Considerations on COM(2024)96 - Signing and provisional application of the Agreement between the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway on an EEA Financial Mechanism for the period May 2021 - April 2028, the Agreement between Norway and the EU on a Norwegian Financial Mechanism for the period May 2021 - April 2028, the Additional Protocol to the Agreement with Norway and the Additional Protocol to the Agreement with Iceland

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dossier COM(2024)96 - Signing and provisional application of the Agreement between the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway on an EEA Financial ...
document COM(2024)96
date March  4, 2024
 
(1) There remains a need to alleviate economic and social disparities within the European Economic Area, and a new mechanism for the financial contributions of the EEA EFTA States and a new Norwegian financial mechanism should therefore be established.

(2) On 20 May 2021, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Kingdom of Norway on an agreement on the future financial contributions of the EEA EFTA States to economic and social cohesion in the European Economic Area. The Commission has negotiated, on behalf of the European Union, an Agreement between the European Union, Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Kingdom of Norway on an EEA Financial Mechanism for the period May 2021 – April 2028. This will take the form of a Protocol 38d to the EEA Agreement. The Commission has also negotiated, on behalf of the European Union, an Agreement between the Kingdom of Norway and the European Union on a Norwegian Financial Mechanism for the period May 2021 – April 2028.

(3) The EEA Financial Mechanism for the period May 2021 – April 2028 and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism for the period May 2021 – April 2028 will contribute to the reduction of economic and social disparities in the European Economic Area and to the strengthening of relations between the EEA EFTA States and the Beneficiary States.

(4) The special provisions on imports into the EU of certain fish and fisheries products originating in Iceland and Norway, set out in the Additional Protocols to their respective Free Trade Agreements with the European Economic Community4, expired on 30 April 2021 and should be reviewed in accordance with Article 1 of these Protocols. The Commission has therefore negotiated new Additional Protocols to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Kingdom of Norway and to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and Iceland.

(5) Each of the Agreements and Protocols referred to above provides for its own provisional application before its entry into force.

(6) Each of the Agreements and Protocols should be signed on behalf of the European Union, subject to its conclusion at a later date, and applied on a provisional basis.