Annual Report 2001

The 2001 edition is the EFTA Surveillance Authority's eight Annual Report.

In Chapter 3 of the Report, basic information is provided on the EEA Agreement and the EFTA Surveillance Authority itself. A number of concepts frequently referred to in the Report are also explained, and a short account of the Authority's information policy and website is given.

Chapter 4 provides reports on the EFTA Surveillance Authority's general surveillance work with respect to the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital. The first part gives statistical information on general surveillance during the five years period 1997-2001, including the implementation status of Acts, case handling, infringement cases, closures and the Authority's workload at the end of the reporting period. In the subsequent parts, a more detailed account is given, sector by sector, of the implementation and application of the EEA Agreement in the EFTA States, and of the activities carried out by the Authority in ensuring the fulfilment of obligations under the Agreement and for the management thereof. With regard to some sectors, a brief introductory overview is also given of the applicable EEA legislation.

Accordingly, as regards free movement of goods, persons, services and capital, and the so-called horizontal areas, extensive information is given on the EFTA Surveillance Authority's work in controlling the implementation of EEA acts, in particular the transposition of Acts, and in dealing with complaints lodged by individuals and economic operators. References are made to the work carried out by the Authority's services to verify the conformity of national implementing measures with the corresponding EEA rules, and to identify deficiencies regarding the implementation and application of the rules by the EFTA States. Furthermore, the Authority's action to ensure the fulfilment of obligations under the Agreement, including formal infringement proceedings, is described. Information is also given on certain procedures administered, and functions carried out, by the Authority in the application of the Agreement.

In addition to an account of the situation as regards the implementation by the EFTA States of the EEA rules on public procurement, information is given on cases pursued by the EFTA Surveillance Authority concerning the application of the rules.

Chapters 5 and 6 set out the main principles and rules in the fields of competition and State aid respectively, together with an outline of the powers of the EFTA Surveillance Authority.  Also provided are an overview of cases handled in 2001 and of non-binding acts issued in the form of amendments to the Authority's State Aid Guidelines and as notices in the field of competition.  Co-operation with the European Commission and national authorities is mentioned.

In Chapter 7, the appearance of the EFTA Surveillance Authority before the EFTA Court and the European Court of Justice of the European Communities is described.