At the EEA Council in Brussels on Thursday, November 20, Foreign Minister Sabine Monauni and her counterparts from Iceland and Norway discussed key issues of European economic and regulatory policy with the EU Council Presidency and the EU Commission. The focus was on efforts to reduce bureaucratic hurdles, strengthen competitiveness and new EU protection measures. There was also an exchange with the EFTA Consultative Committee with the participation of Liechtenstein parliamentarians and social partners, as well as bilateral talks with the Danish Minister for European Affairs, Marie Bjerre, and the EU Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Productivity, Valdis Dombrovskis.

EU plans to cut red tape

The EU is currently working on six major omnibus packages that should significantly reduce the administrative burden on companies by 2030, up to 35% for SMEs. The reforms affect a wide range of policy areas, from sustainability to the internal market and agricultural policy to the defense industry. Foreign Minister Monauni welcomed the EU's plans to ease the burden, particularly for Liechtenstein SMEs. She emphasized that the result must be better laws that relieve the burden on companies without neglecting important European goals in the areas of environment, climate and social affairs.

The discussion on the new EU protective measures against imports of certain ferroalloys, which have been in force since November 18, took up a lot of space. While Norway and Iceland were responsible for almost half of the affected deliveries to the EU in 2024, Liechtenstein is not affected by the measures due to the lack of Liechtenstein exports to the EU. Monauni emphasized that the European Economic Area should not be fragmented by EU protective measures in light of global geopolitical tensions and their impact on world trade.

Foreign policy exchange on Ukraine, the USA and the Middle East

The traditional Political Dialogue with the European External Action Service focused on support for Ukraine - particularly with regard to reconstruction - transatlantic trade relations and the situation in the Middle East. Liechtenstein works together with the EU in areas of common foreign policy priorities and, in particular, implements its sanctions autonomously, for example in connection with the Russian war of aggression.

Talks with EFTA parliamentarians and social partners

At the annual meeting with the EFTA parliamentarians and economic and social partners, the EEA/EFTA ministers explained their positions on economic security, EU protection measures and competitiveness. Both bodies make an important contribution to the democratic, social and economic anchoring of the EEA in the three EEA/EFTA states. Liechtenstein was represented by Members of Parliament Sebastian Gassner and Thomas Vogt as well as the Managing Director of the Liechtenstein Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Maximilian Rüdisser, and the Managing Director of the Liechtenstein Employees' Association, Sigi Langenbahn.

Exchange with the Danish Minister for Europe, Marie Bjerre, and the EU Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Productivity, Valdis Dombrovskis

In bilateral talks with the Danish Minister for European Affairs, Marie Bjerre, Foreign Minister Monauni discussed cooperation within the EEA and unresolved issues relating to tax cooperation. She addressed EU Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis in particular on the subject of the new EU protection measures. She emphasized that in times of geopolitical tensions, Europe must not fragment, but rather gather its economic strength.