EFTA Seminar on the EEA Agreement – 4 September 2014

How EU law becomes EEA law

Tore GrønningæterSenior Information and Communication OfficerEFTA Secretariattgr@efta.int

European integration models

• 1957- The EU model (EEC/EC/EU): supranationality

• 1960- The EFTA model: intergovernmental cooperation

• 1973- The bilateral free trade model

• 1994- The European Economic Area model

• 1999- The Swiss bilaterals model

• 2001- The Schengen model

The challenges of the 1980’s

• End of European economic growth in the 1970’ties• US and Japan dominace in the electronic industry• Numerous physical, technical and fiscal barriers to trade• Failure of the ”old” regulatory approach (harmonization)

The EC response: Single European Act (1987)

• Completing the internal marked by end of 1992• Strengthening of the four freedoms and supporting

policies• Decisions by qualified majority voting

The birth of the EEA

• 1984 - First EFTA-EU Ministerial meeting, Luxembourg

Declaration on a dynamic ”European Economic Space”

• 1989 - Commission President Delors offers the EFTA countries an EEA solution

• 1989 - Fall of the Berlin wall

• 1992 - EEA negotiations finalized (signature)

• 1993 - Swiss no-vote

• 1994 - Entry into force of the EEA

EEA COUNCIL

EEA JOINT

COMMITTEE

EEA JOINT PARLIAMENTARY

COMMITTEE

EEA CONSULTATIVE

COMMITTEE

ICELAND LIECHTENSTEIN

NORWAY

EFTA STANDING

COMMITTEE

EFTA SURVEILLANCE

AUTHORITY

EFTA COURT

COMMITTEE OF MPs OF THE

EFTA STATES

EFTA CONSULTATIVE

COMMITTEE

COUNCIL PRESIDENCY

+ EEAS

EUROPEANEXT. ACTION

SERVICE

THE COMMSSION

THE COURT OF JUSTICE

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE

The EEAtwo-pillar structure

European Economic Area -extending the EU Internal Market

Four Freedoms • Free movement of goods • Free movement of services• Free movement of capital• Free movement of persons

Horizontal policies• Environment• Social policy• Consumer protection• Statistics• Company law

Common Rules • State Aid• Competition

Cooperation • EU Programmes• EU Agencies

Cohesion• EEA and Norway Grants

The EEA - static and dynamic

Static in scope • Covers the EU internal market (with some exceptions)• No additional areas foreseen to be included

Dynamic in character • Updated continuously by adding new EU legislation

in areas already covered by the Agreement• Ensuring homogeneity with the EEA

The EEA does not cover

• Third country issues (some exceptions)

• Common Trade Policy

• EU Customs Union (towards third countries)

• Common Agricultural and Fisheries Policies

• EU Regional Policy

• Economic and Monetary Union

• Justice and Home Affairs

• Common Foreign, Security and Defense Policy

Challenges

• Changes to the EU Treaties

• Abolision of the EU pillars (combining areas)

• EU Agencies with legislative competence

• Extended geographical scope (offshore/maritime)

• Efficient ”take over” of EU legislation (homogeneity)

• EEA EFTA influence on EU decision making

• Making the EEA Agreement known

From EU law to EEA law

http://www.efta.int/media/documents/eea/1113623-How-EU-acts-become-EEA-acts.pdf

European Commission drafts new legislation

COM shall seek advise from the EFTA States and the EU Member States in the same way – Art. 99 EEA

EP and MS discuss

EP/Council acts

EFTA-EU exchange of views – Art. 99 EEA

EU act published in the Official Journal of the EU

Footnote-marking for EEA relevant acts (not legally binding)

EEA decision shaping on the EU side

Expertsdiscuss

delegated acts

EFTA participationArt.100 EEA

MS experts discuss

implementing acts

EFTA participationArt. 100 EEA

EU adopts new legislation...

EEA position taking on the EFTA side

• EFTA Secretariat identifies relevant acts and conducts a preliminary

assessment. ’Standard sheets’ sent to experts.

• EFTA experts (Working Groups) discuss

- EEA relevance

- Possible need for technical adaptation

- Possible need for substantial adaptations/negotiations

- Possible need for parliamentary procedures (Art. 103 EEA)

• EFTA Secretariat drafts a EEA Joint Committee Decision for

incorporation of the act(s) into the EEA Agreement

• Draft JCD submitted to the EU side (EEAS) after approval by the EFTA

Subcommittee

EFTA Subcommittees and Working Groups

European External Action Service

(EEAS)

DIRECTORATE-GENERALS

LEGAL SERVICE

DG BUDGET

COUNCIL(Ministers)

COREPER(Ambassadors)

WORKING GROUP ON

EFTA MATTERS

European Commission

Council

If adaptations or financial contributions are involved

EEA EFTA States’ position

EU’s position

EEA position taking on the EU side

EEA decision-taking

EFTA Standing Committee

EFTA Sub-committees

EFTA Working Groups

AdoptedEEA Joint Committee Decision

Council

European External Action Service (EEAS)

CommissionConstitutional requirements

Article 103 EEA

Entry into force

Implementation in national law (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway)

EFTA Surveillance

Authority

Adopted EEA

relevant EU legislation

Draft decision

Are we on time?

Is there a veto right?

• EEA Article 102 procedures• What does history tell us?

Extending EU law …

9991 EU acts incorporated into the EEA Agreement

1 875 at the time of signing (1992)

7 119 added by the EEA Joint Committee

997 added by simplified procedures (veterinary field)

4 677 legal acts in force today in the EEA

10 962 legal acts in force today in the EU

Source: EFTA Secretariat and EUR-Lex 1.9.2014

The EEA Agreement on www.efta.int

More information….www.efta.int