EEA Joint Parliamentary Committee discusses European competitiveness and resilience

The meeting was co-chaired by Norbert Lins, President of the EEA JPC and Chair of the EP delegation for relations with the EFTA countries and the EEA, and Nikolai Astrup, Vice President of the EEA JPC and Chair of the EFTA Parliamentary Committee.

Climate objectives and industrial policy

During the meeting, the EEA JPC discussed the recently announced revision of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), which aims to update the EU’s main decarbonisation instrument to align with its climate and economic goals. Peter Liese, Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and rapporteur, emphasised the role of the EU ETS as a pioneering climate policy in Europe and beyond, having encouraged the development of comparable mechanisms globally. Sharing further reflections, Nikolai Astrup, Member of the Norwegian Parliament, emphasised the need to balance emission cuts, competitiveness and regulatory burden.

Discussions also focused on the Industrial Accelerator Act, and MEP and co-rapporteur Christophe Grudler briefed the parliamentarians on the status of the file and ongoing debates. The EEA EFTA side emphasised the importance of clarifying that the “Buy European” requirement covers all 30 EEA States in order to avoid unintended distortion of competition within the Internal Market.

The committee also discussed the Commission’s recently adopted proposal on EU Public Procurement Policy with DG GROW and its implications for the Internal Market.

Security and resilience as foundations for competitiveness 

Building on the 65th EEA JPC meeting in Vaduz, Liechtenstein in May 2026, the committee followed up on two key files: the Military Mobility Package and the European Grids Package.  

On military mobility, members had the opportunity to engage with rapporteur Roberts Zīle, Vice-President of the European Parliament, who reported on recent trilogue negotiations regarding the new EU Regulation on Military Mobility. On the European Grids Package, members discussed the state of play with MEP and rapporteur Tsvetelina Penkova, who emphasised the role of the package in strengthening and modernising energy infrastructure to enhance Europe’s interconnectedness and energy security.

Growing strategic interest in the Arctic added a further dimension. Members attended a meeting of the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs, where Claude Véron-Réville, the EU’s Special Envoy for Arctic Affairs, presented the new EU Arctic Strategy.

Space: a strategic sector with close EEA cooperation  

Space cooperation has been a recurring theme of the EEA JPC, and the committee discussed how the space sector contributes to Europe’s competitiveness, security and resilience. María Fernández Molinero, Head of Unit for Space Policy at DG DEFIS, described the EEA Agreement as the foundation for the EEA EFTA States’ space cooperation with Europe. She also welcomed Norway’s progress at the Andøya Spaceport.

Industry voices further underlined the point. Andrea Jaime, Director of Sales for Europe and Institutional Relations at Isar Aerospace, emphasised that space has moved from a national to a multilateral issue calling for international cooperation. She noted strong growth in demand for launch infrastructure in Europe. Jon Widerøe Harr, Director of Corporate Development at the Andøya Spaceport, presented Andøya as a potential launch hub for Europe, pointing to the advantage of its Arctic location.

Reflecting on these presentations and recognising the increasing strategic significance of space activities, members exchanged views on current policy developments and the need to maintain Europe’s position in a rapidly changing global environment.

Competitiveness and EU programmes

With preparations underway for future funding priorities, the committee discussed how EU programmes can support innovation, resilience and growth. Members stressed the importance of continued EEA EFTA participation and of keeping programmes effective and accessible.

Presentations and briefings were delivered by Luis Garicano, Professor of Public Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science, Kristmundur Ólafsson, Officer at the EFTA Secretariat, and Trine Lise Sundnes, Member of the Norwegian Parliament, followed by an exchange of views among committee members.

Norbert Lins, President of the EEA JPC and Chair of the EP delegation for relations with the EFTA countries and the EEA, and Nikolai Astrup, Vice President of the EEA JPC and Chair of the EFTA Parliamentary Committee

Looking ahead

Over the course of two productive days, the committee discussed developments in the implementation of the EEA Agreement and reflected on recent developments shaping the European and global landscape. Bringing the meeting to a close, members exchanged views on potential topics of relevance to discuss at the next EEA JPC meeting, to be held in Norway in May 2027.