§ Lord Pearson of Rannochasked Her Majesty's Government:
What European Union policy areas do not apply to non-European Union members of the European economic area under the European economic area agreement; and [HL4046]
What joint European Union-European economic area institutions provide for decision-shaping and decision-making by non-European Union members of the European economic area when European Union bodies are preparing new European economic area-relevant legislation. [HL4053]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanThe European economic area (EEA) agreement establishes rules to facilitate the movement of goods, services, capital and persons between EU and EEA member states in an open and competitive environment. It binds EEA members into most EU single market rules.
Broadly the EEA agreement does not cover the following EU policy areas:
- common agriculture and fisheries policies (although the agreement contains provisions on various aspects of trade in agricultural and fish products);
- the common commerical policy, including customs union;
- the common foreign and security policy;
WA 136 - justice and home affairs (although Iceland and Norway participate in Schengen co-operation);
- trans-European networks;
- public health (except in the context of the environment of health and safety in work);
- industry;
- development co-operation;
- economic and social cohesion;
- economic, financial and technical co-operation with third countries; and
- economic and monetary policy, including monetary union (EMU).
EEA European Free Trade Association (EFTA) states have no formal access to the EU decision-making process. Only EU membership can give such access. The EEA agreement contains provision for input from EEA EFTA states at various stages of the preparation of EEA-relevant EU legislation but this is not the same as joint decision-making. EEA EFTA experts are consulted informally by the Commission when drawing up legislation and experts also have access to Commission comitology and programme committees but they do not have a vote. Again, only EU membership provides for this.
Once relevant EC legislation has been formally adopted by the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament, or by the European Commission, the EEA Joint Committee takes a decision concerning any appropriate amendment of the EEA agreement with a view to permitting a simultaneous application of legislation in the EU and the EEA EFTA states. The EEA Joint Committee is assisted by four sub-committees and various working groups. The EEA council provides political impetus for the development of the EEA agreement and guidelines for the Joint Committee.
Further information about the EEA can be found on the website of the EFTA Secretariat: www.secretariat.efta.int.