European Free Trade Association

Last updated

European Free Trade Association
Native names:
  • Europäische Freihandelsassoziation (German)
  • Fríverslunarsamtök Evrópu (Icelandic)
  • Association européenne de libre-échange (French)
  • Associazione europea di libero scambio (Italian)
  • Det europeiske frihandelsforbund (Bokmål)
  • Det europeiske frihandelsforbundet (Nynorsk)
  • Associaziun europeica da commerzi liber (Romansh)
  • Eurohppá friddjagávpelihttu (Northern Sami) [1]
EFTA logo.svg
Logo
Europe-EFTA.svg
Location of the EFTA (green)

in Europe  (green & dark grey)

Secretariat Geneva
46°57′N7°27′E / 46.950°N 7.450°E / 46.950; 7.450
Largest city Oslo
59°56′N10°41′E / 59.933°N 10.683°E / 59.933; 10.683
Official working
language
English
Official languages
of member states
Type Regional organization, Free-trade area
Member states
Leaders
 Secretary General
Henri Gétaz
 Council Chair
Iceland [2]
Establishment
 Convention signed
4 January 1960
 Established
3 May 1960
Area
 Total
529,600 km2 (204,500 sq mi)
Population
 2020 estimate
14,400,000 [3]
 Density
26.5/km2 (68.6/sq mi)
GDP  (PPP)2020 estimate
 Total
$1.0 trillion [3]
 Per capita
$70,000
GDP  (nominal)2020 estimate
 Total
$1.1 trillion [3]
 Per capita
$79,000
Currency
Time zone
 Summer (DST)
UTC+2 (CEST)
Note: Iceland observes WET all year, while Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland observe CET and CEST.
Website
efta.int

The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is a regional trade organization and free trade area consisting of four European states: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. [4] The organization operates in parallel with the European Union (EU), and all four member states participate in the European Single Market and are part of the Schengen Area. [5] They are not, however, party to the European Union Customs Union.

Contents

EFTA was historically one of the two dominant western European trade blocs, but is now much smaller and closely associated with its historical competitor, the European Union. It was established on 3 May 1960 to serve as an alternative trade bloc for those European states that were unable or unwilling to join the then European Economic Community (EEC), the main predecessor of the EU. The Stockholm Convention (1960), to establish the EFTA, was signed on 4 January 1960 in the Swedish capital by seven countries (known as the "outer seven": Austria, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom). [6] A revised Convention, the Vaduz Convention, was signed on 21 June 2001 and entered into force on 1 June 2002. [7]

After 1995 only two founding members remained, namely Norway and Switzerland. The other five, Austria, Denmark, Portugal, Sweden and the United Kingdom, had joined the EU at some point in the intervening years. The initial Stockholm Convention was superseded by the Vaduz Convention, which aimed to provide a successful framework for continuing the expansion and liberalization of trade, both among the organization's member states and with the rest of the world.

While the EFTA is not a customs union and member states have full rights to enter into bilateral third-country trade arrangements, it does have a coordinated trade policy. [4] As a result, its member states have jointly concluded free trade agreements with the EU and a number of other countries. [4] To participate in the EU's single market, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway are parties to the Agreement on a European Economic Area (EEA), with compliances regulated by the EFTA Surveillance Authority and the EFTA Court. Switzerland has a set of multilateral agreements with the EU and its member states instead.[ dubious ]

Membership

History

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EFTA member states
Former members, which left to join the EU
Rest of EU member states EFTA AELE countries and former members.svg
  EFTA member states
  Former members, which left to join the EU
  Rest of EU member states

On 12 January 1960, the Convention establishing the European Free Trade Association was initiated in the Golden Hall of the Stockholm City Hall. [8] This established the progressive elimination of customs duties on industrial products, but did not affect agricultural or fisheries products.

The main difference between the early EEC and the EFTA was that the latter did not operate common external customs tariffs unlike the former: each EFTA member was free to establish its individual customs duties against, or its individual free trade agreements with, non-EFTA countries.

The founding members of the EFTA were: Austria, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. During the 1960s, these countries were often referred to as the "Outer Seven", as opposed to the Inner Six of the then European Economic Community (EEC). [9]

Finland became an associate member in 1961 and a full member in 1986, and Iceland joined in 1970. The United Kingdom and Denmark joined the EEC in 1973 and hence ceased to be EFTA members. Portugal also left EFTA for the European Community in 1986. Liechtenstein joined the EFTA in 1991 (previously its interests had been represented by Switzerland). Austria, Sweden, and Finland joined the EU in 1995 and thus ceased to be EFTA members.

