Future Perspectives for the European Economic Area

Co-rapporteurs: Ms Katrín JÚLIUSDÓTTIR (Social Democratic Alliance –  Iceland). Ms Bilyana RAEVA (ALDE - Bulgaria)

In the resolution on Future perspectives on the European Economic Area the EEA JPC welcomed the positive endorsement of the Lisbon Treaty by the European Parliament and hoped for a positive conclusion of the ratification process of the Lisbon Treaty which respects the democratic will of all EU member states. The Committee recognised that the EU has become a more heterogeneous interlocutor, making it less able to accommodate special concerns of the EEA EFTA States through adaptations, exceptions, and transition periods in the EEA. It also questioned whether the EEA EFTA States could continue to deal with the rapidly growing number of legal acts and policy initiatives that are relevant to the EEA but also include elements that are not covered by the EEA Agreement on a case by case basis. To this end, the Committee encouraged a reinforced and coordinated approach among the EEA EFTA States. Moreover, the Committee noted that a lack of knowledge in the EU institutions of the rights and obligations contained in the EEA Agreement created problems for EEA EFTA inclusion and participation in EEA relevant initiatives and committees as mandated by the Agreement. Finally, the EEA JPC urged even more active participation by the EEA EFTA national parliaments in EEA matters with regard to strengthening bilateral relations with the European Parliament and the European Parliament political party groups.

Research and Education Programmes: The EEA and the EFTA States

Co-rapporteurs: Ms Hanne DAHL (IND/DEM - Denmark). Mr Øystein DJUPEDAL (Social Left Party - Norway)

In this resolution the EEA JPC welcomed that the new generation of EU programmes had been included in the EEA Agreement in 2007, which opened up a wide variety of opportunities for EFTA citizens to cooperate in diverse policy areas such as youth, culture, health, environment, civil protection, energy and gender equality. The Committee also underlined that the EFTA countries’ needs should be taken into account in all new initiatives that are established for further developing European Research Areas. Moreover, the Committee emphasised that with the Executive agencies being intrinsically linked to the EU programmes, which are incorporated in the EEA agreement, the EEA EFTA States should have full access to the recruitment procedure as with all other activities of the agencies. It highly regretted the decision in July 2008 to block the employment of EEA EFTA citizens in these agencies and strongly urged that this decision would be reversed as soon as possible.

In addition to the debates on the two resolutions, the Committee discussed Iceland and the International financial crisis, an item which was raised on behalf of the Icelandic parliamentary delegation. The fruitful discussions which lasted almost two hours involved parliamentarians and representatives from the EU Council, the European Commission, the EFTA Surveillance Authority and the EEA EFTA States. Moreover, the Committee discussed the item Swiss contributions to the economic and social cohesion of EU which was introduced with a statement by Mr Claude Wild, Deputy Head of the Swiss Mission to the EU. The third additional item which was on the EEA JPC agenda was cross-border health in the EEA which was a follow up to resolution passed at the 30th EEA JPC meeting in Iceland in April this year. The EEA JPC co-rapporteur Mr Svein Roald HANSEN, introduced his work and Mr Bernard Merkel from DG SANCO briefed the Committee on latest developments as concerned Patient’s rights in cross-border health care.

Prince Nikolaus von LIECHTENSTEIN, the President in-Office of the EEA Joint Committee and representing the President in-Office of the EEA Council, Ms Natasha BUTLER, representing the EU President of the EEA Council, Mr Alan SEATTER, the EU President of the EEA Joint Committee, and Mr Per SANDERUD, President of the EFTA Surveillance Authority briefed the JPC on the functioning and development of the EEA Agreement and exchanged views with Committee members.

Members of the Swiss Parliament attended the meeting as observers.

The next EEA JPC meeting is scheduled to take place in Strasbourg on 25-26 March 2009.

Read the adopted resolutions here.

For further information, please contact:

European Parliament
Mr Henrik Olsen
tel: +32-2-284 27 79
henrik.olsen@europarl.europa.eu

European Free Trade Association
Mr Andri Lúthersson
tel: +32-2-286 17 24
andri.luthersson@efta.int