EEA Joint Committee incorporates legal acts on state aid, secure connectivity and defence industry

Among the acts incorporated, Joint Committee Chair and Ambassador of Liechtenstein, Pascal Schafhauser, highlighted several acts that would strengthen EEA cooperation further, including the Procedural State Aid Regulation. He also emphasised the progress that had been made in the fields of transport and financial services.

In the digital area, the Chair highlighted Regulation (EU) 2023/588 establishing the Union Secure Connectivity Programme for 2023–2027 and Regulation 2024/3018, which concerns access to privately held data.

Moreover, the Chair also thanked the EU for the good cooperation on the incorporation of Regulation (EU) 2025/2643, which establishes the European Defence Industry Programme and a framework of measures to ensure the timely availability and supply of defence products.

The Chair then presented three EEA EFTA Comments that had been submitted to the EU since the last meeting: on the Digital Leadership window of the European Competitiveness Fund, on the proposal for the Horizon Europe (2028-2034) programme, and on the proposal for an Industrial Accelerator Act.

The EU and EEA EFTA delegations also held the third of their tri-monthly consultations on safeguard measures with regard to imports of certain ferro-alloying elements.

Following the incorporation of the Procedural State Aid Regulation, the EEA EFTA States held a signature ceremony to mark the signing of the amendment to the Surveillance and Court Agreement.

It was the first meeting with Liechtenstein presiding over the EEA Joint Committee after assuming the Chair from the EU at the beginning of the month. The next meeting will be held at EFTA House on 25 September 2026.

Liechtenstein priorities

Photos