25.8.2007 [ EN_ Official Journal of the European Union L 221/1 (Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is not obligatory) DECISIONS COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 23 July 2007 on the signing and the provisional application of an Agreement on the participation of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania in the European Economic Area and four related agreements (2007/566/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu- nity, and in particular Article 310, in conjunction with the second sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas: Following their accession to the European Union, the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania (EEA Applicant Countries) have applied to become Contracting Parties to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA Agreement) pursuant to Article 128 thereof. To that end, the Commission has negotiated, on behalf of the European Community and its Member States, with Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Kingdom of Norway and the EEA Applicant Countries an Agreement on the participation of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania in the European Economic Area and four related agreements, being: (i) Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Kingdom of Norway concerning a Cooperation Programme for Economic Growth and Sustainable Development in Bulgaria; (i) Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Kingdom of Norway concerning a Cooperation Programme for Economic Growth and Sustainable Development in Romania; (iii) Additional Protocol to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and Iceland conse- quent on the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union; and (iv) Additional Protocol to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Kingdom of Norway consequent on the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union. The negotiations were concluded on 29 March 2007. Subject to their possible conclusion at a later stage, the said agreements should be signed on behalf of the European Community. Pending the completion of the procedures required to bring them into force and in order to maintain the good functioning of the internal market within the European Economic Area, the said agreements should be applied on a provisional basis pursuant to Agreements in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Kingdom of Norway, respectively,