EFTA Council meets for fifth time in 2025

On 24 September, the EFTA Council held its fifth meeting of 2025 in Geneva and the first under the Icelandic Chair.

Regarding EFTA-EU relations, the EFTA Secretariat provided an update on recent developments in EFTA's cooperation with the EU. The Council was briefed on the outcomes of recent EEA Joint Committee meetings in July and September, and on preparations for the upcoming EEA Council meeting in November. Member States also received updates on EU political developments relevant to EFTA, including discussions on global geopolitical and trade dynamics.

On trade relations, Member States reviewed the recent signing of the Free Trade Agreement with MERCOSUR and discussed the latest negotiation round with Viet Nam held in September. The Secretariat also reported on preparations for the signing of the Digital Economy Agreement with Singapore and the forthcoming entry into force of the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement with India and the Free Trade Agreement with Thailand.

Finally, Member States discussed Iceland's list of priorities for 2025-2026 as the new Chair of the EFTA Council, and shared updates on recent policy developments and forthcoming high-level meetings.

The next EFTA Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 11 November.

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