EØSrettens

EØSrettens, officially known as the European Economic Area Court in Norway, is a special judicial body that handles cases related to the application and interpretation of the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement within the Norwegian legal system. The court was established in 2015 in order to streamline the handling of EEA-related disputes and to provide a faster and more specialized forum for resolving issues concerning the EEA Agreement, whilst remaining fully integrated into the Norwegian judiciary.

The court is located in Oslo and is supervised by the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security. Its composition consists of a panel of judges, of which at least one must be a member of the Norwegian Supreme Court. The judges are appointed by a special EØS‑jury, a body appointed by the Norwegian Parliament. This structure ensures that EØSrettens has both legal expertise and independent judiciary oversight.

EØSrettens handles a variety of matters, including disputes over the application of EEA provisions to specific national regulations, the interpretation of the common commercial policy, and conflicts between national legislation and the EEA Agreement. The court also has the power to issue advisory opinions on suspected violations and to recommend that cases be taken to the European Court of Justice if necessary.

Notable cases decided by EØSrettens have clarified the scope of EU law that applies in Norway, particularly in the areas of trade, competition, environment, and social policy. The court has also played a key role in ensuring that U.S. companies entering Norwegian markets are subject to the same rules as EU members when the issues fall under the EEA Agreement.

In sum, EØSrettens serves as an essential bridge between the EEA Agreement and Norwegian law, ensuring consistent application of EEA provisions while preserving the independence of Norway’s judicial system.