EØSregler

EØSregler refer to the rules and provisions that apply under the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement to extend the EU internal market to the EEA EFTA states—Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. The objective is to ensure smooth cross-border trade and equal access to the internal market while allowing these countries to maintain autonomy in other policy areas.

The core of the EØS-regelverk is the EU acquis, which is transposed into the EEA framework. EØS-reglene cover the four freedoms of the internal market: goods, services, people, and capital. They include rules on competition and state aid, public procurement, product safety, environment, consumer protection, and many regulatory areas such as corporate governance, intellectual property, and various sectoral regulations. The aim is harmonization with EU law to reduce non-tariff barriers and create a level playing field within the EEA.

Areas not governed by the EØS rules include agriculture and fisheries, monetary policy, most aspects of justice and home affairs, and taxation. These areas may be governed by separate agreements or national policies. The EFTA states participate in the EEA through specific institutional arrangements and do not form part of the EU’s political structures.

Institutions involved include the EEA Joint Committee, which approves amendments to the EEA Agreement and the incorporation of new EU acquis; the EFTA Surveillance Authority, which monitors compliance by Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway; and the EU Commission, which oversees enforcement and coordination with national authorities.

History: the EEA Agreement was signed in 1992 and entered into force in 1994, creating a framework for ongoing integration of the EEA EFTA states with the EU internal market.