Twice, in 1972 and in 1994, the Norwegian government had tried to join the EU (still the EEC, in 1973) and by doing so, leave the EFTA. However, both the times, the membership of the EU was rejected in national referendums, keeping Norway in the EFTA. Iceland applied for EU membership in 2009 due to the 2008–2011 Icelandic financial crisis, but has since dropped its bid. [10]

Current members

EFTA House in Brussels, 2022 EFTA House.jpg
EFTA House in Brussels, 2022
Contracting partyAccessionPopulation [11] [12]
(2021)
Area (km²)CapitalGDP in millions (PPP) [note 1] GDP per capita (PPP) [note 1]
Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 1 January 1970370,335103,000 Reykjavík 12,831 [13] 39,223 [13]
Flag of Liechtenstein.svg  Liechtenstein 1 September 199139,039160.4 Vaduz 3,545 [note 2] 98,432 [note 2]
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 3 May 19605,403,021385,155 Oslo 265,911 [14] 53,470 [14]
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 3 May 19608,691,40641,285 Bern 363,421 [15] 45,417 [15]

Former members

Finnish post stamp about the trade union concluded between Finland and EFTA, or the so-called FINEFTA agreement Stamp 1967 - FINEFTA - Finland as an external member of EFTA.jpg
Finnish post stamp about the trade union concluded between Finland and EFTA, or the so-called FINEFTA agreement
StateAccessionLeft EFTAJoined EEC/EU
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 3 May 196031 December 19941 January 1995
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 3 May 196031 December 19721 January 1973
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 1 January 198631 December 19941 January 1995
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 3 May 196031 December 19851 January 1986
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 3 May 196031 December 19941 January 1995
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3 May 196031 December 19721 January 1973 (withdrew 31 January 2020)

Other negotiations

Members of the European Union (blue) and
EFTA (green) EU and EFTA.svg
Members of the European Union (blue) and
EFTA (green)

Between 1994 and 2011, EFTA memberships for Andorra, San Marino, Monaco, the Isle of Man, Turkey, Israel, Morocco, and other European Neighbourhood Policy partners were discussed. [16]

Andorra, Monaco, and San Marino

In November 2012, after the Council of the European Union had called for an evaluation of the EU's relations with Andorra, Monaco, and San Marino, which they described as "fragmented", [17] the European Commission published a report outlining the options for their further integration into the EU. [18] Unlike Liechtenstein, which is a member of the EEA via the EFTA and the Schengen Agreement, relations with these three states are based on a collection of agreements covering specific issues. The report examined four alternatives to the current situation:

  1. A Sectoral Approach with separate agreements with each state covering an entire policy area.
  2. A comprehensive, multilateral Framework Association Agreement (FAA) with the three states.
  3. EEA membership, and
  4. EU membership.

However, the Commission argued that the sectoral approach did not address the major issues and was still needlessly complicated, while EU membership was dismissed in the near future because "the EU institutions are currently not adapted to the accession of such small-sized countries". The remaining options, EEA membership and a FAA with the states, were found to be viable and were recommended by the commission. In response, the Council requested that negotiations with the three microstates on further integration continue, and that a report be prepared by the end of 2013 detailing the implications of the two viable alternatives and recommendations on how to proceed. [19]

As EEA membership is currently only open to EFTA or EU member states, the consent of existing EFTA member states is required for the microstates to join the EEA without becoming members of the EU. In 2011, Jonas Gahr Støre, then Foreign Minister of Norway which is an EFTA member state, said that EFTA/EEA membership for the microstates was not the appropriate mechanism for their integration into the internal market due to their different requirements from those of larger countries such as Norway, and suggested that a simplified association would be better suited for them. [20] Espen Barth Eide, Støre's successor, responded to the commission's report in late 2012 by questioning whether the microstates have sufficient administrative capabilities to meet the obligations of EEA membership. However, he stated that Norway would be open to the possibility of EFTA membership for the microstates if they decided to submit an application, and that the country had not made a final decision on the matter. [21] [22] [23] [24] Pascal Schafhauser, the Counsellor of the Liechtenstein Mission to the EU, said that Liechtenstein, another EFTA member state, was willing to discuss EEA membership for the microstates provided their joining did not impede the functioning of the organization. However, he suggested that the option of direct membership in the EEA for the microstates, outside of both the EFTA and the EU, should be considered. [23] On 18 November 2013, the EU Commission concluded that "the participation of the small-sized countries in the EEA is not judged to be a viable option at present due to the political and institutional reasons", and that Association Agreements were a more feasible mechanism to integrate the microstates into the internal market. [25]

