Full house at biannual seminar focused on the EEA in a changing global landscape

“The EEA EFTA States are strong democracies with advanced and innovative economies in sectors integral to making Europe more competitive and more secure,” said Ambassador Pascal Schafhauser, Chair of the EFTA Standing Committee. He mentioned highly specialised industrial capabilities in Liechtenstein and green technologies such as carbon capture and storage in Norway and Iceland as examples. 

Experts from the EFTA institutions and the European Commission joined the Standing Committee Chair in providing an overview of how the EEA Agreement works and their different roles in the EEA mosaic. Participants also received an update on Switzerland’s recently signed package of agreements with the EU and heard from Euronews’ Chief Political Correspondent on the political priorities driving the agenda in Brussels policy making.

The morning session covered two main themes: how the EEA Agreement is implemented from framework to function, and how the EEA is evolving through a dynamic partnership in times of change. 

In the afternoon, attendees at EFTA House had the opportunity to join breakout sessions that delved deeper into specific EEA topics, such as how EU law becomes EEA law, how the EEA Agreement is enforced, and how the EEA EFTA States interact with the EU institutions. 

The EEA Seminar takes place every spring and autumn. Sign up here to be notified when registration opens for the next edition.

The latest EEA Seminar materials can be found below.

Photos

Presentations and recordings

Presentation – Strong foundation, shared solutions: The EEA in a changing global landscape, by Marit C. Schage Andria, Director of Internal Market Division, EFTA Secretariat

Recording

Presentation – From EU law to EEA law: An introduction, by Karoline Lumholdt Mathisen, Head of EEA Legal Coordination, EFTA Secretariat

Recording

View from the EU side, by Nicolas von Lingen, Head of Unit, Secretariat-General, European Commission

Recording

Presentation – EEA enforcement: EFTA Surveillance Authority and EFTA Court, by Melpo Joséphidès, Director of Legal & Executive Affairs, EFTA Surveillance Authority, and Ólafur Einarsson, Registrar, EFTA Court

Recording

Scene setter: The EU’s direction in today’s geopolitical context, by Luca Bertuzzi, Chief Political Correspondent, Euronews

Recording

Fireside chat: Ambassador Pascal Schafhauser, Chair of the EFTA Standing Committee

Recording

Presentation – How the EEA EFTA States can influence EU law making – An introduction, by Gunnthóra Elín Erlingsdóttir, Head of Sector Policies and Subcommittees I-IV, EFTA Secretariat

Recording

Presentation – Switzerland-EU bilateral approach - recent developments & next step, by Conradin Rasi, Deputy Head of the Mission of Switzerland to the EU

Recording

Presentation – The role of parliamentarians, social partners and regional authorities in the EEA, by Ingerid Bratz, Officer, EFTA Secretariat

Recording

Presentation – EEA and Norway Grants reduce disparities and strengthen cooperation in Europe, by Vigdis Hvaal, Head of Communications, EEA and Norway Grants

Recording