26.8.2004   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 277/183

DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE

No 66/2004

of 26 April 2004

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 amended 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 of the EEA Joint Committee No 96/2003 of 11 July 2003 (1).

(2)

It is appropriate to extend the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the Agreement to include Decision No 2317/2003/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 December 2003 establishing a programme for the enhancement of quality in higher education and the promotion of intercultural understanding through cooperation with third countries (Erasmus Mundus) (2004-2008) (2).

(3)

Protocol 31 to the Agreement should therefore be amended in order to allow for this extended cooperation to take place with effect from 1 January 2004,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Article 4 of Protocol 31 to the Agreement shall be amended as follows:

1.

The following paragraph shall be inserted after paragraph 2g:

‘2h.

 The EFTA States shall, as from 1 January 2004, participate in the following programme:

—

32003 D 2317: Decision No 2317/2003/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 December 2003 establishing a programme for the enhancement of quality in higher education and the promotion of intercultural understanding through co-operation with third countries (Erasmus Mundus) (2004-2008) (OJ L 345, 31.12.2003, p. 1).’

2.

The text of paragraph 3 shall be replaced by the following:

‘The EFTA States shall contribute financially in accordance with Article 82(1)(a) to the programmes and actions referred to in paragraphs 1, 2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g and 2h.’

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the first day following the last notification to the EEA Joint Committee under Article 103(1) of the Agreement (*1).

It shall apply from 1 January 2004.

Article 3

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

Done at Brussels, 26 April 2004.

For the EEA Joint Committee

The President

P. WESTERLUND

(1)   OJ L 272, 23.10.2003, p. 34.

(2)   OJ L 345, 31.12.2003, p. 1.

(*1)  Constitutional requirements indicated.