Norway

The Norwegian electorate had rejected treaties of accession to the EU in two referendums. At the time of the first referendum in 1972, their neighbour, Denmark joined. Since the second referendum in 1994, two other Nordic neighbours, Sweden and Finland, have joined the EU. The last two governments of Norway have not advanced the question, as they have both been coalition governments consisting of proponents and opponents of EU membership.

Switzerland

Since Switzerland rejected the EEA membership in a referendum in 1992, more referendums on EU membership have been initiated, the last time being in 2001. These were all rejected. Switzerland has been in a customs union with fellow EFTA member state and neighbour Liechtenstein since 1924.

Iceland

On 16 July 2009, the government of Iceland formally applied for EU membership, [26] but the negotiation process was suspended in mid-2013, and in 2015 the foreign ministers wrote to withdraw its application.

Faroe Islands (Kingdom of Denmark)

Denmark was a founding member of EFTA in 1960, but its membership ended in 1973, when it joined the European Communities. The autonomous territories of the Kingdom of Denmark were covered by Denmark's EFTA membership: Greenland from 1961 and the Faroe Islands from 1968. [27] In mid-2005, representatives of the Faroe Islands raised the possibility of their territory re-joining the EFTA. [28] Because Article 56 of the EFTA Convention only allows sovereign states to become members of the EFTA, [29] the Faroes considered the possibility that the "Kingdom of Denmark in respect of the Faroes" could join the EFTA on their behalf. The Danish Government has stated that this mechanism would not allow the Faroes to become a member of the EEA because Denmark was already a party to the EEA Agreement. [30]

The Faroes already have an extensive bilateral free trade agreement with Iceland, known as the Hoyvík Agreement. [31]

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom was a co-founder of EFTA in 1960, but ceased to be a member upon joining the European Economic Community. The country held a referendum in 2016 on withdrawing from the EU (popularly referred to as "Brexit"), resulting in a 51.9% vote in favour of withdrawing. A 2013 research paper presented to the Parliament of the United Kingdom proposed a number of alternatives to EU membership which would continue to allow it access to the EU's internal market, including continuing EEA membership as an EFTA member state, or the Swiss model of a number of bilateral treaties covering the provisions of the single market. [32]

In the first meeting since the Brexit vote, EFTA reacted by saying both that they were open to a UK return, and that Britain has many issues to work through. The president of Switzerland Johann Schneider-Ammann stated that its return would strengthen the association. [33] However, in August 2016 the Norwegian Government expressed reservations. Norway's European affairs minister, Elisabeth Vik Aspaker, told the Aftenposten newspaper: "It's not certain that it would be a good idea to let a big country into this organization. It would shift the balance, which is not necessarily in Norway's interests." [34]

In late 2016, the Scottish First Minister said that her priority was to keep the whole of the UK in the European single market but that taking Scotland alone into the EEA was an option being "looked at". [35] However, other EFTA states have stated that only sovereign states are eligible for membership, so it could only join if it became independent from the UK, [36] unless the solution scouted for the Faroes in 2005 were to be adopted (see above).

In early 2018, British MPs Antoinette Sandbach, Stephen Kinnock and Stephen Hammond all called for the UK to rejoin EFTA. [37]

Relationship with the European Union: the European Economic Area

In 1992, the EU, its member states, and the EFTA member states signed the Agreement on the European Economic Area in Porto, Portugal. However, the proposal that Switzerland ratify its participation was rejected by referendum. (Nevertheless, Switzerland has multiple bilateral treaties with the EU that allow it to participate in the European Single Market, the Schengen Agreement and other programmes). Thus, except for Switzerland, the EFTA members are also members of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA comprises three member states of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and 27 member states of the European Union (EU), including Croatia which the agreement is provisionally applied to, pending its ratification by all contracting parties. [38] [39] It was established on 1 January 1994 following an agreement with the European Economic Community (which had become the European Community two months earlier). [40] It allows the EFTA-EEA states to participate in the EU's Internal Market without being members of the EU. They adopt almost all EU legislation related to the single market, except laws on agriculture and fisheries. However, they also contribute to and influence the formation of new EEA relevant policies and legislation at an early stage as part of a formal decision-shaping process[ citation needed ]. One EFTA member, Switzerland, has not joined the EEA but has a series of bilateral agreements, including a free trade agreement, with the EU.

