The EU is further developing its economic and monetary union in response to the economic crisis. The establishment of a banking union in the euro area, which currently includes only 17 of the 27 EU Member States, will further strengthen development towards a union in which some countries are more closely linked than others. At the same time, certain Member States are re-evaluating their membership and non-Member States are considering taking steps towards closer cooperation and integration.
How will the relationship between the countries in the euro area and the other Member States develop? What does this entail for neighbouring countries like the EEA EFTA States, which are closely integrated with the EU?
The keynote speech on a multi-speed Europe will be given by Jean-Claude Piris, who was Director-General of the Legal Service of the Council of the European Union from 1988 to 2010. He is also the author of “The future of Europe – towards a two-speed EU”. This will be followed by a panel debate on the role of the EEA in a multi-speed Europe. The first part of the seminar will be an introduction to the functioning of the EEA Agreement.
For more information regarding this event, please contact:
Christina Everett
cev@efta.int
+32 2 286 17 21
Draft Programme
The role of the EEA in a multi-speed Europe
EFTA Secretariat
12-16 Rue Joseph II, 1000 Brussels
21 March 2013
9:00-9:30 Registration and coffee
Morning session: The functioning of the EEA Agreement
Moderator: Georges Baur, Assistant Secretary-General, EFTA Secretariat
9:30-09:35 Introduction
Kristinn F. Árnason, Secretary-General, EFTA Secretariat
9:35-10:30 Policy shaping in the EEA and the role of the Secretariat
Tore Grønningsæter, Senior Information and Communications Officer, EFTA Secretariat
10:30-11:00 The EEA watchdog: The EFTA Surveillance Authority
Trygve Mellvang-Berg, Press and Information Officer, EFTA Surveillance Authority
11:00-11:30 Coffee
11:30-12:00 The role of the EFTA Court
Philipp Speitler, Legal Secretary, EFTA Court
12:00-12:30 EEA and Norway Grants – reducing disparities and strengthening bilateral relations
Miriam Stackpole Dahl, Communications Officer, Financial Mechanism Office
12:30-13:30 Lunch
Afternoon session: The role of the EEA in a multi-speed Europe
Moderator: Helge Skaara, Deputy Secretary-General, EFTA Secretariat
13:30-14:15 Keynote speech: Towards a multi-speed Europe?
Jean-Claude Piris, former Director-General of the Legal Service of the Council of the European Union
14:15-14:30 Coffee
14:30-15:45 Panel debate
- Oda Helen Sletnes, President, EFTA Surveillance Authority
- Jean-Claude Piris, former Director-General of the Legal Service of the Council of the European Union
- Marc Maresceau, Professor of European Law, University of Gent
- Kurt Jäger, Ambassador of Liechtenstein to the EU
- Christa Tobler, Professor of European Law, Universities of Leiden (NL) and Basel (CH)
15:45-17:15 Reception hosted by Kristinn F. Árnason, Secretary-General of EFTA
Read also:
September 2012: EFTA Seminar on the EEA: The evolution of the Single Market and the EEA Agreement – 20 years on
January 2012: EFTA Seminar – presentation of the report by the Norwegian EEA Review Committee
All seminars