EEA Agreement: amending Annex XIII (transport, maritime cabotage)

OBJECTIVE: Extension to the EEA of Regulation (EEC) No 3577/92 on maritime cabotage. SUBSTANCE: In the context of extending Community legislation to the EEA, this draft Decision of the EEA Joint Committee aims to extend Regulation (EEC) No 3577/92 on maritime cabotage (freedom to provide services to maritime transport within Member States) as part of the 'interim package' (relevant acquis adopted between signature and entry into force of the EEA agreement) and which should have been incorporated into the EEA acquis after September 1995. The delay is explained by the fact that the draft includes certain adaptations to the Community Regulation (one of which renders the temporary derogation at Article 1 of the Regulation inapplicable to the EFTA member states and to any new Member States of the Union). It therefore had to be referred back to the Council to establish the Community position, pursuant to Council Regulation No 2894/94 concerning the arrangements for implementing the EEA agreement. The Council should now adopt the draft without delay after Parliament has given its opinion. �