Programme

1. Opening by the EEA CC co-chairs
Maximilian Rüdisser, EFTA Consultative Committee (CC), and Juraj Sipko, European Economic and Social Committee (EESC).

2. Adoption of the agenda
The Co-Chairs present the draft agenda for adoption

3. Adoption of the draft minutes
The draft minutes from the previous meeting on 9–10 December in Copenhagen are put forward for adoption

4. Update and exchange on recent EEA and EFTA developments

  • Presentation by Thordur Jonsson, EFTA Senior Management, on recent developments in the EEA of relevance to the committee
  • Update from EEA CC members on the referendum in Iceland on opening accession negotiations with the EU, and on the Swiss popular initiative “No to a Switzerland with 10 Million”, as well as other EEA/EFTA developments of interest

5. Management of the EEA Agreement in Liechtenstein

  • Dr iur. Andrea Entner-Koch, Head of Unit, EEA Coordination Unit, Liechtenstein Ministry of General Government Affairs and Finance

6. The EEA Agreement 30+ years on – opportunities and scenarios

  • Dr Christian Frommelt, Rector, University of Liechtenstein

7. Keynote by Ms Brigitte Haas, Prime Minister of Liechtenstein

  • H.E. Brigitte Haas, Prime Minister of Liechtenstein, gives an intervention on the EEA in light of global geopolitical challenges

8. Jobs, skills and fair labour mobility in the EEA

  • Presentation by co-rapporteurs Dagný Aradóttir Pind (EFTA CC) and Dumitru Fornea (EESC) on the resolution and report on “Quality jobs, skills and fair labour mobility across the EEA”

9. Gender equality in the EEA

  • Presentation by Simon Gstoehl, European Statistical System, co-author of the report on parenthood-related employment gaps in Liechtenstein (2026)
  • Presentation by Nora Mehsen, Financial Mechanism Office, on the EEA and Norway Grants, with special focus on the mainstreaming of gender equality

10. Switzerland–EU package agreement in a comparative perspective

  • Presentation by Dr Georges Baur, Research Fellow in Law, Co-Director ad interim, Liechtenstein-Institut, on the package agreement between Switzerland and the EU in a comparative perspective to the EEA