Social partners and Ambassadors discuss EEA developments

Part of the EFTA Consultative Committee, chaired by Liz Helgesen.

The EFTA Consultative Committee, that consists of social partners from the EFTA States, and the EFTA Standing Committee* met for their annual bilateral meeting on 22 March 2022. This was the 27^th time such a meeting was held in this setting. The purpose of the meeting is for the social partners to provide advice and input to the work of the EEA EFTA States on important EEA and EFTA-related topics.

The Chair of the EFTA Consultative Committee, Liz Helgesen, used the opportunity to comment on the unprovoked war and military aggression of Russia in Ukraine. She welcomed the statement of the EFTA Standing Committee Chair at the last Joint Committee meeting with EU partners. She said that: “We take note of your comments that EFTA is fully aligned with EU sanctions against Russia and that we stand united with the European Union in expressing our solidarity with Ukraine. I can only echo that important message. It is vital for us to show solidarity and support for the Ukrainian people.”

The Chair of the EFTA Standing Committee, Liechtenstein’s Ambassador Pascal Schafhauser, presented the latest developments and future perspectives in the European Economic Area (EEA) and EFTA relations with the EU. He said that: “Looking ahead, a clear priority for us in the coming months will be to contribute to the further development of the Internal Market, through the decision-shaping mechanisms of the EEA Agreement.” Ambassadors and Deputy Heads of Missions from Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland also invited took the floor.

Arne Røksund, President of the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA), shared a statement with the participants and remarked that: “We are very conscious and determined not to be a bottleneck in the nations’ decision processes’ in the handling of crises.” .

*The EFTA Standing Committee (SC) consists of the Ambassadors to the EU of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, and observers from Switzerland and the EFTA Surveillance Authority. The next joint meeting between the EFTA CC and the SC should take place in spring next year.

Find pictures of the meeting here.