European Free Trade Association - EFTA

19/10/2026

EFTA and Viet Nam have signed a Free Trade Agreement in Hanoi. 🇮🇸🇱🇮🇳🇴🇨🇭🤝🇻🇳

The FTA is a comprehensive and modern agreement that covers numerous areas, including:
✅ trade in goods
✅ trade in services
✅ small and medium-sized enterprises
✅ intellectual property rights
✅ investment

Read more: https://www.efta.int/media-resources/news/efta-and-viet-nam-sign-free-trade-agreement

The agreement aims to enhance trade relations between the EFTA States and Viet Nam by eliminating or reducing customs duties, facilitating trade, and promoting sustainable development.

09/10/2026

📊 EFTA and UNECE co-organised a workshop on the implementation of the 2025 System of National Accounts (SNA) in Brussels.
 
The SNA provides the conceptual framework for compiling internationally comparable and consistent macroeconomic statistics. It supports policymakers by offering a common basis for understanding and comparing economic developments across countries.
 
📌 The objective of this cooperation is to promote the development, production and dissemination of internationally comparable official statistics, especially in EFTA’s partner countries.

22/09/2026

EFTA and ASEAN adopt Work Plan for 2026-2030 🤝

On 20 September 2026, the EFTA States and ASEAN met in Manila to adopt a new Work Plan under their Joint Declaration on Economic Cooperation, setting out priorities for closer collaboration over the next four years.

The Work Plan covers six areas: FTA implementation, MSMEs, E-commerce, Intellectual property rights, Innovation and emerging technologies, and trade and sustainable development. It also supports closer business-to-business dialogue.

📈 EFTA-ASEAN economic ties continue to grow. The EFTA States have FTAs with six ASEAN members, while merchandise trade with the bloc has nearly quadrupled over the past 20 years, exceeding EUR 20 billion in 2025.

04/09/2026

What do you gain from taking part in the EEA Seminar? We asked last year’s participants.

Join us for our flagship event to explore how EU law becomes EEA law, how Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway help shape the EEA, and how the different institutional bodies work together to make up the mosaic of the EEA.

Whether you are new to the EEA or looking to deepen your understanding, the seminar offers an opportunity to learn from experts, ask questions and connect with others working with the EEA Agreement.

Join us in person at EFTA House in Brussels or online.

📅 Friday 18 September 2026
📍 EFTA House, Brussels | Online
🔗 Register through the link in bio

We hope to see you there!

03/09/2026

India is expected to account for 25% of the increase in global energy demand between 2020 and 2040. 🇮🇳

What does this mean for international companies?

Join our webinar on Wednesday 16 September to explore India’s evolving oil and gas sector, market opportunities, policy incentives and areas for future investment and technology collaboration. 🤝

📅 Wednesday 16 September
🕝 11:00 AM CEST | 2:30 PM IST
🔗 Register through the link in bio

The webinar is part of a broader series for EFTA companies exploring business and investment opportunities in India under the EFTA-India Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA).

28/08/2026

The EFTA Secretariat extends its heartfelt condolences to the Norwegian people on the passing of His Majesty King Harald V of Norway.

Our thoughts are with the Royal Family and all of Norway during this time of mourning.

En hel nasjon er i sorg.

– Det er med dyp sorg jeg har mottatt budskapet om at Hans Majestet Kong Harald V er død.

En hel nasjon sørger, og står samtidig igjen i sterk takknemlighet for et langt liv viet til Norge.

Gjennom mer enn tre tiår som konge viste Harald V en urokkelig tro på det norske folk. Han hjalp oss til å se det beste i oss selv – og i hverandre.

Kong Harald fant ordene som bandt oss sammen når det betød som mest. Han sørget med oss etter 22. juli 2011. Han jublet med oss når norske utøvere nådde de største høyder. Og han gikk foran med varme, klokskap og åpenhet for et samfunn med plass til alle. Kong Harald elsket Norge. Og Norge elsket sin konge.

Min dypeste medfølelse går til dronning Sonja og hele kongefamilien i denne tunge stunden.

