock-taking of the state of cooperation and the carrying out, in common, of activities such as seminars and conferences.

2. The Contracting Parties shall seek in particular to strengthen cooperation in the framework of Community activities which may result from the following Community acts:

• 388 Y 0203: Council Resolution of 21 December 1987 on safety, hygiene and health at work (OJ No C 28, 3.2.1988, p. 3);

• 391 Y 0531: Council Resolution of 21 May 1991 on the third medium-term Community action programme on equal opportunities for women and men (1991-95) (OJ No C 142, 31.5.1991, p. 1);

• 390 Y 627(06): Council Resolution of 29 May 1990 on action to assist the long-term unemployed (OJ No C 157, 27.6.1990, p. 4);

• 386 X 0379: Council Recommendation 86/379/EEC of 24 July 1986 on the employment of disabled people in the Community (OJ No L 225, 12.8.1986, p. 43);

• 389 D 0457: Council Decision 89/457/EEC of 18 July 1989 establishing a medium-term Community action programme concerning the economic and social integration of the economically and socially less privileged groups in the society (OJ No L 224, 2.8.1989, p. 10).

3. The EFTA States shall, from the entry into force of the Agreement, participate within the framework of the Community actions for the elderly,(4)

The EFTA States shall contribute financially in accordance with Article 82(1)(b) of the Agreement.

The EFTA States shall participate fully in the EC committees which assist the EC Commission in the management or development of the programme except for matters relating to the distribution of EC financial resources between Member States of the Community.

4. The EEA Joint Committee shall take the necessary decisions in order to facilitate cooperation between the Contracting Parties in future programmes and activities of the Community in the social field.

5. The Contracting Parties shall encourage appropriate cooperation between the competent organizations, institutions and other bodies in their respective territories where this would contribute to the strengthening and broadening of cooperation. This shall apply in particular to matters covered by the activities of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Working and Living Conditions.(5)

Article 6 Consumer protection

1. In the field of consumer protection, the Contracting Parties shall strengthen the dialogue between them by all appropriate means, with a view to identifying areas and activities where closer cooperation could contribute to the attainment of their objectives.

2. The Contracting Parties shall seek to strengthen cooperation in the framework of Community activities, which may result from the following Community acts, in particular in ensuring consumer influence and participation:

• 389 Y 1122(01): Council Resolution of 9 November 1989 on future priorities for relaunching consumer protection policy (OJ No C 294, 22.11.1989, p. 1);

• 590 DC 0098: Three-Year Action Plan of Consumer Policy in the EEC (1990-92);

• 388 Y 1117(01): Council Resolution of 4 November 1988 on the improvement of consumer involvement in standardization (OJ No C 293, 17.11.1988, p. 1).

Article 7 Small and medium-sized enterprises

1. The cooperation in the field of small and medium-sized enterprises shall in particular be promoted within the framework of actions of the Community:

• to remove undue administrative, financial and legal constraints on business;

• to inform and assist enterprises, and in particular small and medium-sized enterprises, on policies and programmes which might be of relevance to them;

• to encourage cooperation and partnership between enterprises, and in particular small and medium-sized enterprises, from different regions of the European Economic Area.

2. The Contracting Parties shall seek in particular to strengthen cooperation in the framework of Community activities which may result from the following Community acts:

• 388 Y 0727(02): Council Resolution on the improvement of the business environment and action to promote the development of enterprises, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, in the Community (OJ No C 197, 27.7.1988, p. 6);

• 389 D 0490: Council Decision 89/490/EEC of 28 July 1989 on the improvement of the business environment and the promotion of the development of enterprises, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises, in the Community (OJ No L 239, 16.8.1989, p. 33);

• 389 Y 1007(01): Council Resolution of 26 September 1989 in the development of subcontracting in the Community (OJ No C 254, 7.10.1989, p. 1);

• 390 X 0246: Council Recommendation of 28 May 1990 relating to the implementation of a policy of administrative simplification in favour of SMEs in the Member States (OJ No L 141, 2.6.1990, p. 55);

• 391 Y 0605: Council Resolution of 27 May 1991 on the action programme for small and medium-sized enterprises including craft industry enterprises (OJ No C 146, 5.6.1991, p. 3);

• 391 D 0319: Council Decision 91/319/EEC of 18 June 1991 revising the programme on the improvement of the business environment and the promotion of the development of enterprises, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises in the Community (OJ No L 175, 4.7.1991, p. 32).

