Transport in the EEA 2025: what changes for logistics operators

Key data

Spanish transport companies and logistics operators with operations in the European Economic Area have an active compliance obligation since December 5, 2025. The Decision 313/2025 of the EEA Joint Committee amends Annex XIII on transport of the EEA Agreement, incorporating current European legislation into the regulatory framework of Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

Although publication in the Official Journal occurred on April 16, 2026, the regulation has been in force since December 2025. Anyone operating routes or services in these countries and has not reviewed their compliance has accumulated months of regulatory exposure.

What does this regulation establish?

The EEA Agreement allows Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein to participate in the European internal market without being EU members. For this to work, the EEA Joint Committee periodically updates the annexes of the Agreement to incorporate the European legislation being approved.

This Decision specifically amends Annex XIII, which regulates the transport sector. The amendment incorporates current European legislation on transport into the regulatory framework applicable in the three non-EU EEA countries, ensuring that the rules of the game are equivalent on both sides of the regulatory border.

The stated objective is twofold:

• Guarantee regulatory homogeneity between EEA countries and the EU in transport matters.
• Facilitate the free movement of transport services throughout the EEA area.

In practice, this means that companies already complying with EU transport regulations must verify that the same regulation—now incorporated into Annex XIII—is correctly applied in their operations in Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

Economic and operational impact

The direct impact of this decision is operational and compliance-related, not financial in terms of new fees or sanctions quantified in the regulation. However, ignoring the update has real consequences:

• Risk of non-compliance at destination: The authorities of Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein will apply the updated regulation. A company operating under previous standards may face problems in inspections, authorizations or contracts.
• Review of contracts and operational agreements: If transport or logistics contracts with clients or partners in these countries reference specific Annex XIII provisions, they may need to be updated.
• Opportunity for simplification: Harmonization reduces differences between operating in the EU and in these three countries, which can simplify internal processes for companies already working with European standards.

Companies already operating in full compliance with EU transport regulations have an advantage: adaptation can be minimal. The greatest risk falls on those who maintained differentiated procedures for these markets.

Who does it affect?

Decision 313/2025 is relevant to any Spanish company with transport or logistics operations in Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein. Specifically:

• International road transport operators with routes including these countries.
• Shipping companies with operations in Norwegian or Icelandic ports.
• Airlines with routes to or from these three countries.
• Logistics operators managing supply chains with origin or destination in the non-EU EEA area.
• Companies in any sector that subcontract international transport to these destinations and must verify their suppliers' compliance.

Practical example

A Spanish road transport company operates regular routes between Spain and Norway, with a stop in Germany. Until now, it applied EU transport regulations to the European leg and a differentiated protocol for the Norwegian leg, based on the previous version of Annex XIII of the EEA Agreement.

With Decision 313/2025 in force since December 5, 2025, Norway incorporates updated European transport legislation into its EEA regulatory framework. This means that the differentiated protocol the company applied for the Norwegian leg may have become outdated.

The immediate step for this company is to review what specific European legislation has been incorporated into Annex XIII and verify whether its operational procedures for the Norwegian leg already contemplate it or require adjustment. If it operates with homogeneous European standards throughout the route, the impact is likely minimal. If it maintained specific procedures for Norway, it needs a formal review.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify if you operate in the affected countries: Confirm whether your company has transport or logistics operations in Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, either directly or through subcontractors.
2. Review current compliance: Analyze whether your operational procedures in these countries already align with current European transport regulations, which are now incorporated into Annex XIII of the EEA Agreement.
3. Update contracts if necessary: Review contracts with clients, partners or suppliers in these countries to verify that regulatory references remain valid after the amendment to Annex XIII.
4. Consult the incorporated regulation: Access the full text of Decision 313/2025 through the official source to identify what specific European legislation has been incorporated into Annex XIII and assess its impact on your operations.
5. Document the review: Keep internal records that you have reviewed compliance following this update. In case of inspection or dispute, traceability of the adaptation process is a defense element.