Det sier statsminister Jonas Gahr Støre ved Hans Majestet Kong Harald Vs bortgang.

Kong Harald V var født 21. februar 1937. Han ble 89 år gammel.

Regjeringen samles om kort tid til regjeringskonferanse på Statsministerens kontor og vil deretter møte den nye kongen til ekstraordinært statsråd på Slottet.

Foto: Cathrine Wessel / Det kongelige hoff.

– Stuorra morrašiin lean vuostáiváldin dieđu ahte Majestehta Gonagas Harald V lea jápmán. Olles našuvdna morašta, ja muittaša su stuorra giitevašvuođain go olles eallinagi barggai Norgga riikii buorrin.

Badjel golbmalot jagi gonagassan čájehii Harald V nana luohttámuša Norgga álbmogii. Son veahkehii min gávdnat dan buoremusa alddiineamet – ja guhtet guoimmisteamet.

Gonagas Harald máhtii sániiguin čatnat min oktii dalle go lei buot mávssolaččamus. Son moraštii minguin maŋŋel suoidnemánu 22. b. 2011. Son illudii minguin go Norgga valáštallit olahedje ođđa olahusaid. Ja son gálii geainnu liekkusvuođain, viisodagain ja rabasvuođain servodahkii gos lea sadji buohkaide. Gonagas Harald ráhkistii Norgga.

Ja Norga ráhkistii iežas gonagasa. Čiekŋalis fuolain ja árpmoštemiin leat mu jurdagat dronnet Sonja ja olles gonagasbearraša luhtte dán lossa áiggis.

Nu dadjá stáhtaministtar Jonas Gahr Støre Majestehta Gonagas Harald V eretvádjoleami oktavuođas.

Gonagas Harald V riegádii guovvamánu 21.b. 1937. Son elii 89 jagi boarisin.

Ráđđehus čoahkkana fargga ráđđehuskonferánsii Stáhtaministara kantuvrras ja áigu dasto deaivvadit ođđa gonagasain erenoamáš stáhtaráđis Šloahtas.

20/08/2026

How does the EEA Agreement work in practice? 🇮🇸🇱🇮🇳🇴🇪🇺

Join us on Friday 18 September 2026 for the EFTA Secretariat’s flagship event: the EEA Seminar.

Explore how EU law becomes EEA law, how Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway help shape the EEA, and how the different institutional bodies work together to make up the mosaic of the EEA.

The seminar combines expert presentations in the morning with breakout sessions in the afternoon, giving participants the opportunity to gain deeper knowledge of specific EEA topics.

Join us in person at EFTA House in Brussels or online.

📅 18 September 2026
📍 Brussels | Online
🔗 Link in bio

The full programme will follow. We look forward to welcoming you at the EEA Seminar!

15/08/2026

Wir wünschen heute allen einen schönen Staatsfeiertag! Happy National Day to Liechtenstein🇱🇮

The EFTA Secretariat sends best wishes to all our Liechtenstein colleagues and friends as they celebrate at home and abroad.

Hoi am Staatsfiirtig! 🎉

01/08/2026

🇨🇭 Happy National Day to Switzerland! 

The EFTA Secretariat sends best wishes to all our Swiss colleagues and friends as they celebrate back home or abroad.

Schönen Nationalfeiertag | Bonne fête nationale | Buona festa nazionale | Bella festa naziunala 🎉🇨🇭 Happy National Day to Switzerland!

15/07/2026

The latest edition of the EFTA Newsletter is now available. 📢

Recent highlights - swipe through the carousel below:

1. EFTA and Viet Nam conclude negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement

2. EEA EFTA Forum discusses EU industrial policy and Arctic strategy

3. EFTA and GCC review cooperation under their Free Trade Agreement

4. EEA EFTA States set out priorities for Horizon Europe 2028-2034

5. EEA EFTA States welcome the Industrial Accelerator Act and highlight the need to safeguard the Internal Market

6. EFTA and Statistics Norway host NADABAS workshop

7. Join us for the EEA Seminar - registration open now

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