From left to right: Einar Gunnarsson, Ambassador of Iceland, Permanent Representative to EFTA, the WTO and other International Organisations in Geneva, Ögmundur Hrafn Magnússon, Counsellor of Iceland, Deputy Permanent Representative to EFTA, Permanent Mission of Iceland in Geneva and the Champion Trophy from the 2026 WTO Ski Race, organised and won by EFTA.
On 17 March, the EFTA Council held its second meeting of 2026 in Geneva.
Regarding EFTA–EU relations, the Council took note of the meetings of the EFTA Standing Committee of 5 February and the EEA Joint Committee of 6 February, where 57 Joint Committee Decisions were adopted, incorporating 88 legal acts into the EEA Agreement. The Council also received an update on preparations for the 62nd meeting of the EEA Council, scheduled for May 2026.
On trade-related work, the Council reviewed developments across its agenda, including progress in negotiations with Viet Nam on a free trade agreement (FTA). Member States took stock of the implementation of the EFTA–India Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement and the ongoing ratification processes of several recently signed agreements, as well as preparations for the potential modernisation of existing FTAs and new trade dialogues with prospective partners.
The Secretariat updated Member States on several horizontal initiatives, including the preference utilisation project. Finally, delegates provided updates on recent EFTA-relevant high-level meetings and discussed potential topics for discussion during the upcoming high-level retreat at State-Secretary level, to be held in Iceland in April.
The next EFTA Council meeting is scheduled for 5 May.