The following table summarises the various components of EU laws applied in the EFTA countries and their sovereign territories. Some territories of EU member states also have a special status in regard to EU laws applied as is the case with some European microstates.

EFTA member states and territoriesApplication of EU law EURATOM European Defence Agency Schengen area EU VAT area EU Customs Union EU single market Eurozone
Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland PartialNoNoYesNoNoWith exemptions, in EEA [41] No, ISK
Flag of Liechtenstein.svg  Liechtenstein PartialNoNoYesNo, Swiss–Liechtenstein VAT areaNo, Swiss–Liechtenstein customs territoryWith exemptions, in EEA [41] No, CHF
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway, except:PartialNoParticipating non‑member state[ citation needed ]YesNoNoWith exemptions, in EEA [41] No, NOK
Flag of Norway.svg Jan Mayen PartialNoParticipatingYes [42] No, VAT free [43] NoWith exemptions, in EEA [41] No, NOK
Flag of Norway.svg Svalbard NoNo Demilitarised No [44] No, VAT free [43] NoNo [41] [45] [46] No, NOK
Flag of Norway.svg Bouvet Island No[ citation needed ]NoParticipatingNoNoNoNoNo, NOK
Flag of Norway.svg Peter I Island No[ citation needed ]No Demilitarised NoNoNoNoNo, NOK
Flag of Norway.svg Queen Maud Land No[ citation needed ]No Demilitarised NoNoNoNoNo, NOK
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland, except:PartialParticipating associated state [47] NoYesNo, Swiss–Liechtenstein VAT areaNo, Swiss–Liechtenstein customs territoryWith exemptions, sectoral agreements [note 3] No, CHF
CHE Samnaun COA.svg Samnaun PartialParticipating with Switzerland [47] NoYesNo, VAT freeNo, Swiss–Liechtenstein customs territoryWith exemptions, sectoral agreements [note 3] No, CHF
Supranational European Bodies-en.svg
A clickable Euler diagram [file] showing the relationships between various multinational European organisations and agreements

EEA institutions

A Joint Committee consisting of the EEA-EFTA States plus the European Commission (representing the EU) has the function of extending relevant EU law to the non-EU members. An EEA Council meets twice yearly to govern the overall relationship between the EEA members.

Rather than setting up pan-EEA institutions, the activities of the EEA are regulated by the EFTA Surveillance Authority and the EFTA Court. The EFTA Surveillance Authority and the EFTA Court regulate the activities of the EFTA members in respect of their obligations in the European Economic Area (EEA). Since Switzerland is not an EEA member, it does not participate in these institutions.

The EFTA Surveillance Authority performs a role for EFTA members that is equivalent to that of the European Commission for the EU, as "guardian of the treaties" and the EFTA Court performs the European Court of Justice-equivalent role.

The original plan for the EEA lacked the EFTA Court: the European Court of Justice was to exercise those roles. However, during the negotiations for the EEA agreement, the European Court of Justice ruled by the Opinion 1/91 that it would be a violation of the treaties to give to the EU institutions these powers with respect to non-EU member states. [48] Therefore, the current arrangement was developed instead.

EEA and Norway Grants

The EEA and Norway Grants are the financial contributions of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to reduce social and economic disparities in Europe. They were established in conjunction with the 2004 enlargement of the European Economic Area (EEA), which brought together the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway in the Internal Market. In the period from 2004 to 2009, €1.3 billion of project funding was made available for project funding in the 15 beneficiary states in Central and Southern Europe. The EEA and Norway Grants are administered by the Financial Mechanism Office, which is affiliated to the EFTA Secretariat in Brussels.

International conventions

EFTA also originated the Hallmarking Convention and the Pharmaceutical Inspection Convention, both of which are open to non-EFTA states.

