THE EEA Agreement and the

EFTA Surveillance AuthorityNovember 25, 2014

Helga Jónsdóttir, College MemberGjermund Mathiesen, Director CSA

Who are we?70 employees

14 nationalities

6 trainees

3 College Members

The Authority’s main role is to safeguard the EEA agreement, thereby enabling Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein to participate in the European internal market.

For the EEA to work successful implementation and application is needed in all Member States.

The Authority ensures that Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein respect obligations.

Safeguarding the EEA-Agreement

The EEA-Agreement is far-reaching and hugely influential in Iceland and Norway.

Internal Market

Free movement of goods, capital, persons and services.

 Bringing down barriers and simplifying existing rules to enable everyone in the EEA – individuals, consumers and businesses to participate on level ground.

To ensure "a level playing field" on the internal market, the EEA also covers legislation in the area of competition and state aid.

Benefits individuals, consumers and businesses.

Direct access to 31 countries and over 500 million people.

The EEA-Agreement

The EEA Agreement has proved flexible and to function beyond expectations since its entering into force.

It promotes and enables professional working practices in Member States.

Procedures and work processes in a clear legal framework

Efficiency relates to equal treatment and predictability

Flexibility allows for consideration of varying needs and interests of parties to the agreement.

Efficient while flexible

Public Procurement,

The Authority enforces EEA rules on competition• Prohibition of restrictive and distortive conduct.• Ban against abuse of market power.• Wide powers of investigation.• Right to impose fines.

State aid affects competition and is therefore generally banned.

But sometimes necessary for a well functioning economy.

ESA assesses and monitors state aid in Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.

Competition, Public Procurement, State Aid

Cases that highlight the municipal level

Participation in economic activity

Facilitation of economic activity

A few examples:

Waste collection, leisure/fitness centres

Sale of land to business development (Verne, Asker)

State aid cases

www.eftasurv.int

ESA@eftasurv