Foreword from the Secretary-General
2024 was an exceptional year for EFTA, with the conclusion of five free trade agreements and the celebration of 30 years of the European Economic Area.
EFTA States
Iceland
Capital: Reykjavik
Language: Icelandic
Currency: Icelandic króna (ISK)
Government website
Liechtenstein
Capital: Vaduz
Language: German
Currency: Swiss franc (CHF)
Goverment website
Norway
Capital: Oslo
Language: Norwegian, Sami
Currency: Norwegian krone (NOK)
Government website
Switzerland
Capital: Bern
Language: German, French, Italian, Romansh
Currency: Swiss franc (CHF)
Government website
2024 Highlights
Trade Relations
165
Meetings with partners
173
EFTA internal meetings
18
Heads or high-level meetings with partners
EEA Coordination
557
Legal acts incorporated into the EEA Agreement
8
EEA Joint Committee meetings
2
EEA Council meetings
Statistical Cooperation
4
Courses under the European Statistical Training Programme financed and co-organised by EFTA
6
EFTA national experts seconded to Eurostat
98%
of Eurostat meetings under the European Statistical System relevant to the EFTA States were attended by EFTA experts
Internal Market
42
meetings under Subcommittee I
24
meetings under Subcommittee II
4
meetings under Subcommittee III
23
meetings under Subcommittee IV
4
meetings under Subcommittee V
3
EEA EFTA Comments submitted
2024 Moments
Foreign Ministers of the EEA EFTA States issue a joint statement on the 30th anniversary of the EEA Agreement
Siri Veseth Meling becomes the first woman to be appointed EFTA Secretary-General
EFTA House hosts a conference for political leaders and industry experts on carbon capture and storage
EFTA parliamentarians and social partners meet in Geneva to discuss EFTA’s trade outlook for 2024
The EEA Joint Parliamentary Committee meets in Brussels to mark 30 years of EEA partnership
EFTA and India sign a trade and economic partnership agreement
EFTA holds a workshop on FTA preference utilisation in collaboration with international experts
EFTA parliamentarians visit Argentina and Brazil to support negotiations on an agreement with Mercosur
EFTA’s anniversary edition of the EEA Seminar draws 500 participants
The EFTA Consultative Committee convenes in Brussels for meetings with the EFTA Standing Committee, EU representatives and national policy experts
The 58th EEA Council takes place in Brussels, followed by a special anniversary conference
EFTA and Vietnam Heads of Delegation meet to take stock of negotiations on a free trade agreement
EFTA holds a technical cooperation seminar with Peru
EFTA and Singapore meet for an eighth round of negotiations towards a digital economy agreement
The EEA Consultative Committee holds its annual plenary in Reykjavik
EFTA and Chile sign a modernised free trade agreement
The EFTA Ministerial meeting takes place in Geneva
The Parliamentary Committee and Consultative Committee discuss EFTA’s future orientation with EFTA Ministers
EFTA and UNECE organise a technical cooperation workshop in Tirana on modernising statistical legislation
The EEA EFTA States assess the impact of cross-sectoral EU initiatives on the EEA
EFTA and Thailand make significant progress in free trade negotiations
EFTA and Ukraine move closer to concluding free trade negotiations
EFTA and Kosovo conclude negotiations on a free trade agreement
EFTA and ASEAN adopt a joint declaration on economic cooperation
The EFTA Secretariat welcomes its new senior management team
EFTA and UNECE host a financial accounts workshop and a CPI workshop, both at EFTA House
The EFTA States and Tunisia update their free trade agreement with modernised rules of origin
EFTA parliamentarians connect with new key players in the European Parliament
EFTA and Thailand conclude free trade negotiations
EEA EFTA and EU representatives meet in EFTA House for the 59th EEA Council, the highest cooperation body under the EEA Agreement
EFTA parliamentarians and social partners meet with the EEA EFTA Foreign Ministers and acting EFTA Ministerial Chair
EFTA and Indonesia hold trade promotion seminars in Jakarta and Bandung
The annual EFTA ECOFIN meeting takes place in Brussels
The EEA Joint Parliamentary Committee meets in Oslo
The EEA EFTA Forum meets in Brussels
EFTA and Statistics Norway deliver training on statistical cooperation using geographical information systems
The EEA EFTA States submit an EEA EFTA Comment to the Commission on the Maritime Safety Package
EFTA and Ukraine conclude negotiations on a modernised free trade agreement
EFTA Secretariat
14
different nationalities including
73 EFTA nationals
Staff Generations
4%
Baby Boomers
29%
Generation X
52%
Millennials
14%
Generation Z
Annual Report 2024
European Free Trade Association