EU/Iceland/Liechtenstein/Norway Agreement: EEA financial mechanism 2014-2021; Norway/EU Agreement: Norwegian financial mechanism 2014-2021; additional Protocol to EEC/Norway Agreement; additional Protocol to EEC/Iceland Agreement

The Committee on International Trade adopted the report by David BORRELLI (EFDD, IT) on the draft Council decision on conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union, Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Kingdom of Norway on an EEA Financial Mechanism 2014-2021, the Agreement between the Kingdom of Norway and the European Union on a Norwegian Financial Mechanism for the period 2014-2021, the Additional Protocol to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Kingdom of Norway, and the Additional Protocol to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and Iceland.

The committee recommended the European Parliament to give its consent to the conclusion of the agreements and protocols.

The EEA Financial Mechanism Agreement and the Norway Agreement will together provide a financial contribution of the EEA EFTA States to the economic and social cohesion in the EEA of EUR 2.8 billion for the period 2014-2021. A certain amount of financial resources shall be allocated to tackle youth unemployment. This outcome means an overall increase in the financial contribution of 11.3 % compared to the period 2009-2014.

The review of the EU-Iceland and EU-Norway fish trade protocols led to new concessions being granted to both countries for the period 2014-2021.

The rapporteur is in favour of setting up a new mechanism for the financial contributions of the EEA EFTA States and a new Norwegian financial mechanism in view of the continuing need to alleviate the economic and social disparities within the European Economic Area.