Decision of the EEA Joint Committee

No 72/1999

of 15 June 1999

amending Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement, on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms

THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, as adjusted by the Protocol adjusting the Agreement on the European Economic Area, hereinafter referred to as "the Agreement", and in particular Articles 86 and 98 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Protocol 31 to the Agreement was amended by Decision No 27/1999 of the EEA Joint Committee of 26 February 1999(1).

(2) It is appropriate to extend the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the Agreement to include measures of financial assistance for innovative and job-creating small and medium-sized enterprises, pursuant to Council Decision 98/347/EC(2).

(3) Protocol 31 to the Agreement should therefore be amended in order to allow for this extended cooperation to take place from 1 January 1999,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The following indent shall be added in Article 7(5) of Protocol 31 to the Agreement:

"- 398 D 0347: Council Decision 98/347/EC of 19 May 1998 on measures of financial assistance for innovative and job-creating small and medium-sized enterprises ((SMEs), the growth and employment initiative (OJ L 155, 29.5.1998, p. 43), as far as activities related to budget line B5-51 1 'Joint European ventures', entered in the general budget of the European Communities, are concerned."

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on 16 June 1999, provided that all the notifications under Article 103(1) of the Agreement have been made to the EEA Joint Committee.

It shall apply from 1 January 1999.

Article 3

This Decision shall be published in the EEA section of, and in the EEA Supplement to, the Official Journal of the European Communities.

Done at Brussels, 15 June 1999.

For the EEA Joint Committee

The President

F. Barbaso

(1) OJ L 48, 22.6.2000, p. 54.

(2) OJ L 155, 29.5.1998, p. 43.