EEA Council news

13.07.2021
First EFTA Council meeting under one-year Icelandic Chairmanship
On 12 July, the EFTA Council met in a hybrid format to discuss EFTA-EU cooperation, work regarding third countries, horizontal issues, and to exchange views on policy developments.

13.12.2019
EFTA Council adopts the budget for 2020
On 12 December, the ninth and last Council meeting of the year under the Norwegian chairmanship took place in Geneva. Switzerland will take over the rotating EFTA Chair in the first half of 2020.
14.11.2019
EFTA Council discusses relations with third countries
On 14 November, the EFTA Council met for the eighth time in 2019. During the meeting under Norwegian chairmanship, the delegates discussed work with regard to trade relations with third countries and among EFTA States.

13.11.2019
EEA Council to discuss the future of the Single Market
The 52nd meeting of the EEA Council will take place on 19 November 2019 in Brussels. The EEA Council meets twice a year at ministerial level and provides political impetus for the development of the EEA Agreement.

19.09.2019
EFTA Council adopts different rotation for chairmanship
On 19 September, the EFTA Council met for the seventh time in 2019, under the Norwegian Chairmanship. During the meeting, the delegates discussed work with regard to third countries and in particular the finalisation of the negotiations with Mercosur.
20.05.2019
Ministers discuss foreign policy issues and efforts to combat climate change at EEA Council
On 20 May 2019, the EEA Council convened in Brussels for its 51st meeting to discuss the overall functioning of the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA Agreement), as well as climate change and the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

15.05.2019
Climate change and foreign policy issues on the agenda for the EEA Council
The 51st meeting of the EEA Council will take place on 20 May 2019 in Brussels. The EEA Council meets twice a year at ministerial level and provides political impetus for the development of the EEA Agreement.
21.03.2019
EEA EFTA Prime Ministers and EU council celebrate 25 years of European Economic Area
On 22 March, the Prime Ministers of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway met leaders of all EU Member States at the European Council, to mark the 25th anniversary of the European Economic Area, the EEA.
19.03.2019
EEA EFTA Prime Ministers will meet all EU leaders to mark 25 years of the EEA
The Prime Ministers of the EEA EFTA States – Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway – have been invited as guests to the European Council to mark the 25th anniversary of the European Economic Area, the EEA. On this occasion, the three Prime Ministers will have an opportunity to exchange views with all EU leaders.

13.11.2018
Brexit and the European Pillar of Social Rights on the agenda for the EEA Council
The 50th EEA Council will take place on 20 November 2018 in Brussels. The EEA Council meets twice a year at ministerial level and provides political impetus for the development of the EEA Agreement.

08.11.2018
EFTA Council prepares for winter Ministerial meeting
The EFTA Council met in Geneva on 8 November 2018 for its eight meeting in 2018.

18.09.2018
EFTA Council meets in Geneva
The EFTA Council met on 18 September for its seventh meeting in 2018.
23.05.2018
EEA Ministers discuss Brexit and ESAs
At the 49th meeting of the EEA Council, which took place in Brussels on 23 May 2018, EEA EFTA Ministers discussed the implications for the EEA Agreement of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU with their EU counterparts. The European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) were also on the agenda.

07.05.2018
Brexit and European Supervisory Authorities on the agenda for the EEA Council
The 49th EEA Council will take place on 23 May 2018 in Brussels. The EEA Council meets twice a year at ministerial level and provides political impetus for the development of the EEA Agreement.

30.04.2018
EFTA Council meets in Geneva
Ongoing free trade negotiations and preparations for the upcoming Ministerial meeting were high on the agenda of the third meeting of the EFTA Council in 2018 in Geneva today.

15.03.2018
EFTA Council adopts Chairmanship 2019-2022
The EFTA Council met for the second time under Icelandic Chairmanship in 2018 in Geneva.

14.11.2017
Advisory bodies discuss EEA affairs and Brexit with EEA EFTA Ministers
On 14 November, the EEA EFTA Ministers, the Committee of Members of Parliament of the EFTA States (MPS) and the EFTA Consultative Committee (EFTA CC) met at the EFTA Secretariat in Brussels. This annual meeting takes place in connection with the EEA Council and provides an opportunity for the two advisory bodies to discuss current EEA issues with the Ministers.

14.11.2017
EEA Ministers discuss Brexit and European data economy
At the 48th meeting of the EEA Council, held in Brussels on 14 November 2017, Ministers discussed the European data economy and possible implications of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union.

09.11.2017
Brexit and European data economy on the agenda of the 48th EEA Council
The 48th EEA Council will take place on Tuesday 14 November 2017 in Brussels. The EEA Council meets twice a year at ministerial level and provides political impetus for the development of the EEA Agreement.
12.10.2017
EFTA hosts the 38th meeting of the Advisory Board for European Accreditation
On 12 October, the Advisory Board of the European co-operation for Accreditation met for the 38th time in the EFTA Secretariat in Brussels.

21.09.2017
Seventh meeting of the EFTA Council in 2017
EFTA-EU cooperation and third-country relations were among the topics discussed during the seventh EFTA Council meeting in Geneva on 19 September 2017.

13.07.2017
Liechtenstein Chair outlines EFTA Council priorities for second half of 2017
Liechtenstein, holding the rotating EFTA Council Chair for the next six months, presented its priorities at the Council meeting on 13 July.

16.05.2017
Ministers discuss Brexit and climate change at EEA Council Meeting
At the 47th meeting of the EEA Council, held in Brussels on 16 May 2017, Ministers discussed the cooperation within the European Economic Area, including Brexit, the Arctic, climate change and the Paris Agreement.

