EFTA Surveillance Authority

03/06/2026

ESA has adopted the Middle East Crisis Temporary State Aid Framework (METSAF) to help EEA EFTA States support their economies in response to the ongoing Middle East Crisis.

METSAF provides targeted, temporary support to sectors most affected by the crisis, including agriculture, fisheries, transport and energy-sensitive industries. It is designed to mitigate economic disruption and safeguard key sectors of the economy that have been particularly affected by high energy costs stemming from the crisis. For the EEA EFTA States, ESA adopted guidelines corresponding to the rules adopted by the European Commission for EU Member States on 29 April.

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The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) today adopted theMiddle East Crisis Temporary State Aid Framework (METSAF) to help EEA EFTA States support their economies in response to the ongoing Middle East Crisis. METSAF provides targeted, temporary support to sectors most affected by the crisis, includin...

27/05/2026

ESA has approved the National Implementation Measures submitted by Norway and Iceland for the free allocation of greenhouse gas emission allowances under the ETS for 2026-2030.

ESA concluded that the measures are in line with the relevant EEA rules and that the listed installations are eligible for free allocation.

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The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has approved the National Implementation Measures (NIMs) submitted by Iceland and Norway for the free allocation of greenhouse gas emission allowances for the period 2026-2030.The NIMs list stationary installations that may be eligible to receive free emission a...

22/05/2026

Today, 35 legal professionals from across Europe visited ESA at EFTA House to learn more about the European Economic Area Agreement.

The group, representing law firms from Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Austria, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands, are members of the Cyrus Ross European Group of Law Firms EEIG. They met with ESA's Head of Communications, Jarle Hetland and Legal Adviser Daniel Vasbeck.

During the visit, guests learned about ESA’s role in applying EEA law and supporting the Internal Market in the EEA EFTA States. The meeting also included a valuable exchange on legal practices in the EEA-EFTA states and the EU member states.

20/05/2026

In a report issued today, ESA finds that Norway has made progress in addressing recommendations following audits of the food and feed safety, animal health, and welfare sectors. After a general review audit in January 2026, Norway had addressed 10 of 21 open recommendations from previous audits.

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In a report issued today, the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) finds that Norway has made progress in addressing recommendations made by ESA following audits of the food and feed safety, animal health and welfare sectors. The report follows the latest ESA general review audit to Norway from 19 to 2...

08/05/2026

The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has this week been in Reykjavik for its annual “Package Meeting” with Icelandic authorities, combining expert‑level discussions on ongoing infringement cases with a series of high‑level meetings with members of the Icelandic Government.

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The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has this week been in Reykjavik for its annual “Package Meeting” with the Icelandic authorities, combining expert‑level discussions on ongoing infringement cases with a series of high‑level meetings with members of the Icelandic Government.Taking place o...

07/05/2026

ESA’s annual high-level “package meeting” with the Government of Iceland continued yesterday with meetings focused on finance, economic affairs, and industries.

ESA Vice-Presidents Nuscha Wieczorek and Árni Páll Árnason, together with ESA colleagues, met Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Daði Már Kristófersson.

The ESA delegation also met members of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the EFTA Parliamentary Committee at Alþingi.

Later in the day, ESA’s leadership met Minister of Industries Hanna Katrín Friðriksson and stafff from the Ministry of Industries.

Annual package meetings are a way for ESA and EEA EFTA States to try to find solutions to difficult cases through in-person dialogue.

06/05/2026

ESA’s annual high-level "package meeting" with the Government of Iceland began yesterday. ESA President Arne Røksund, Vice-Presidents Nuscha Wieczorek and Árni Páll Árnason, and other ESA colleagues met with Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir, followed by a meeting with Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate, Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson.

Earlier in the day, the ESA College and colleagues met with representatives from the Confederation of Icelandic Enterprise, Icelandic Confederation of Labour, the Federation of Icelandic Industries and the Federation of Public Workers.

Annual package meetings are a way for ESA and EEA EFTA States to try to find solutions to difficult cases through in-person dialogue.

04/05/2026

💡Ert þú búinn að skrá þig?

Eftirlitsstofnun EFTA (ESA) býður til ESA-dagsins þann 7. maí.

Dagurinn er haldinn í samvinnu við Alþingi.
Í þetta skipti er yfirskriftin: EES-samningurinn í breyttum heimi: orka, umhverfi og framtíðin. Á dagskrá verða fjölbreytt erindi um EES-samninginn og pallborðsumræður en áherslan verður á umhverfis-, orku- og samkeppnismál.

Meðal þeirra sem taka þátt verða starfsfólk ESA, Árni Páll Árnason, varaforseti ESA og Bryndís Haraldsdóttir, varaforseti Alþingis.

ESA-dagurinn mun fara fram í Smiðju, nýbyggingu Alþingis. Húsið verður opnað 12:00 og stendur fundurinn yfir til kl. 16. Að fundi loknum verður boðið upp á léttar veitingar til kl. 17.

Vinsamlegast athugið að skráning á viðburðinn er nauðsynleg. ESA hvetur alla áhugasama til þess að skrá sig fyrir þriðjudaginn 5. maí. Aðgangur er ókeypis.

Skráning fer fram hér 👉 https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/WTY1wAaubV

30/04/2026

ESA has today adopted State aid guidelines for land and multimodal transport, ensuring uniform application across the European Economic Area.

The guidelines align ESA’s assessment framework with that adopted by the European Commission, making it easier and faster for the EEA EFTA states to support sustainable land transport solutions. They clarify how State aid measures in the sustainable transport sector that must be notified to and approved by ESA will be assessed.

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The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today adopted State aid guidelines for land and multimodal transport (LMTG), ensuring uniform application across the European Economic Area (EEA).The guidelines align ESA’s assessment framework with that adopted by the European Commission, making it easier...

23/04/2026

ESA has opened infringement proceedings against Norway for not correctly and completely implementing the Water Framework Directive, and for incorrectly applying it to projects involving disposal of mining waste in Førdefjorden and Repparfjord.

ESA considers that Norway has not correctly implemented the Directive’s exemption rules into national law and has not demonstrated an overriding public interest to justify deterioration of the affected water bodies.

🔗Read more here 👉 https://www.eftasurv.int/newsroom/updates/esa-calls-norway-comply-eea-rules-protection-water-environment