Until today the only examples of “misinformation” on matters EU, of which I was aware, came from politicians and the media. “Misinformation” can be classified as producing articles, or making speeches, which contain false information, ie lying; or being guilty of “misinformation” by the deliberate omission of facts which do not support the argument being made.

Courtesy of @PurpleRevolutio on Twitter my attention has been drawn to an article which has appeared on the London School of Economics website by Dr. Jóhanna Jónsdóttir, a Policy Officer, European Free Trade Association Secretariat. She also contributed written evidence to the inquiry by the Foreign Affairs Committee hearing into the Future of the European Union.

As will be seen from both the article and the written submission, Dr. Jónsdóttir maintains that:

“The EEA Agreement allows some access to the Commission’s expert groups and comitology committees but no formal access to either the Parliament or the Council. The fact that the EFTA parties to the EEA Agreement do not have a seat at the table means that their impact is undoubtedly limited.”

Nowhere in either the article nor the written submission is mention made that Norway, as a member of United Nation bodies – such as the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) – does have a voice in the formulation of policy long before it reaches the European Union.

The attention of readers is drawn to the fact that while the written submission was made last year, prior to Norway refusing to implement the Third Postal Directive, the article is dated today.

One can but wonder why a Policy Officer from the European Free Trade Association Secretariat in Brussels, which is responsible for the management of the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement should feel the need to be economical with the actualité.