15.11.2016
Ministers brief advisory bodies on developments in the EEA
On 15 November 2016, the EFTA Parliamentary and Consultative Committees met with EEA EFTA Ministers in Brussels. This annual meeting takes place in connection with the EEA Council and provides an opportunity for the two advisory bodies to discuss current issues in the EEA with the Ministers.

15.11.2016
EEA Council discusses collaborative economy in the Single Market
At the 46th meeting of the EEA Council, held in Brussels on 15 November 2016, Ministers discussed cooperation within the European Economic Area, focusing on the importance of maintaining and further developing a homogeneous Internal Market as an engine for growth. An orientation debate was held on the European Commission’s new strategy for the Single Market, including the collaborative economy.
12.07.2016
EFTA Council Chair outlines priorities for second half of 2016
Iceland, holding the rotating Council Chair for the second half of 2016, presented its priorities at the EFTA Council meeting in Geneva on 12 July.

25.05.2016
EEA Council welcomes the signing of the new financial mechanisms
At the 45th meeting of the EEA Council, held in Brussels on 25 May 2016, Ministers discussed the signing of the new financial mechanisms and held an orientation debate on Better Regulation and its impact on the EEA.

12.02.2016
EFTA Council Chair outlines priorities for first half of 2016
On 11 February 2016, the EFTA Council met in Geneva. Switzerland, holding the rotating Council chair for the first half of the year, presented its priorities.

17.11.2015
EEA Council discusses Single Market Strategy
At the 44th meeting of the EEA Council, held in Brussels on 17 November 2015, Ministers discussed the current situation of the cooperation within the EEA, focusing on the importance of maintaining and further developing a homogeneous internal market as an engine for growth throughout the EEA. An orientation debate was held on the European Commission's new strategy for the Single Market.

18.05.2015
EEA Council discusses Digital Agenda and EEA Financial Mechanisms
At the 43rd meeting of the EEA Council, held in Brussels on 18 May 2015, Ministers discussed the current situation of the cooperation within the EEA, focussing on the importance of maintaining and further developing a homogenous internal market as an engine for growth throughout the EEA. An orientation debate was held on the new “Digital Agenda”. The ongoing negotiations for a continuation of the EEA Financial Mechanisms for another term were also discussed.

19.11.2014
EEA Council discusses EEA EFTA participation in European Financial Supervisory Authorities
At the 42nd meeting of the EEA Council, held in Brussels on 19 November 2014, Ministers discussed EEA EFTA participation in the European Supervisory Authorities for financial markets, the incorporation of legal acts into the EEA Agreement and the continuation of the EEA financial mechanism for another term.

02.10.2014
EFTA Council prepares for the autumn Ministerial meeting
The EFTA autumn Ministerial meeting that will take place in Switzerland was prominent on the agenda of the EFTA Council which met for the sixth time this year on 2 October 2014.

13.05.2014
41st meeting of the EEA Council
EEA EFTA participation in the European Supervisory Authorities for financial markets, the incorporation of the new generation of EU programmes into the Agreement, and the continuation of the EEA and Norway Financial Mechanisms for another term were among the topics discussed by the EEA Council when it met in Brussels on 13 May 2014.

26.11.2012
Thirty-eighth meeting of the EEA Council in Brussels
The thirty-eighth meeting of the EEA Council took place in Brussels on 26 November 2012. In light of the 20th anniversary of the Single Market at the end of this year, the EEA Council recognised with satisfaction that the EEA Agreement has been a durable instrument in ensuring the smooth functioning of the European Economic Area. The EEA Council held an orientation debate on Trade and Regulatory Cooperation with EEA Neighbours.

14.05.2012
Thirty-seventh meeting of the EEA Council in Brussels
The thirty-seventh meeting of the EEA Council took place in Brussels on 14 May 2012. The EEA Council assessed the overall functioning of the EEA Agreement, including maintaining and enhancing the homogeneity of the EEA; the financial crisis and its implications for EEA cooperation; decision making and shaping; energy and climate change and the operation of the financial mechanisms. The EEA Council held an orientation debate on Strategies for Growth in Europe.

15.11.2011
Thirty-sixth meeting of the EEA Council in Brussels
The thirty-sixth meeting of the EEA Council took place in Brussels on 15 November 2011. At its meeting, the EEA Council assessed the overall functioning of the EEA Agreement, including maintaining and enhancing the homogeneity of the EEA; decision making and shaping; energy and climate change; the financial mechanisms; and the financial crisis and its implications for EEA cooperation, including regulation of the financial system. The EEA Council held an orientation debate on measures taken to address the current economic crisis.

23.05.2011
35th meeting of the EEA Council
At its 35th meeting on 23 May 2011 in Brussels, the EEA Council discussed the overall functioning of the EEA Agreement, Europe 2020, energy and climate change, and the financial crisis and implications for EEA cooperation, including regulation of the financial system. The EEA Council noted the Council Conclusions of December 2010, in particular that EU relations with the EFTA countries, which were already considered to be very good and close in 2008, had further intensified over the past two years.

22.11.2010
34th meeting of the EEA Council
On 22 November 2010, the EEA Council met in Brussels for its 34th meeting. The Council discussed the overall functioning of the EEA Agreement. Special attention was given to the strengthening of the financial system. The Council welcomed the possibility for the EEA EFTA States to participate in the work of the new supervisory authorities in the areas of banking, insurance and securities, and looked forward to the new structure being operational as of January 2011.

10.05.2010