EEA EFTA Forum adopts its first opinion

The opinion adopted by the Forum concerns waste management related to bio-waste and a revision of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive, issues that the Forum also had the opportunity to discuss with the Policy Director of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions, Angelika Poth-Mögele, and the Secretary-General of Municipal Waste Europe, Gunnel Klingberg.

The Forum met with the Secretary-General of the Committee of the Regions, Gerhard Stahl, to discuss possible means of future cooperation. Subsequent meetings were held with the President of the EFTA Surveillance Authority, Per Sanderud, and the Registrar of the EFTA Court, Skúli Magnússon.

The EEA EFTA Forum was set up by a decision of the Standing Committee of the EFTA States as an informal body to involve elected representatives from local and regional authorities in EEA matters. At its first meeting in Reykjavik in June 2010, the Forum elected Halvdan Skard, Municipality of Bærum, Norway, as its first Chair, and Halldór Halldórsson, Icelandic Association of Local Authorities, as Vice-Chair.

The Forum has 12 members, six from Iceland and six from Norway. Liechtenstein has decided not to take part in the meetings for the time being.

The EEA EFTA Forum in Brussels on 25-26
November 2010.

The Forum meets the Secretary-General of
the Committee of the Regions.