9.11.2010 Official Journal of the European Union L 291/1 (Non-legislative acts) II INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS COUNCIL DECISION of 26 July 2010 on the signing and provisional application of an Agreement between the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway on an EEA Financial Mechanism 2009-2014, an Agreement between the European Union and Norway on a Norwegian Financial Mechanism for the period 2009-2014, an Additional Protocol to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and Iceland, concerning special provisions applicable to imports into the European Union of certain fish and fisheries products for the period 2009-2014, and an Additional Protocol to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and Norway, concerning special provisions applicable to imports into the European Union of certain fish and fisheries products for the period 2009-2014 (2010/674/EU) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 217 in conjunction with Article 218(5) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, Whereas: 1 0] L 0] L 0J L The following financial mechanisms and cooperation programmes expired on 30 April 2009: — the EEA Financial Mechanism 2004-2009 provided for in Protocol 38a to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA Agreement) ('), as subsequently supplemented with an addendum in 2007 wupon Bulgaria and Romania becoming contracting parties to the EEA Agreement (?), the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2004-2009 provided for in the Agreement between the Kingdom of Norway and the European Community on a Norwegian financial mechanism for the period 2004-2009 (), the Cooperation Programme mentioned in the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the FEuropean Community and the 130, 29.4.2004, p. 14. 221, 25.8.2007, p. 18. 130, 29.4.2004, p. 81. O] O] Kingdom of Norway concerning a Cooperation Programme for Economic Growth and Sustainable Development in Bulgaria (¥, and — the Cooperation Programme mentioned in the 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 (). The need to alleviate economic and social disparities within the European Economic Area persists. Therefore a new mechanism for the financial contributions of the EEA EFTA States and a new Norwegian financial mechanism should be established. To this end, the Commission has negotiated, on behalf of the Union, an agreement with Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway on a new EEA financial mechanism for the period 2009-2014 as well as an annex to that agreement. The annex will take the form of a protocol, to be named Protocol 38b to the EEA Agreement. To the same end, the Commission has also negotiated, on behalf of the Union, an agreement with Norway on a new Norwegian financial mechanism for the period 2009-2014. Subject to their conclusion at a later date, these agreements should be signed. L 221, 25.8.2007, p. 46. L 221, 25.8.2007, p. 52.