About EFTA News

  • Tourism statistics released for EU and EFTA countries   12.11.2013
    Reykjavik, Iceland.

    A recent Eurostat report shows that the average expenditure per trip was highest for visitors to Iceland (EUR 1 217 per trip in 2010), followed by Norway (EUR 638 per trip in 2007) and Spain (EUR 529 per trip in 2008).

  • EFTA Ministers to meet in Geneva on 18 November 2013   06.11.2013
    Ambassador Norbert Frick from Liechtenstein

    On 6 November, the EFTA Council discussed preparations for the meeting of EFTA Ministers that will take place in Geneva on 18 November under the chairmanship of Liechtenstein.

  • The EFTA Council discusses the upcoming EFTA Ministerial meeting and free trade negotiations   22.10.2013

    The EFTA Council met in Geneva on 22 October under the chairmanship of Ambassador Norbert Frick of Liechtenstein, which holds the rotating EFTA chair during the second half of this year. The Council discussed the Ministerial meeting in November and reviewed ongoing free trade negotiations.

  • EFTA and EU Ministers of Finance and Economy meet in Luxembourg   15.10.2013

    The annual meeting of EFTA and EU Ministers of Finance and Economy (the “EFTA ECOFIN”) took place on 15 October 2013 in Luxembourg. The main topic for discussion was cooperation in the field of financial services and economic dynamics in Europe.

  • Norwegian Ambassador presents credentials to Secretary-General   24.09.2013
    Ambassador Harald Neple and Secretary-General Kristinn F. Árnason

    Ambassador Harald Neple met with Secretary-General Kristinn F. Árnason on 23 September in Geneva to present his credentials as Norway‘s representative to EFTA.

  • Liechtenstein takes over Chair of EFTA Council   12.07.2013
    Ambassador Norbert Frick and Peter Matt

    At the meeting of the EFTA Council on 11 July 2013 in Geneva, the incoming Council Chair, Liechtenstein, presented its priorities for the second half of the year, which are based on the conclusions from the Ministerial meeting in Trondheim, Norway. The Council also reviewed the latest round of free trade negotiations between EFTA and the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

  • EFTA Ministerial meeting, Trondheim, Norway, 24 June 2013   24.06.2013

    On 24 June 2013, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) held its summer Ministerial meeting in Trondheim, Norway. The meeting was chaired by Mr Trond Giske, Minister of Trade and Industry of Norway. Ministers of the four EFTA States (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) signed free trade agreements with the Central American States of Costa Rica and Panama, represented by Ms Anabel González, Minister of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica and Mr Ricardo Quijano, Minister of Trade and Industry of Panama; and with Bosnia and Herzegovina, represented by Mr Mirko Šarović, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations. A joint declaration on cooperation was signed with Myanmar, represented by Mr Pwint San, Deputy Minister of Commerce.

  • EFTA Council prepares for summer Ministerial meeting   11.06.2013
    Ambassador Elin Østebø Johansen chairing the EFTA Council

    At its meeting in Geneva on 11 June, the EFTA Council prepared for the summer EFTA Ministerial meeting that will take place in Trondheim, Norway, on 24 June 2013. The Council also reviewed ongoing free trade negotiations, including a recent round with Vietnam.

  • EFTA Council discusses current free trade negotiations and the summer Ministerial meeting   18.04.2013
    Ambassador Elin Østebø Johansen chairing the EFTA Council on 18 April 2013

    The EFTA Council met for the second time this year on 18 April under the chairmanship of Norway. The Council discussed free trade relations with several countries outside the European Union and approved amendments to the EFTA Convention. The Council also started preparations for the EFTA Summer Ministerial meeting in Norway.

  • EFTA Council Chair outlines priorities for first half of 2013   07.02.2013
    Elin Østebø Johansen, Norway's Ambassador to the WTO and EFTA.

    The EFTA Council held its first meeting of 2013 on 7 February in Geneva, under the Norwegian Chairmanship. Ambassador Elin Østebø Johansen presented Norway’s priorities for the first half of the year. The Council adopted the EFTA-Eurostat Technical Cooperation Programme for 2013 and discussed ongoing free trade processes.