A draft decision of the EEA Joint Committee, published on 23 June 2026, extends participation in the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) to EFTA States from 1 January 2026, while explicitly excluding Iceland and Liechtenstein from both participation and financial contribution. The decision, scheduled for adoption on 24 June 2026, amends Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement to include cooperation under Regulation (EU) 2025/2643.
Under the draft, EFTA States (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland, though the latter is not an EEA member) may join EDIP and its budget lines (13 01 06 and 13 08 01) retroactively from 1 January 2026. Costs for activities starting from that date—or from 5 March 2024 under certain conditions—are eligible if the decision enters into force before the action ends. However, Iceland and Liechtenstein are explicitly exempted from participation and financial contribution, a carve-out reflecting their opt-out from defence-related cooperation.
The decision applies only specific articles of the EDIP Regulation: Articles 1–21 (general provisions and governance), 35–77 (financial and implementation rules), and 79–86 (final provisions). Adaptations are made for the roles of the EFTA Surveillance Authority and the EFTA Court, ensuring alignment with EEA institutional frameworks. The decision will enter into force the day after the last EEA notification, with effect from 1 January 2026.
This move extends EU defence industrial cooperation to EEA members, boosting the programme's scale and funding base. For Norway, participation opens access to EU defence R&D and procurement projects, potentially strengthening its defence industry. The exclusion of Iceland and Liechtenstein avoids financial obligations for states with minimal defence sectors. The retroactive eligibility clause benefits companies that started projects before the decision, reducing uncertainty. However, the partial application of the regulation may create legal complexity for EFTA participants, who must navigate adapted rules. The decision also reinforces the EU's push to integrate non-EU allies into its defence framework, a priority since the EDIP's adoption in 2025.