EFTA 50 Years

EFTA 50 Years In 2010, the European Free Trade Association celebrates its 50th anniversary. The EFTA Convention was signed on 4 January 1960, and entered into force on 3 May of the same year. In connection with the 50th Anniversary  of EFTA  and the 15th anniversary of the EEA Agreement, which entered into force in 1994, EFTA organised a seminar  in November 2009 in Geneva, entitled Partners in Progress. EFTA will publish a book in May with material from the seminar. The book will also contain new essays on EFTA as well as articles from earlier EFTA publications that illuminate the history and functions of the association  and its contribution to the post-war economic and political integration of Europe. During 2010, new and old material and photographs will be made available on our website.

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News

The Food Law Package will formally enter into force on 1 May 2010
19.03.2010

On 17 March 2010, Iceland notified the fulfilment of constitutional requirements concerning the Food Law Package. The Joint CommitteeOn 17 March 2010, Iceland notified the fulfilment of constitutional requirements concerning the Food Law Package. The Joint Committee Decisions which are part of this package of legislation will therefore formally enter into force on 1 May 2010.

Hearing on the EEA and Switzerland in the European Parliament19.03.2010

A public hearing of the on the Internal Market in the EEA and Switzerland: Current State of Play and Future Challenges took place in the European Parliament on 18 March.

EFTA experts met with MEP Dr Andreas Schwab18.03.2010

Dr Andreas Schwab, Rapporteur for the proposal on Consumer Rights, addressed the EFTA Working Group on Consumer Affairs on 16 March 2010.

 

Seminar on network neutrality and next generation access networks17.03.2010

On 16 March the EFTA Secretariat organised a seminar on network neutrality and next generation access networks. The aim of the seminar was to share practices in the EFTA States with industry, policy makers and other interested parties in Brussels.

EFTA Council discussed free trade negotiations with Ukraine and plans for summer Ministerial meeting16.03.2010

The EFTA Council met on 15 March for its second meeting in 2010 under Icelandic Chairmanship. The agenda included a review of ongoing free trade negotiations with Ukraine, EFTA Anniversary celebrations in May and preparations for the Ministerial Meeting in Reykjavik in June.

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Publications

A short introduction to 50 Years of EFTA
A short history of EFTA
This is EFTA 2009
This is EFTA 2009

This publication is an overview of EFTA's activities and institutional framework.

Annual Report 2008

48th Annual Report of the European Free Trade Association, 2008.

EEA Decision Shaping

EFTA Bulletin number 1, 2009.

More publications
EFTA Surveillance Authorityeea grantsEFTA Court
The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is an intergovernmental organisation set up for the promotion of free trade and economic integration to the benefit of its four Member States: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The Association manages the EFTA Convention; EFTA’s worldwide network of free trade and partnership agreements, and the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement.

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Spring Seminar on the EEA: Brussels 27 and 28 May 2010

Approaches to bilateral free trade agreements: EFTA and the EU

We are pleased to announce that the programme for this spring’s Seminar on the EEA is now available. 

The two-day seminar will be held on 27 and 28 May at the EFTA Secretariat in Brussels.

The aim of the seminar is to provide professionals in both the public and private sectors with an overview of the EEA Agreement and how it works in practice.

The second day of the seminar will be dedicated to trade policy, focusing on the approaches taken by EFTA and the EU to bilateral free trade agreements.

Please follow the link to view a copy of the programme. Registration for the seminar can be completed through the online registration form.

For more information regarding the event, please contact:

Lisbeth Mjøs
E-mail: lmj@efta.int
Phone: +32 (0)2 286 17 72