International trade relations

Map of free trade agreements between EFTA and other countries
EFTA
Free trade agreement
Ongoing free trade negotiation
European Economic Area
Declaration on cooperation or dialogue on closer trade relations AELE-Cooperation.svg
Map of free trade agreements between EFTA and other countries
  EFTA
  Free trade agreement
  Ongoing free trade negotiation
  European Economic Area
  Declaration on cooperation or dialogue on closer trade relations

EFTA has 29 free trade agreements with non-EU countries as well as declarations on cooperation and joint workgroups to improve trade. Currently, the EFTA States have established preferential trade relations with 40 states and territories, in addition to the 27 member states of the European Union. [49]

EFTA's interactive Free Trade Map gives an overview of the partners worldwide. [50]

Free trade agreements

Nation (s)No of nations
represented
SignedEffectiveCoverageRef.
Flag of Albania.svg Albania 117 December 20091 November 2010Goods [51]
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Bosnia and Herzegovina 124 June 20131 January 2015Goods [52]
Flag of Canada.svg Canada 126 January 20081 July 2009Goods [53]
Central America
Flag of Costa Rica.svg Costa Rica
Flag of Panama.svg Panama
224 June 201319 August 2014Goods & Services [54]
Flag of Chile.svg Chile 126 June 20031 December 2004Goods & Services [55]
Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia 125 November 20081 July 2011Goods & Services [56]
Flag of Ecuador.svg Ecuador 125 June 20181 November 2020Goods & Services [57]
Flag of Egypt.svg Egypt 127 January 20071 August 2007Goods [58]
Flag of Georgia.svg Georgia 127 June 20161 September 2017Goods & Services [59]
Flag of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf.svg Gulf Cooperation Council
Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain
Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait
Flag of Oman.svg  Oman
Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates
622 June 20091 July 2014Goods & Services [60]
Flag of Hong Kong.svg Hong Kong 121 June 20111 October 2012Goods & Services [61]
Flag of Indonesia.svg Indonesia 116 December 20181 November 2021Goods & Services [62]
Flag of Israel.svg Israel 117 September 19921 January 1993Goods [63]
Flag of Jordan.svg Jordan 121 June 20011 September 2002Goods [64]
Flag of Lebanon.svg Lebanon 124 June 20041 July 2007Goods [65]
Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico 127 November 20001 July 2001Goods [66]
Flag of Montenegro.svg Montenegro 114 November 20111 September 2012Goods [67]
Flag of Morocco.svg Morocco [note 4] 119 June 19971 December 1999Goods [68] [69]
Flag of North Macedonia.svg North Macedonia 119 June 20001 May 2002Goods [70]
Flag of Palestine.svg Palestinian Authority 130 November 19981 July 1999Goods [71]
Flag of Peru.svg Peru 124 June 20101 July 2011Goods [72]
Flag of Philippines.svg Philippines 128 April 20161 June 2018Goods & Services [73]
Flag of Serbia.svg Serbia 117 December 20091 October 2010Goods [74]
Flag of Singapore.svg Singapore 126 June 20021 January 2003Goods & Services [75]
Flag of South Korea.svg South Korea 115 December 20051 September 2006Goods & Services [76]
Southern African Customs Union
Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana
Flag of Eswatini.svg  Eswatini
Flag of Lesotho.svg  Lesotho
Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
526 June 20061 May 2008Goods [77]
Flag of Tunisia.svg Tunisia 117 December 20041 August 2005Goods [78]
Flag of Turkey.svg Turkey 125 June 20181 October 2021Goods & Services [79]
Flag of Ukraine.svg Ukraine 124 June 20101 June 2012Goods & Services [80]

Ongoing free trade negotiations

Signed:

Concluded:

Negotiations:

Negotiations currently on hold

Declarations on cooperation

Obsolete agreements

The following agreements are no longer active: [98]

Travel policies

Free movement of people within EFTA and the EU/EEA

EFTA member states' citizens enjoy freedom of movement in each other's territories in accordance with the EFTA convention. [99] EFTA & EEA nationals also enjoy freedom of movement in the European Union (EU). EFTA nationals and EU citizens are not only visa-exempt but are legally entitled to enter and reside in each other's countries. The Citizens' Rights Directive [100] (also sometimes called the "Free Movement Directive") defines the right of free movement for citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA), [101] which includes the three EFTA members Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein plus the member states of the EU. Switzerland, which is a member of EFTA but not of the EEA, is not bound by the Directive but rather has a separate multilateral agreement on free movement with the EU and its member states. [102]

