The EEA Joint Parliamentary Committee is an advisory body that comprises members of the national parliaments of the EEA EFTA States and Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). It is not directly involved in the EEA decision-making process, but through reports and resolutions it aims to monitor and scrutinise EEA-relevant EU policies and decisions adopted in the EEA Joint Committee.

Latest developments

The 39th meeting of the EEA JPC was held in Brussels on 27 November 2012. At the meeting the Committee adopted four resolutions on EEA EFTA States' participation in EU agencies, The Reform of EU Common Fisheries Policy, The future of the EU Energy policy and its implications for the EEA and EU programmes 2014-2020 and the participation of the EEA EFTA States.

The 38th meeting of the EEA JPC was held in Akureyri, Iceland on 4 May 2012. At the meeting the Committee adopted three resolutions on The Annual Report of the EEA Joint Committee on the Functioning of the EEA Agreement in 2011, The Review of the EEA and The White Paper on a Single European Transport Area.

The 37th meeting of the EEA JPC was held in Strasbourg on 26 October 2011. At the meeting the Committee adopted three resolutions; one on the EU Digital Agenda and the EEA, one on the EEA and Norwegian Grants: Contributing to the Social and Economic Cohesion in Europe, and one on the European Refund Scheme for Drinks Containers.

The 36th meeting of the EEA JPC was held in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, on 10 April 2011. At the meeting the Committee adopted two resolutions; one on the Annual Report on the Functioning of the EEA in 2010, and the other on the High North: Opportunities and Policy challenges.

The 35th meeting of the EEA JPC was held in Strasbourg on 24-25 November 2010. At the meeting the Committee adopted resolutions on Europe 2020: Innovation and the EEA, and the European Year against Poverty and Social Discrimination.

The 34th meeting of the EEA JPC was held in Vaduz on 29 March 2010. At the meeting the Committee adopted resolutions on the Annual Report on the Functioning of the EEA in 2009, the Common Fisheries Policy and the EEA, and EEA and Regional Cooperation: New Channels for Dialogue.

The 33rd meeting of the EEA JPC was held in Tromsø on 28 October 2009. At the meeting the Committee adopted resolutions on the EEA and the Global Financial Crisis: Promoting Recovery, and Labour Market Issues in the EEA: Posted Workers and the Freedom to Provide Services. The Committee also discussed a working document on the EEA and Regional Cooperation.

The 32nd meeting of the EEA JPC was held in Strasbourg on 25 and 26 March 2009. At the meeting the Committee adopted a resolution on the Functioning of the EEA in 2008 and discussed a report and resolution on Labour Mobility in the EEA.

The 31st meeting of the EEA JPC was held in Brussels on 4 November 2008. At the meeting the Committee adopted two resolutions, the first on Research and Education Programmes in the EEA and the second on Future Perspectives for the European Economic Area.

The 30th meeting of the EEA JPC was held in Svartsengi, Iceland, on 29 April 2008. At the meeting the Committee adopted two resolutions, one on the Functioning of the EEA in 2007 and the other on Health Services in the EEA. The recommendation was on Future Perspectives for the European Economic Area.

The 29th meeting of the EEA JPC was held in Strasbourg on 14 November 2007. At the meeting the Committee adopted two resolutions. The resolutions were accompanied by reports on the same topics: The Open Method of Coordination and the EEA, and Energy and Climate Change: Implications for the EEA. A working paper on Future Perspectives for the European Economic Area was also discussed at the meeting.

The 28th meeting of the EEA JPC was held in Vaduz on 28 June 2007. At the meeting the Committee adopted two resolutions, one on the Annual Report on the Functioning of the EEA Agreement in 2006 and one on the EU Future Maritime Policy: Implications for the EEA.

The 27th meeting of the EEA JPC was held in Brussels on 10 October 2006. At the meeting the Committee adopted two resolutions, one on the Implementation of EEA Legislation and one on Enlarging the EEA: Experiences and Perspectives.

The 26th meeting of the EEA JPC was held in Tromsø on 23 May 2006. At the meeting the Committee adopted two resolutions; one on the Annual Report on the Functioning of the EEA Agreement in 2005 and one on Europe’s High North: Energy and Environmental Issues.

The 25th meeting of the EEA JPC was held in Brussels on 22 and 23 November 2005. At the meeting the EEA JPC adopted two resolutions; one on Adopted Resolutions of the EEA JPC 2000 to 2005 and one on New Environmental Legislation and the EEA.

