Kolbrún Halldórsdóttir, the Icelandic Minister for the Environment visited the EFTA Secretariat in Brussels on 2 March. The Minister met with representatives of the Secretariat to discuss and exchange views on recent developments concerning environmental issues related to the EEA Agreement. This included EU Emission Trading Scheme, the Marine Strategy Directive, Environmental Criminal law and the proposal for the new Directive on the promotion of renewable energy expected to be published in May 2009 .
The EU Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme has recently been extended to cover emissions from the aviation sector and in the near future additional amendments will include, amongst other things, emissions from the aluminium sector.
The Marine Strategy Directive aims to effectively protect the European Marine Environment. By 2021 the EU´s marine waters shall have achieved a good environmental status. The Directive is the environmental contribution to the EU´s maritime policy.
All these issues are high on the agenda at present and under consideration in the EEA EFTA states.