Foreword from the Secretary-General
2023 proved to be a year of opportunities and high activity for EFTA. We made concrete and important advances in a wide variety of areas spanning third-country activities and the management of the EEA Agreement.
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
2023 Highlights
Trade Relations
82
Meetings with partners
171
EFTA internal meetings
39
Heads or high-level meetings with partners
EEA Coordination
8
EFTA Standing Committee meetings
8
EEA Joint Committee meetings
2
EEA Council meetings
Statistical Cooperation
- EFTA financed and co-organised 3 courses under the European Statistical Training Programme.
- 8 EFTA national experts were seconded to Eurostat under the different agreements between the EFTA States and the EU.
- 97% of Eurostat meetings under the European Statistical System were attended by at least one EFTA expert.
Internal Market
25
meetings under Subcommittee I
17
meetings under Subcommittee II
5
meetings under Subcommittee III
26
meetings under Subcommittee IV
4
meetings under Subcommittee V
2023 Moments
The first Joint Committee meeting takes place under the EFTA–Philippines Free Trade Agreement
EFTA parliamentarians and social partners meet with the WTO Director-General and Deputy US Trade Representative in Geneva
EFTA and Moldova conclude negotiations on a free trade agreement
The EEA Joint Parliamentary Committee meets in Brussels to discuss Europe’s competitiveness
The EEA Consultative Committee holds its annual plenary in Stockholm
Over 240 participate in EFTA’s introductory seminar to the EEA
The EFTA Consultative Committee discusses climate and trade policy with the European Commission
The EEA EFTA States submit an EEA EFTA Comment to the European Commission on the proposed Single Market Emergency Instrument
The 56th EEA Council meeting takes place in Brussels
The Heads of EFTA National Statistical Institutes meet to set priorities for the year ahead
The EEA EFTA States submit an EEA EFTA Comment to the European Commission on the proposed European Media Freedom Act
EFTA and Moldova sign a free trade agreement
EFTA and Ukraine launch the modernisation process of their free trade agreement
The EFTA Ministerial meeting takes place in Schaan, Liechtenstein
The Parliamentary Committee and Consultative Committee meet with EFTA Ministers
EFTA House hosts a reception for the incoming Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU
EFTA and UNECE organise a workshop on the Generic Law of Official Statistics
The first Joint Committee meeting is held under the modernised EFTA–Türkiye Free Trade Agreement
Record numbers attend EFTA’s introductory seminar to the EEA
The EEA EFTA States submit an EEA EFTA Comment to the European Commission on the proposed Critical Raw Materials Act
EFTA and Chile draw closer to the conclusion of a modernised free trade agreement
A Financial Accounts Workshop is held at EFTA House
EFTA and Singapore hold a sixth round of negotiations towards a digital economy agreement
EFTA and Thailand hold a seventh round of free trade negotiations
EFTA House hosts its second-ever EEA Council
The annual EFTA ECOFIN meeting takes place in Brussels
Parliamentarians and social partners give momentum to the EFTA trade agenda
EEA EFTA parliamentarians, social partners and Ministers discuss EEA competitiveness and Ukraine support
EFTA House hosts a standardisation conference on Working together to unlock the EU Standardisation Strategy's full potential, welcoming 65 in-person participants and many more online
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
High-level delegations meet to pave the way for the conclusion of the EFTA–India Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement
EFTA and Malaysia meet in Geneva for a 14th round of free trade negotiations
The EEA Joint Parliamentary Committee meets in Vaduz, Liechtenstein
The EEA EFTA States submit EEA EFTA Comments to the European Commission on the revised Driving Licence Directive, on a stronger right to repair and on the Net Zero Industry Act
Henri Gétaz steps down as EFTA Secretary-General on 31 December, with Siri Veseth Meling taking over the role on 1 January 2024
Staff
Gender balance in management roles
Female
50%
Male
50%
30
jobs advertised
2 648
applications received
117
interviews conducted
14
different nationalities including
68 EFTA nationals
Generations
2%
Baby Boomers
35%
Generation X
53%
Millennial
10%
Generation Z
Annual Report 2023
European Free Trade Association