Cooperation in the EEA

Members of the EEA JPC scrutinise all Community legislation applying to the EEA, and have the right to put oral and written questions to the representatives of the EEA Council and EEA Joint Committee. At each meeting, the EEA JPC has discussions with representatives of the EEA Council of Ministers, the EEA Joint Committee, and the EFTA Surveillance Authority. The EEA JPC expresses its views in the form of reports or resolutions. The Committee adopts resolutions on a wide variety of issues relevant to the EEA Agreement and the functioning of the Single Market.

Reports and Resolutions adopted by the EEA JPC.

EEA JPC Rules of Procedure.

Members of the EEA Joint Parliamentary Committee (March 2013)

The EEA Joint Parliamentary Committee consists of 12 representatives from the EEA EFTA side and 12 representatives from the EU side.

Icelandic delegation

• Mr Árni Þór Sigurðsson, Left-Green Movement (Chair CMP/MPS and President of the EEA JPC)
• Mr Skúli Helgason, Social Democratic Alliance
• Ms Þorgerður K. Gunnarsdóttir, Independence Party
• Mr Sigmundur D. Gunnlaugsson, Progressive Party
• Mr Sigmundur Ernir Rúnarsson, Social Democratic Alliance
   

Alternate members

• Ms Valgerður Bjarnadóttir, Social-Democratic Alliance
• Mr Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson, Independence Party
• Ms Guðfríður Lilja Grétarsdóttir, Left-Green Movement
• Ms Jónína Rós Guðmundsdóttir, Social-Democratic Alliance
• Mr Birkir Jón Jónsson, Progressive Party

 Liechtenstein delegation

• Mr Albert Frick, Progressive Citizens' Party
• Mr Harry Quaderer, Independent

Alternate members

• Mr Manfred Kaufmann, Patriotic Union
• Mr Eugen Nägele, Progressive Citizens' Party
   

Norwegian delegation

• Mr Svein Roald Hansen, Labour Party (Vice-Chair CMP/MPS)
• Mr Harald T. Nesvik, Progress Party
• Ms Rannveig Kviste Andresen, Socialist Left Party
• Ms Laila Gustavsen, Labour Party
• Ms Laila Marie Reiertsen, Progress Party
• Mr Jan Tore Sanner, Conservative Party

Alternate members

• Mr Nikolai Astrup, Conservative Party
• Ms Laila Dåvøy, Christian Democratic Party
• Mr Steinar Gullvåg, Labour Party
• Ms Irene Johansen, Labour Party
• Ms Siri A. Meling, Conservative Party
• Ms Janne Sjelmo Nordås, Centre Party
• Mr Jørund Rytman, Progress Party
• Mr Kåre Simensen, Labour Party
• Ms Borghild Tenden, Liberal Party
• Mr Torgeir Trældal, Progress Party

The Swiss Members of Parliament in the EFTA Parliamentary Committee are invited as observers in the EEA Joint Parliamentary meetings.

• Ms Kathy Riklin, Christian Democratic Party
• Mr Didier Berberat, Social Democratic Party
• Mr Ignazio Cassis, Radical-Liberal Party
• Mr Konrad Graber, Christian Democratic Party
• Mr Hans Kaufmann, Swiss People's Party

Alternate members

• Mr Thomas Aeschi, Swiss People's Party
• Mr Hannes Germann, Swiss People's Party
• Ms Karin Keller-Sutter, Radical-Liberal Party
• Mr Jacques-André Maire, Social Democratic Party
• Mr Eric Nussbaumer, Social Democratic Party

European Parliament delegation

• Mr Pat the Cope Gallagher (ALDE, Ireland) (Vice-President of the EEA JPC)
• Ms Anna Hedh (S&D, Sweden)
• Mr Thomas Ulmer (EPP, Germany)
• Ms Zuzana Brzobohatá (S&D, Czech Republic)
• Ms Elzbieta Sidonia Jedrzejewska (EPP, Poland)
• Mr David Campbell Bannerman (ECR, United Kingdom)
• Ms Silvana Koch-Mehrin (ALDE, Germany)
• Mr Constantin Petru Luhan (EPP, Romania)
• Ms Arlene McCarthy (S&D, United Kingdom)
• Mr Paul Rübig (EPP, Austria)
• Ms Catherine Stihler (S&D, United Kingdom)
• Mr Theodor Dumitru Stolojan (EPP, Romania)
• Mr Indrek Tarand (Greens/EFA, Estonia)
• Mr Corneliu Vadim Tudor (NI, Romania)
• Mr Philippe de Villiers (EFD, France)
• Ms Sabine Wils (GUE/NGL, Germany)

See also the EFTA Advisory Bodies pages for more information.