The EFTA Parliamentary Committee, in which the Swiss parliament is represented by its EFTA/EU Delegation, meets for an ordinary session twice a year. The working meeting in Brussels provided an opportunity to exchange views with parliamentary delegations from the other EFTA member states. Discussions centred on the new EU Commission’s priorities with regard to competitiveness, the internal market and industrial policy. These topics were also discussed in depth and critically analysed in talks with government representatives from the EEA states, which were led by the foreign minister of Norway, Espen Barth Eide. The EFTA Parliamentary Committee also met with the EFTA Consultative Committee and the chair of the EFTA Council to discuss the current status of EFTA's free trade policy towards third countries, in particular the conclusion of negotiations with Kosovo, the potential sustainability impact of a free trade agreement with Thailand, and the ratification and implementation of the trade and economic partnership agreement with India.
The vice chair of the EFTA/EU Delegation, Council of States member Damian Müller (FDP, LU), was accompanied to Brussels by Council of States member Benedikt Würth (The Centre, SG) and National Council member Nicolas Walder (The Greens, GE).