European Free Trade Association - EFTA

How can the proposed AgoraEU programme be further improved? 📢

Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway highlight four priorities:

🔸 Establish a dedicated AgoraEU programme committee
🔸 Clarify how flexibility between programme strands will work in practice
🔸 Safeguard participation rights
🔸 Strengthen the programme monitoring system

These priorities are outlined by the three EEA EFTA States in their official position paper (EEA EFTA Comment) on the European Commission’s proposal for the AgoraEU programme under the EU’s long-term budget (MFF) for 2028–2034.

Looking for a Valentine’s card? We’ve got you covered 💕
 
EFTA is a reliable long-term partner ready to tackle whatever the future may bring.
 
Happy Valentine’s Day from EFTA!

88 legal acts were incorporated into the EEA Agreement on 6 February, in the first EEA Joint Committee meeting of the year.

The EEA Agreement extends the Internal Market to Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, opening doors for people to trade, work and study across 30 states.

To ensure the EEA continues to bring prosperity, legal acts are regularly adopted into the EEA Agreement and are then implemented upon approval of the national parliaments of the EEA EFTA States.

But how does EU law become EEA law? Find out more in the infographic

Read a quick recap of the first EEA Joint Committee meeting of 2026 on www.efta.int

As 2025 draws to a close, we look back on a milestone year for EFTA. Our 65th anniversary provided an opportunity to celebrate our history and reflect on the principles that have guided us since 1960.
 
«This anniversary year, we have taken the opportunity to reflect on how EFTA has adapted over the years to ensure our agreements remain ambitious and modern while staying true to the notion that cooperation and good negotiations benefit all parties.» – Kurt Jäger, EFTA Secretary-General
 
✉️ Read the anniversary newsletter in the link in our bio.

🎉 Happy Constitution Day, Norway! 🎉

Today, the EFTA Secretariat proudly joins our Norwegian delegates, partners, representatives, and friends in marking this important national celebration.

Warm wishes to all Norwegians at home or abroad for a joyful and festive 17 May.

Hipp hipp hurra og gratulerer med dagen, Norge! 🎈



©️ Photo: Marta Stefanska

🎉 Liechtenstein – 30 Years in the European Economic Area 🎉

📅 On this day, Liechtenstein marks 30 years of close cooperation with the through the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement.

Liechtenstein became a part of the on 1 May 1995, bringing all three EEA EFTA States Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway into the ’s internal market.

Together, the 30 EEA States form a homogenous market where goods, services, capital, and people can move freely, shaping a prosperous and integrated Europe built on shared values and principles. 🤝

🚀 The EFTA–Moldova Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has now entered into force for all Parties as of 1 April 2025. This agreement, which has already been in effect in Moldova, Iceland and Norway since November 2024, marks an important milestone in strengthening economic and political ties between the EFTA States and Moldova.

Today, we welcomed 140 people to EFTA House in Brussels and many more online for our flagship event – the EEA Seminar! 🎉

With new EU 🇪🇺 leadership and shifting policy priorities, this edition of the EEA Seminar explored how the EEA Agreement translates from framework to function while Brussels undergoes significant changes.

A huge thank you to our speakers, panellists and breakout session leaders from the EFTA Secretariat, ,EFTA Court and for their insightful contributions and discussions.

📄 The seminar material from the morning sessions is available on our website, and the recordings will be uploaded to YouTube soon.🌐

🗓️ The next EEA Seminar will take place at EFTA House in Brussels and online on 25 September 2025.

🚀 We are going live at 09:30 (CET)! Join the EEA Seminar

Tune in as we explore how the Agreement works in practice, discuss key policy shifts in Brussels, and hear from experts on the future of the internal market.

🔴 Watch the livestream here: https://lnkd.in/ehykv2zr

What are you most looking forward to? Drop your thoughts in the comments! 👇

📣New career opportunities in ! 🇧🇪🌍

EFTA's Internal Market Division (IMD) is .

IMD plays a key role in supporting the EFTA States in their work related to the and the development of EEA-relevant legislation.⚖️

The current vacancies include:

📌 Policy Officer – Deadline 16 March
📌 Legal Officer – Deadline 23 March
📌 Policy Officers (two positions) – Deadline 6 April
📌 Temporary Officers (Policy and Legal) – Deadline 16 March

📩 Interested? Check out the details and apply now on the EFTA website.

📢 Register now for the EFTA’s flagship event: the EEA Seminar! 🌍

Join us on 12 March 2025 to explore how the Agreement shapes the world’s largest internal market.

Don’t miss out - register today on the EFTA website!