As Council Chair for the first half of 2016, Switzerland will host the summer Ministerial meeting in Bern on 27 June with Federal Councillor and President of the Swiss Confederation Mr Johann N. Schneider-Ammann as Chair.
In addition to their own deliberations, the EFTA Ministers will meet with the association’s committees of Members of Parliament and representatives of the social partners of the member countries. Ministers are expected to sign the Free Trade Agreement between the EFTA States and Georgia, and to launch the free trade negotiations with Ecuador.
In addition, at the meeting today, the EFTA Council approved four operating grant agreements in the field of standardisation. EFTA is an active partner in European standardisation activities and works closely with the European Commission and various standardisation bodies.
The Council also discussed the state of play in free trade negotiations and relations with the European Union.
The incoming Icelandic Ambassador in Geneva, Mr Högni Kristjánsson, who takes over on 1 August 2016, also attended the meeting. The next Council meeting is planned for 11 May.
From left to right: Ambassador Harald Neple, Norway; Minister Counsellor Pascal Schafhauser, Liechtenstein; Ambassador Dr. Peter C. Matt, Liechtenstein; First Secretary Beatrice Fankhauser, Liechtenstein; Ambassador Martin Eyjólfsson, Iceland; and Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Högni Kristjánsson, Iceland
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