There are approximately 1 000 national experts seconded to the European Commission from the 27 EU Member States, the EFTA States and other countries. The aim of the arrangement is to supply the Commission with expertise that is not available internally and to be a tool for the EU to increase and spread knowledge of the European institutions and decision-making process. For the employers seconding experts, the arrangement is an opportunity for international training and hands on experience in important policy areas of the European Union for their staff. The experts remain employees of their national employers throughout the secondment period and can stay at the Commission between 6 months and 4 years.

Every year the EEA EFTA States agree on seconding a certain number of national experts to the European Commission as an in kind contribution to the running costs of the programmes in which they participate. For 2007, through the EEA EFTA budget, there was an agreement to second 35 such EEA EFTA in kind national experts and the arrangement is expected to continue throughout the programme period 2007-2013. In addition, there are bilateral agreements between the European Commission and the EFTA States on the secondment of experts on a voluntary basis. Such bilateral agreements are used in particular for secondments to the Research programme.

Full list of EFTA National Experts and contact details