EEA Joint Committee incorporates 55 legal acts and discusses new EEA EFTA Comments

Norwegian Ambassador Anders H. Eide, speaking as EFTA Chair, opened the meeting by thanking the EU for the constructive discussions at the EEA Council on 27 May, where the two sides had exchanged on competitiveness, green growth and EEA cooperation.

"In a geopolitical landscape under growing pressure, close and reliable partnerships are essential. Against this backdrop, the EEA Council remains an important forum for dialogue and for advancing our cooperation," said Ambassador Eide about the highest governing body of the EEA Agreement.

Regarding the EEA Joint Committee meeting at hand, the EFTA Chair highlighted the good progress in the field of financial services and statistics, where several acts were being incorporated into the EEA Agreement.

He also presented two EEA EFTA Comments submitted to the EU side in May and June: on the upcoming EU Delivery Act and the proposed Union Civil Protection Mechanism integrating health emergency preparedness and response (UCPM+).

In the first Comment, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway welcome the European Commission's initiative to update the regulatory framework for postal and parcel services and to replace the current Postal Services Directive and Cross-border Parcels Regulation with a uniform EU Delivery Act.

In the UCPM+ Comment, the EEA EFTA States welcome the programme proposal's aim of enhancing crisis management and preparedness in Europe. They emphasise that legal certainty regarding their participation is essential for ensuring effective and continued cooperation in crisis management across the EEA.

The next EEA Joint Committee meeting will take place on 10 July.