EFTA Council meets for sixth time in 2026

During the meeting, the Council approved the draft summary record of its fifth meeting of 2026. It also took note of the Secretary-General’s 2027 Budget Proposal and draft Performance Plan and the new EFTA Information Declassification Policy and Procedure.

With regard to EFTA–EU relations, the Council was briefed on the outcomes of the EFTA Standing Committee and EEA Joint Committee meetings of 22 and 23 October respectively. The Joint Committee had adopted 30 Decisions, incorporating 41 legal acts into the EEA Agreement, and had held consultations on the EU’s ferro-alloy safeguard measures. The Council also took note of preparations for the 63rd meeting of the EEA Council on 17 November. Member States were informed of recent EU policy developments of relevance to EFTA, including the EU’s new Arctic Strategy and preparations for the European Commission’s 2027 work programme.

On trade-related matters, the Council discussed the modernisation of EFTA’s existing free trade agreements (FTAs) with Canada and Mexico. Member States welcomed the signing of the FTA with Viet Nam on 18 October in Hanoi. The Council also received updates on ratification processes for concluded agreements, including MERCOSUR, Thailand and Ukraine, and progress in the implementation of the EFTA–India Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement.

The Council took note of ongoing work on potential trade policy dialogues with the European Union and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), as well as exploratory processes involving potential future partners. Member States received an update on preference utilisation, including a debrief of EFTA’s first technical workshop with partner countries, funded by and co-organised with the EFTA Statistical Office.

The next EFTA Council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 9 December.