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[...]6. The EEA Council recognised that the good functioning and further development of the extended Single Market would be a key driver for renewed growth in Europe. In this context, it welcomed the adoption of the Better Regulation Package and the Internal Market Strategy for Goods and Services by the European Commission, and the contributions of the EEA EFTA States to these initiatives. The EEA Council welcomed the intention of the EEA EFTA States to follow up the various proposals resulting from these initiatives and to continue to contribute to their development.
7. The EEA Council emphasised the need for responsibility and solidarity among the countries of Europe to overcome the social and economic challenges that had arisen from the economic crisis. In particular, the EEA Council expressed concern regarding the continued high level of youth unemployment in some EEA Member States.
8. The EEA Council recognised the still existing need to alleviate social and economic disparities in the EEA, as well as the positive contribution of the EEA and Norway Financial Mechanisms 2009-2014 and their predecessors in reducing economic and social disparities throughout the EEA.
9. Against the background of the initialling of the draft Protocol 38C to the EEA Agreement on the EEA Financial Mechanism 2014-2021 and of the draft Agreement between Norway and the EU on a Norwegian Financial Mechanism for the 2014-2021 period, the EEA Council called for a swift conclusion of the necessary work to enable the new mechanisms to become operational as soon as possible.
10. Against the background of the initialling of the draft protocols on trade in fish and fisheries products between Norway and the EU and Iceland and the EU, and the EEA Council also called for a swift conclusion of the necessary work.
11. The EEA Council noted that free movement of capital is a fundamental internal market freedom and an integral part of the EEA acquis and acknowledged that restrictions can be implemented only temporarily on the basis of the provisions of Article 43 of the EEA Agreement.
12. The EEA Council welcomed the further progress made in recent months on the technical work necessary for the incorporation into the EEA Agreement of the EU Regulations on the European Supervisory Authorities in the area of financial services. It stressed the need to swiftly conclude this process in order to ensure effective and homogenous supervision throughout the EEA, as called for by the EU and EEA EFTA Ministers of Finance and Economy at their informal meeting of 14 October 2014. The EEA Council also highlighted the high importance of incorporating other outstanding legislation in the field of financial services as soon as possible in order to ensure a level playing field throughout the EEA in this important sector.
13. Acknowledging the contribution made by EU programmes to building a more competitive, innovative and social Europe, the EEA Council welcomed the participation of the EEA EFTA States in EEA-relevant programmes to which they contribute financially. [...]
[...]21. The EEA Council acknowledged the significance of the negotiations on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the European Union and the United States. The EEA Council welcomed the exchange of information between the European Commission and the EEA EFTA States initiated in the EEA Joint Committee in December 2014. Bearing in mind inter alia Protocol 12 to the EEA Agreement, the EEA Council encouraged a continuation of this exchange of information.
22. The EEA Council acknowledged that the Contracting Parties, pursuant to Article 19 of the EEA Agreement, had undertaken to continue their efforts with a view to achieving the progressive liberalisation of agricultural trade. The EEA Council welcomed the initialling, on 17 September 2015, of Agreements on the further liberalisation of agricultural trade and on the protection of geographical indications between the EU and Iceland.
23. The EEA Council stressed the need for further progress in the negotiations between the EU and Norway on the protection of geographical indications and on further liberalisation of agricultural trade within the framework of Article 19 launched in February 2015.
24. The EEA Council welcomed the conclusion, on 17 September 2015, of negotiations between Iceland and the EU on the further liberalisation of trade in processed agricultural products within the framework of Article 2(2) and Article 6 of Protocol 3 to the EEA Agreement. [...]