Liechtenstein Eu Agreement

The main difference between the EEC and EFTA was that, unlike the former, they had not gone through common external tariffs: each EFTA member was free to set their individual tariffs against or its individual free trade agreements with non-EFTA countries. In November 2012, after the Council of the European Union requested an assessment of the EU`s relations with Monaco, Andorra and San Marino, which they described as “fragmented”,[16] the European Commission published a report setting out options for further integration into the EU. [17] Unlike Liechtenstein, which is a member of the EEA through EFTA and the Schengen agreements, relations with these three states are based on a set of agreements covering specific issues. The report examined four alternatives to the current situation: although EFTA is not a customs union and Member States have the full right to conclude bilateral trade agreements for third countries, it has a coordinated trade policy. [3] As a result, their Member States have concluded free trade agreements with the EU and a number of other countries. [3] To participate in the EU internal market, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are contracting parties to the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement with the rules set by the EFTA Supervisory Authority and the EFTA Court of Justice. Instead, Switzerland has a series of bilateral agreements with the EU. The Fues have already concluded a comprehensive bilateral free trade agreement with Iceland, known as the Hoyvek Agreement. In 1992, EFTA and the EU signed the European Economic Area Agreement in Porto, Portugal. However, the proposal for Switzerland to ratify its participation was rejected in a referendum. (Nevertheless, Switzerland has several bilateral agreements with the EU that allow it to participate in the European single market, Schengen agreements and other programmes).) Thus, with the exception of Switzerland, 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 28 Member States of the European Union (EU), including Croatia, which applies the agreement provisionally until it is ratified by all EEA countries. [36] [37] It was created on 1 January 1994 as a result of an agreement with the European Community (which had complied with the EU two months earlier). [38] It allows EFTA-EEA states to participate in the EU internal market without being eu membership. They transpose almost all EU internal market legislation, with the exception of agriculture and fisheries legislation. However, they also contribute to the implementation of new EEA policies and legislation at an early stage as part of a formal decision-making process. One EFTA member, Switzerland, has not joined the EEA, but has a number of bilateral agreements, including a free trade agreement, with the EU. EFTA has concluded several free trade agreements with third countries, as well as declarations of cooperation and joint working groups for improving trade. Currently, in addition to the 28 Member States of the European Union, EFTA states have established preferential trade relations with 24 countries and territories. [46] The Council examines substantive issues, including the development of EFTA relations with third countries and the management of free trade agreements, and examines relations with the policy and administration of EU third countries in general. It has a broad mandate to examine possible policies to promote the Association`s overall objectives and to facilitate the development of links with other states, state organizations or international organizations. The Council also manages relations between EFTA states under the EFTA Convention. EEA issues are discussed by the Brussels Standing Committee.