Liechtenstein Chair presents EEA priorities for second half of 2017

Published 07-07-2017
The Standing Committee is Chaired this Semester by Ambassador Sabine Monauni
The EFTA Standing Committee and the EEA Joint Committee met in Brussels on 5 and 7 July 2017 respectively.

On 1 July 2017, Liechtenstein took over the rotating Chair of the EFTA Standing Committee for the second-half of the year.

Liechtenstein’s Head of Mission to the EU, Ambassador Sabine Monauni, presented the three main priorities for the chairmanship for the second half of 2017: 

- reducing the number of legal acts awaiting incorporation into the EEA Agreement, in particular in the field of Financial Services

- ensuring a smooth Brexit process

- strenghtening the knowledge of the EEA Agreement

Click here for the full work programme of the Liechtenstein Chair. 

The Standing Committee meeting was the occasion for the director of the Financial Mechanism Office, Mr Henning Stirø, to present the annual report 2016-2017 on the EEA and Norway Grants.  Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway have channeled 1.8 billion Euros through 150 programmes in 16 countries in the period 2009-2014. Over 6 000 projects received support. Projects financed during this period were implemented until April 2017.
 
At its meeting on 7 July in Brussels, the EEA Joint Committee adopted 32 decisions incorporating 54 EU acts into the EEA Agreement.
 
Among the acts adopted was the EU-US Privacy Shield. Under the terms of this Decision, companies established in the EEA may transfer personal data to US companies that have certified under the Privacy Shield framework without any further formalities. The Privacy Shield framework guarantees that certified US companies will handle personal data of EEA residents and citizens in accordance with the fundamental principles of personal data protection which apply in Europe. In addition, the Privacy Shield framework offers individuals various redress and dispute resolution mechanisms which involve the European Data Protection Authorities. 
 
 

Pictures from the meetings can be found here

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