Global unrest, trade issues and competitiveness on the agenda of the 64th EEA Joint Parliamentary Committee

The meeting was co-chaired by Grímur Grímsson, President of the EEA Joint Parliamentary Committee (EEA JPC) and Chair of the EFTA Parliamentary Committee, and Andreas Schwab, Vice President of the EEA JPC and Chair of the European Parliament (EP) delegation for relations with the EFTA countries and the European Economic Area.

State of play of global trade

Building on discussions from the previous EEA JPC meeting in Akureyri, Iceland, in May 2025, the committee assessed global trade developments amidst growing challenges to the rules-based trading order, including the continued application of trade barriers by key geopolitical actors and rising tensions surrounding critical supply chains and raw materials. Karin Karlsbro, Vice Chair of the EP Committee on International Trade, presented the EU perspective and Trine Lise Sundnes, Member of the Norwegian Parliament, provided the EFTA view. In the context of these discussions, the committee also addressed the recent imposition of EU safeguard measures against the import of certain ferro-alloys, including on products from the EEA EFTA States. The EFTA parliamentarians expressed their disappointment with the EU’s decision to subject products from the EEA EFTA States to safeguard measures and stressed the need to find common solutions to shared issues.

European Space cooperation

The committee also addressed the European space sector, with a particular focus on EEA cooperation and steps boost competitiveness in the industry. This is a sector of growing strategic significance and strong EFTA–EU cooperation, with both sides prioritising further development. Members first received a contextual briefing on European and international space policy from Professor José Achache, drawing on his extensive experience in both the private and public European space sectors. This was followed by presentations on the sectoral EU and EFTA perspectives, delivered by Christophe Grudler, Vice Chair of the EP delegation, and Tobias Hangaard Linge, Member of the Norwegian Parliament, respectively.

Programme participation

Another key topic was the EU’s new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) budget proposals for 2028–2034. These are central to the EEA cooperation, as their level of funding, structure and priorities will be instrumental in boosting European competitiveness in general and will define EEA EFTA participation in EU programmes in particular. With this in mind, members heard insights from Janusz Lewandowski, Member of the European Parliament. Kristmundur Þór Ólafsson, Policy Officer at the EFTA Secretariat, also briefed the members on Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway’s position on the MFF proposals, as formally presented in a newly published EEA EFTA Comment.

Looking ahead to 2026

Throughout two full days of productive meetings, the committee also discussed developments in the implementation of the EEA Agreement, 30 years of Liechtenstein’s EEA membership, the EU’s competitiveness strategy, EU–UK relations, and the Single Market Strategy. Finally, members discussed possible topics to explore at the next meeting, which will take place in Vaduz in 2026.

About the EEA JPC

The EEA Joint Parliamentary Committee is a joint forum composed of members of the national parliaments of the EEA EFTA States and Members of the European Parliament. Its mandate is to contribute – through dialogue and debate – to a better understanding between the EU and the EEA EFTA States in the fields covered by the EEA Agreement.