Transport in the EEA 2026: what changes for companies operating in Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein

Key data

Transport companies with operations in EEA countries not belonging to the EU have a new adaptation obligation from 6 February 2026. The EEA Joint Committee Decision 45/2026 modifies the Annex XIII on transport of the EEA Agreement, extending the application of European transport regulations to Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

This update is not an isolated development: it is the usual mechanism by which the EEA incorporates EU legislation into its legal framework, ensuring that the rules of the game are the same for all operators acting in the enlarged single market. If your company moves goods or passengers through these countries, this decision directly affects you.

What does this regulation establish?

The EEA Agreement is the treaty that allows Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein to participate in the European single market without being EU members. For this to work, these countries must apply the same regulations that govern the EU in areas such as transport. The mechanism to achieve this is the periodic modification of the annexes of the EEA Agreement through decisions of the Joint Committee.

Annex XIII is the one that specifically sets out transport regulations. Decision 45/2026 updates it by incorporating new European regulations, so that the rules applicable in the three non-EU EEA countries are aligned with those in force in the Member States of the Union.

The concrete practical impact depends on the specific content of the regulations incorporated into the annex, which are detailed in the full text of the decision available from the official source.

Economic and operational impact

The incorporation of new European regulations into Annex XIII has direct consequences for transport operations in the three affected countries. The most relevant effects for companies are:

• Operational adaptation: Companies already operating in these countries must review whether their processes, documentation and procedures comply with the new incorporated requirements.
• Fair competition: Regulatory harmonization eliminates competitive advantages derived from more lenient regulatory frameworks in Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein compared to the EU.
• Free movement: Regulatory alignment facilitates cross-border operations within the EEA, reducing administrative friction for those already complying with EU regulations.
• Non-compliance risk: Companies that do not adapt their operations in time are exposed to sanctions or operational restrictions in the affected countries.

The entry into force date is 6 February 2026, prior to the publication date in the Official Journal (21 May 2026), which means that the obligation is already in force at the time of publication.

Who does it affect?

This decision directly and immediately affects:

• Freight transport companies operating routes with origin or destination in Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
• Passenger transport companies with services in or to these three countries.
• Logistics operators and freight forwarders managing supply chains that include these territories.
• Spanish or European companies with subsidiaries, agents or active transport contracts in Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
• Legal advisors and compliance officers responsible for regulatory monitoring in companies with presence in the EEA.
• CFOs and operations directors who must assess the impact of regulatory adaptation on costs and processes.

Practical example

A Spanish road transport company that operates regular routes between Spain and Norway operates under EU regulations on the European section. Until now, upon entering Norwegian territory, it could encounter slightly different requirements derived from the previous version of Annex XIII.

With the entry into force of Decision 45/2026, Norway incorporates the new European transport regulations at the same level as EU Member States. This means that the operations manager of that company must:

1. Identify what specific regulations have been incorporated into Annex XIII through this decision.
2. Compare those requirements with the company's current procedures for Norwegian routes.
3. Detect any compliance gaps and plan their correction.

The same analysis applies to operations in Iceland and Liechtenstein. Given that entry into force was 6 February 2026, any operation carried out from that date must already comply with the new requirements.

What should companies do now?

1. Consult the full text of Decision 45/2026 in the EU Official Journal to identify exactly what regulations have been incorporated into Annex XIII of the EEA Agreement.
2. Map your own operations in Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein: routes, contracts, procedures and affected documentation.
3. Assess the current level of compliance with the new incorporated requirements, with support from the legal team or a specialist advisor in international transport regulations.
4. Implement the necessary operational adjustments urgently, given that entry into force was 6 February 2026 and the obligation is already active.
5. Establish a regulatory alert system for future modifications to Annex XIII, as the EEA Joint Committee periodically updates these annexes as EU regulations evolve.