EEA Joint Committee incorporates act to enhance transparent and predictable working conditions in Europe

A total of 96 acts were incorporated into the EEA Agreement in the meeting through 46 Joint Committee Decisions. Highlights from the list included Directive (EU) 2019/1152 on transparent and predictable working conditions, which stems from the framework of the European Pillar of Social Rights. The Directive aims to strengthen labour conditions in Europe, including by improving workers’ access to information about their own working conditions. This has become increasingly important in recent decades due to the rise in non-standard forms of employment, which is linked to demographic shifts and technological advances. 

Another important act incorporated in the meeting was Regulation (EU) 2020/741 on minimum requirements for water reuse, which seeks to address climate change-related water scarcity in Europe while promoting circular economy objectives. 

The meeting was presided over by Norway’s Ambassador and the EFTA Chair, Mr Anders H. Eide. Mr Nicolas von Lingen from the Secretariat-General of the European Commission co-chaired the meeting on behalf of the EU.  

During the meeting, the EFTA Chair also referred to the newly published report on “Cross-sectoral EU initiatives: The way ahead for the EEA” by the Task Force on Files with Distinctive Horizontal Dimensions.  

The EEA Joint Committee is responsible for the management of the EEA Agreement, and is a forum in which views are exchanged and decisions taken by consensus to incorporate EU legislation into the EEA Agreement. The Committee comprises the Ambassadors of the EEA EFTA States and representatives of the Secretariat-General of the European Commission. The next meeting will take place on 25 October 2024.