THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Articles 46 and 48 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, and in particular Article 1(3) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1)
The Agreement on the European Economic Area (‘the EEA Agreement’) entered into force on 1 January 1994.
(2)
Pursuant to Article 98 of the EEA Agreement, the EEA Joint Committee may decide to amend, inter alia, Protocol 31 thereto.
(3)
Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement contains provisions and arrangements concerning cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms.
(4)
It is appropriate to extend the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the EEA Agreement to include cooperation concerning the free movement of workers, the coordination of social security systems and measures for migrants, including migrants from third countries.
(5)
Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement should therefore be amended accordingly in order to allow for this extended cooperation to take place from 1 January 2014.
(6)
The position of the Union within the EEA Joint Committee should be based on the attached draft Decision,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: