Iceland lays out priorities for chairmanship at Standing Committee meeting

Published 07-07-2022

On 7 July, EFTA House hosted the last Standing Committee meeting of 2022 before summer break and the first one under the Icelandic chairmanship, taking over from Liechtenstein. The meeting chair, Icelandic ambassador Mr. Kristján Andri Stefánsson, thanked the Liechtenstein ambassador Mr. Paschal Schafhauser for an "eventful and very successful" chairmanship.

The EFTA Secretariat updated the Standing Committee on European Union actions and possible EEA implications of the situation in Ukraine.

The Secretariat informed the SC that the number of legal acts awaiting incorporation had decreased by 12 acts from the previous cut-off date, from 550 to 538. In the meeting of the EEA Joint Committee the following day, 27 Joint Committee Decisions (JCDs) would be adopted, incorporating 38 legal acts.

This would bring down the number of legal acts outstanding to 502. Out of the 46 JCDs incorporating 69 acts awaiting the fulfillment of constitutional requirements by the EEA EFTA States, 29 JCDs had passed the six-month delay mark. The Secretariat also informed the Standing Committee on progress regarding the assessment of reducing the processing time for the incorporation of legal acts.

Icelandic priorities for SC chairmanship

Iceland has put forth a list of priorities for the chairmanship, priorities which are supplemented by work programmes prepared for the EFTA subcommittees and selected EEA EFTA Working Groups.

Incorporation of EEA-relevant acts

The timely incorporation of EEA-relevant EU legislation into the EEA Agreement is crucial to ensure a level playing field throughout the EEA. A particular focus will be made on the incorporation of acts in the fields of energy, financial services, transport, statistics, and wine and spirits. Follow closely Ukraine-related acts and ensure swift incorporation into the EEA Agreement where relevant.

Decision-shaping

Continue to identify and provide input to the EU on EEA relevant initiatives and encourage EEA-EFTA Comments when appropriate and possible.

EEA Outreach to ensure the good functioning of the EEA Agreement

Continue to strengthen the knowledge of the EEA Agreement and the Financial Mechanisms and make full use of the available tools and the EFTA House to disseminate information on the EEA. The EEA Council will be hosted for the first time in the EFTA House in November of this year.

Participation in EU programmes

Continue to ensure that EEA EFTA States´ participation in relevant EU programmes for the current programme period 2021-2027 is based on the rights and obligations set out in the EEA Agreement.

Synergies between the three EFTA House organisations

Continue work to enhance the synergies between the three EFTA House organisations.

Other activities – Financial Mechanism

Negotiations on our financial contributions to the social-economic cohesion in the EEA were kicked off on 16 June. Ensure efficiency and continuity on the new fund and parallel processes on trade-related issues with a view to promoting a continuous and balanced strengthening of trade and economic relations in line with article 115 of the Agreement.

Find high-resolution photos from the meeting here.

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