3. The EEA Joint Committee shall, from the entry into force of the Agreement, take the appropriate decisions concerning the modalities, including those concerning any financial contributions by EFTA States, which shall apply in respect of the cooperation in the framework of the Community's activities in implementing the Council Decision on the improvement of the business environment and the promotion of development of enterprises, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises in the Community(6) and activities following therefrom.

Article 8 Tourism

In the field of tourism, the dialogue referred to in Article 79(1) of the Agreement shall aim at identifying areas and actions where closer cooperation could contribute to the promotion of tourism and to the improvement of the general conditions of the tourist industry in the territories of the Contracting Parties.

Article 9 Audiovisual sector

The necessary decisions shall be taken as soon as possible after the entry into force of the Agreement, to ensure the participation by the EFTA States in the programmes established under 390 D 0685 Council Decision 90/685/EEC of 21 December 1990 concerning the implementation of an action programme to promote the development of the European audiovisual industry (MEDIA) (1991 to 1995) (OJ No L 380, 31.12.1990, p. 37) to the extent this matter has not been settled prior to that date.

Article 10 Civil protection

1. The Contracting Parties shall seek to strengthen cooperation in the framework of Community activities which may result from (489 Y 0223) Resolution of the Council and the Representatives of the Member States, meeting within the Council, of 13 February 1989 on the new developments in Community cooperation on civil protection (OJ No C 44, 23.2.1989, p. 3).

2. The EFTA States shall ensure that the number 112 is introduced within their territories as the single European emergency call number in accordance with the provisions of (391 D 0396) Council Decision of 29 July 1991 on the introduction of a single European emergency call number (OJ No L 217, 6.8.1991, p. 31).

(1)

390 D 0221: Council Decision 90/221/Euratom/EEC of 23 April 1990 (1990 to 1994) (OJ No L 117, 8.5.1990, p. 28).

(2)

387 D 0516: Council Decision 87/516/Euratom/EEC of 28 September 1987 (OJ No L 302, 24. 10. 1987, p. 1).

(3)

375 R 0337: Council Regulation (EEC) No 337/75 of 10 February 1975 establishing a European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (OJ No L 39, 13.2.1975, p. 1), as amended by:

• 1 79 H: Act concerning the Conditions of Accession and Adjustments to the Treaties — Accession of the Hellenic Republic (OJ No L 291, 19.11.1979, p. 17).

• 1 85 I: Act concerning the Conditions of Accession and Adjustment to the Treaties — Accession of the Kingdom of Spain and the Portuguese Republic (OJ No L 302, 15.11.85, pp. 157 and 158).

(4)

391 D 0049: Council Decision 91/49/EEC of 26 November 1990 (OJ No L 28, 2.2.1991, p. 29).

(5)

375 R 1365: Regulation (EEC) No 1365/75 of the Council of 26 May 1975 on the creation of a European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (OJ No L 139, 30.5.1975, p. 1), as amended by:

• 1 79 H: Act concerning the Conditions of Accession and Adjustments to the Treaties — Accession of the Hellenic Republic (OJ No L 291, 19.11.1979, p. 17).

• 1 85 I: Act concerning the Conditions of Accession and Adjustments to the Treaties — Accession of the Kingdom of Spain and the Portuguese Republic (OJ No L 302, 15.11.85, pp. 157 and 158).

(6)

389 D 0490: Council Decision 89/490/EEC of 28 July 1989 (OJ No C 239, 16.8.1989, p. 33).