Guide to the implementation of directives based on the New ...

9. External aspects
9.1. Agreement on <strong>the</strong> European Economic Area
● The Agreement on <strong>the</strong> European Economic Area is established
between <strong>the</strong> European Community and Iceland, Liechtenstein
and Norway. The Agreement extends <strong>the</strong> single market
<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>se three EFTA States.
experts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se States in <strong>the</strong> same way as
it seeks advice from experts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Member
States. As regards <strong>the</strong> committees assisting
<strong>the</strong> Commission in its work, close cooperation
has been established. The EEA
Council meets biannually, and <strong>the</strong> EEA Joint
Parliamentary Committee and <strong>the</strong> EEA Consultative
Committee regularly.
9.1.1. Basic elements <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Agreement
The Agreement on <strong>the</strong> European Economic Area, in force
since 1 January 1994, covers all New Approach <strong>directives</strong>,
and o<strong>the</strong>r Community legislation and acquis relevant <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>
free circulation <strong>of</strong> products. Hence, it extends <strong>the</strong> single
market <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> so-called EEA EFTA States: Iceland, Liechtenstein
and Norway.
The objective <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> EEA Agreement is <strong>to</strong> establish a
dynamic and homogeneous European Economic Area,
<strong>based</strong> on common rules and equal conditions <strong>of</strong> competition.
The Agreement is amended on a continuous basis
through decisions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> EEA Joint Committee following
changes in relevant Community legislation. To arrive at and
maintain a uniform interpretation and application <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
Agreement an EFTA Court and an EFTA Surveillance Authority
have been established.
Rights conferred and obligations imposed upon <strong>the</strong>
Member States, or <strong>the</strong>ir public entities, undertakings, or
individuals in relation <strong>to</strong> each o<strong>the</strong>r, are, according <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>
EEA Agreement, unders<strong>to</strong>od <strong>to</strong> be conferred or imposed in
<strong>the</strong> same way also upon <strong>the</strong> EEA EFTA States. This ensures
that <strong>the</strong> EEA EFTA States, and <strong>the</strong>ir economic opera<strong>to</strong>rs,
are subject <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> same rights and obligations as <strong>the</strong>ir counterparts
in <strong>the</strong> Community. For instance, <strong>the</strong> New Approach
<strong>directives</strong> are applied in exactly <strong>the</strong> same way in <strong>the</strong> EEA
EFTA States as in <strong>the</strong> Member States — although <strong>the</strong> administrative
procedures concerning notification bodies and <strong>the</strong>
safeguard clause are modified. Therefore, all guidance
applicable <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Member States according <strong>to</strong> this <strong>Guide</strong>
applies also <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> EEA EFTA States.
For <strong>the</strong> purpose <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> EEA Agreement references <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>
Community or <strong>the</strong> common market in <strong>the</strong> EU/EEA acts are
unders<strong>to</strong>od <strong>to</strong> be references <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> terri<strong>to</strong>ries <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Contracting
Parties. Accordingly, a product is not only placed
on <strong>the</strong> Community market, but on <strong>the</strong> EEA market.
The EEA Agreement ensures a close cooperation
between <strong>the</strong> Commission and <strong>the</strong> administration <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> EEA
EFTA States. The Commission seeks informal advice from
9.1.2. Notification <strong>of</strong> bodies
Procedures for notification <strong>of</strong> conformity assessment bodies
from <strong>the</strong> EEA EFTA States have been established <strong>based</strong>
on provisions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> EEA Agreement. The request for allocation
<strong>of</strong> an identification number is first presented <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>
EFTA Secretariat, applying <strong>the</strong> same notification form as in
<strong>the</strong> Community. The Secretariat verifies its formal correctness
and transmits <strong>the</strong> application <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Commission with
a request for an identification number (or for an extension
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> identification number <strong>to</strong> new
<strong>directives</strong>/tasks). The Commission allocates <strong>the</strong> number
and communicates it via <strong>the</strong> Secretariat <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> notifying
country. After this <strong>the</strong> EEA EFTA State makes a formal notification
<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r EEA EFTA States, <strong>the</strong> EFTA Surveillance
Authority and <strong>the</strong> Secretariat. The Surveillance Authority
examines <strong>the</strong> notification and informs <strong>the</strong> Commission,
which keeps an updated list <strong>of</strong> notified bodies from <strong>the</strong>
Member States and <strong>the</strong> EEA EFTA States, and publishes it
in <strong>the</strong> Official Journal.
When a notified body ceases <strong>to</strong> fulfil <strong>the</strong> requirements or
its obligations, <strong>the</strong> EEA EFTA State has <strong>the</strong> responsibility <strong>to</strong>
withdraw <strong>the</strong> notification. The Member State must also publish
this information, and inform <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r EEA EFTA States,
<strong>the</strong> EFTA Surveillance Authority and <strong>the</strong> Secretariat. The
Surveillance Authority informs <strong>the</strong> Commission about <strong>the</strong>
withdrawal, which will <strong>the</strong>n update <strong>the</strong> list <strong>of</strong> notified bodies.
9.1.3. Safeguard clause procedure
The EFTA Surveillance Authority is responsible for <strong>the</strong> examination
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> safeguard clause notifications from <strong>the</strong> EEA
EFTA States. The Authority consults all parties concerned
and exchanges information with <strong>the</strong> Commission on <strong>the</strong> proceedings
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> case. The Authority transmits its decision <strong>to</strong>
<strong>the</strong> EEA EFTA States and <strong>the</strong> Commission for fur<strong>the</strong>r
actions. If an EEA EFTA State does not follow <strong>the</strong> decision,
<strong>the</strong> Surveillance Authority can initiate an infringement
procedure.
In cases where a Member State triggers a safeguard
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