As a result, a citizen of an EFTA country can live and work in all the other EFTA countries and in all the EU countries, and a citizen of an EU country can live and work in all the EFTA countries (but for voting and working in sensitive fields, such as government / police / military, citizenship is often required, and non-citizens may not have the same rights to welfare and unemployment benefits as citizens). [103] [ citation needed ]

General secretaries

#StateNameYear
1Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Frank Figgures 1960–1965
2Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom John Coulson 1965–1972
3Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Bengt Rabaeus 1972–1975
4Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Charles Müller 1976–1981
5Flag of Norway.svg  Norway Per Kleppe 1981–1988
6Flag of Austria.svg  Austria Georg Reisch 1988–1994
7Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland Kjartan Jóhannsson 1994–2000
8Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland William Rossier 2000–2006
9Flag of Norway.svg  Norway Kåre Bryn 2006–2012
10Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland Kristinn F. Árnason 2012–2018
11Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Henri Gétaz 2018–present

Portugal Fund

The Portugal Fund came into operation in February 1977 when Portugal was still a member of EFTA. [104] It was to provide funding for the development of Portugal after the Carnation Revolution and the consequential restoration of democracy and the decolonization of the country's overseas possessions. This followed a period of economic sanctions by most of the international community, which left Portugal economically underdeveloped compared to the rest of the western Europe. When Portugal left EFTA in 1985 in order to join the EEC, the remaining EFTA members decided to continue the Portugal Fund so that Portugal would continue to benefit from it. The Fund originally took the form of a low-interest loan from the EFTA member states to the value of US$100 million. Repayment was originally to commence in 1988, however, EFTA then decided to postpone the start of repayments until 1998. The Portugal Fund was dissolved in January 2002. [105]

See also

Notes

Related Research Articles

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Relations between the Principality of Liechtensteinand the European Union (EU) are shaped heavily by Liechtenstein's participation in the European Economic Area (EEA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Marino–European Union relations</span> Bilateral relations

Relations between the Republic of San Marino and the European Union (EU) began in February 1983. San Marino is completely surrounded by one EU member state, Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monaco–European Union relations</span> Bilateral relations

Relations between the Principality of Monaco and the European Union (EU) are primarily conducted through France. Through that relationship Monaco directly participates in certain EU policies. Monaco is an integral part of the EU customs territory and VAT area, and therefore applies most measures on excise duties and VAT. Monaco borders one EU member state: France. However this relationship does not extend to external trade. Preferential trade agreements between the EU and third countries apply only to goods originating from the customs territory – Monaco may not claim EU origin in this respect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liechtenstein identity card</span> National identity card of Liechtenstein

The Liechtenstein identity card is issued to Liechtenstein citizens by the Immigration and Passport Office in Vaduz. The card costs CHF65 for adults aged 18 or over and is valid for 10 years. For children, the card costs CHF30 and has a validity of 3 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Kingdom membership of the European Economic Area</span>

The United Kingdom (UK) was a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) from 1 January 1994 to 31 December 2020, following the coming into force of the 1992 EEA Agreement. Membership of the EEA is a consequence of membership of the European Union (EU). The UK ceased to be a Contracting Party to the EEA Agreement after its withdrawal from the EU on 31 January 2020, as it was a member of the EEA by virtue of its EU membership, but retained EEA rights during the Brexit transition period, based on Article 126 of the withdrawal agreement between the EU and the UK. During the transition period, which ended on 31 December 2020, the UK and EU negotiated their future relationship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Passports of the EFTA member states</span>

Passports of the EFTA member states are passports issued by the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member states Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. EFTA is in this article used as a common name for these countries.

In British politics, the "Norway-plus model" was a proposal for a post-Brexit settlement, which the British government did not pursue. Proposed in November 2018 as an alternative to the Chequers plan, it would have consisted of membership of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and of membership of the European Economic Area (EEA) as an EFTA member state, combined with a separate customs union with the EU to create a trade relationship similar to that between the EU and its member states today, with the exception of the political representation in the EU's bodies. Michel Barnier, the EU's Chief Negotiator, has always said that a model that combined EEA/EFTA and a customs union was one that he would be happy to consider.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Passports in Europe</span> Overview of passports issued in European countries

Passports in Europe are issued by each state individually, e.g. the Netherlands or United Kingdom. In general, passports issued in Europe either grant the holder the right of freedom of movement within the European Economic Area, to those that don't. The majority of European states are members of the European Union, and therefore issue EU passports.

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