EFTA States and Macedonia hold first joint committee meeting

Delegations took stock of their economic development and relations one year after the entry into force of the EFTA-Macedonia Free Trade Agreement. They shared the expectation that this Agreement would lead to a deepening of trade exchanges between their countries and contribute to Macedonia's further integration into the European free trade system. To that end, the Joint Committee adopted eight decisions, including six decisions that upgrade the Agreement and allow for a more efficient implementation of its rules to the benefit of the economic operators both in Macedonia and in the EFTA States.

The EFTA-Macedonia Free Trade Agreement covers trade in goods (and related aspects including competition and intellectual property rights) and contains provisions for a possible future liberalization of other areas of common interest such as services and investment. The institutional provisions of the Agreement provide for regular meetings of the Joint Committee.