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. 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. They are not,however,party to the European Union Customs Union.
Liechtenstein,officially the Principality of Liechtenstein,is a German-speaking microstate located in the Alps between Austria and Switzerland. It is the sixth smallest nation worldwide. Liechtenstein is a semi-constitutional monarchy headed by the prince of Liechtenstein.
Liechtenstein's foreign economic policy has been dominated by its customs union with Switzerland. This union also led to its independent membership in the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in 1991. Unlike Switzerland however,Liechtenstein is part of the European Economic Area.
Political identity came to the territory now occupied by the Principality of Liechtenstein in 814,with the formation of the subcountry of Lower Rhætia. Liechtenstein's borders have remained unchanged since 1434,when the Rhine established the border between the Holy Roman Empire and the Swiss cantons.
The European Economic Area (EEA) was established via the Agreement on the European Economic Area,an international agreement which enables the extension of the European Union's single market to member states of the European Free Trade Association. The EEA links the EU member states and three EFTA states into an internal market governed by the same basic rules. These rules aim to enable free movement of persons,goods,services,and capital within the European single market,including the freedom to choose residence in any country within this area. The EEA was established on 1 January 1994 upon entry into force of the EEA Agreement. The contracting parties are the EU,its member states,and Iceland,Liechtenstein,and Norway.
The European microstates or European ministates are a set of very small sovereign states in Europe. In modern contexts the term is typically used to refer to the six smallest states in Europe by area:Andorra,Liechtenstein,Malta,Monaco,San Marino,and Vatican City. Four of these states are monarchies. These states trace their status back to the first millennium or the early second millennium except for Liechtenstein,created in the 17th century.
The 9th European Athletics Championships were held from 16–21 September 1969 in the Karaiskaki Stadium of Athens,the capital of Greece. New at these championships were the women's 1500 metres and the women's 4×400 metres relay event. Moreover,women's 80 metres hurdles was replaced by women's 100 metres hurdles. Contemporaneous reports on the event were given in the Glasgow Herald.
Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein is a Liechtensteiner lawyer,diplomat and member of the Liechtenstein princely family. He is a younger brother of the reigning Prince of Liechtenstein,Hans-Adam II. He was also the non-resident Ambassador of Liechtenstein to the Holy See.
Rainer Hasler was a Liechtenstein footballer who played as a defender. In November 2003,to celebrate UEFA's jubilee,he was selected by the Liechtenstein Football Association as the country's Golden Player,the greatest player of the last 50 years.
Currently,all of the European microstates have some form of relations with the European Union (EU).
The National Police of the Principality of Liechtenstein,is the national police force of Liechtenstein. It is composed of 125 employees,with 91 officers and 34 staff,who police the 160 km2 (62 sq mi) doubly landlocked alpine state in Western-Central Europe. Bordered by Switzerland to its west,and Austria to its east,Liechtenstein maintains a trilateral treaty which enables close cross-border co-operation between the police services of the three states. Liechtenstein is also a member of Interpol,and a signatory to a variety of other treaties.
Claudia Fritsche is a former Liechtenstein diplomat who was Liechtenstein's first ambassador to the United Nations,the United States,and Liechtenstein's first female ambassador.
Relations between the Principality of Liechtensteinand the European Union (EU) are shaped heavily by Liechtenstein's participation in the European Economic Area (EEA).
Diplomatic and economic relations between Switzerland and Liechtenstein have been close,with Switzerland accepting the role of safeguarding the interests of its smaller neighbour,Liechtenstein. Liechtenstein has an embassy in Berne. Switzerland is accredited to Liechtenstein from its Federal Department of Foreign Affairs in Berne and maintains an honorary consulate in Vaduz.
The men's decathlon at the 1969 European Athletics Championships was held in Athens,Greece,at Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium on 17 and 18 September 1969.
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.
