The EEA Agreement 20 Years on

 

logoThe European Community's plan to complete the Internal Market by removing all barriers to the free movement of goods, services, capital and persons inspired seven Member States of the European Free Trade Association to join forces with the EC to work towards this common goal.

On 2 May 1992, after more than two years of negotiations, the Agreement on the European Economic Area was signed in Porto, Portugal, by the European Community and its 12 Member States, together with the EFTA States.

The EEA is a dynamic and unique integration agreement, which today brings together 30 states in a single market which is constantly evolving. The EEA Agreement has served both the EU and the EFTA States well and has proven to be a durable instrument of economic integration.

Picture gallery - 1992

News Releases

EEA EFTA States will continue to participate fully in EU ETS
03.01.2013
Air pollution

On 31 December 2012, the EEA EFTA States and the EU adopted three Joint Committee Decisions (JCDs) incorporating five legal acts related to the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) into the EEA Agreement, thereby enabling the Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to continue to participate fully in the ETS and ensuring a smooth transition to the third phase of the system from 1 January 2013.

Eurostat update: Norway and Iceland confirmed as biggest fishery nations in Europe
21.12.2012
Statistics
In 2010, Norwegian and Icelandic vessels caught 2 563 and 1 063 tonnes of fish respectively. As a comparison, the two countries' combined catches were the equivalent of 73.3 % of total EU catches (4 944 tonnes). The largest fishery nations in the European Union were Denmark (828 tonnes) and Spain (739 tonnes).
Frequency of periodic vehicle checks should not change
19.12.2012
Periodic roadworthiness tests
In an EEA EFTA Comment to the Commission’s proposal for changes to the EU safety regulation on vehicle checks, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway have expressed their opinion that the frequency of periodic testing should remain the same. The proposal will be discussed by EU Transport Ministers tomorrow, 20 December 2012.
EFTA and Central America move towards finalisation of free trade negotiations
17.12.2012

At a fifth round of negotiations held in Guatemala City on 10-14 December 2012, delegations from the EFTA States as well as Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama made important progress towards the conclusion of a free trade agreement between the two sides.

EFTA Standing and EEA Joint Committees meet on 7 December 2012
07.12.2012
Markus Schulte, DG ECFIN, European Commission

The EFTA Standing Comm­ittee and EEA Joint Comm­ittee met in Brussels on 7 December 2012. Norway chaired both the Standing Committee and, on behalf of the EEA EFTA States, the Joint Committee.

More news

Publications

The European Economic Area and the Single Market 20 Years on
EFTA Bulletin 2012

EFTA Bulletin - September 2012.

Two decades have passed since  the EEA EFTA States joined the European Community in the effort to complete the Single Market. The Bulletin reviews the past, takes stock of the present, and looks into the future of the European Economic Area.

This is EFTA 2012
This is EFTA 2012

This publication is an overview of EFTA's activities and institutional framework.

Annual Report 2011
Annual Report 2011

51st Annual Report of the European Free Trade Association, 2011. The report is only avaliable in electronic form.

EFTA at a glance
EFTA at a Glance

This two-page factsheet gives a general overview of the role and tasks of the European Free Trade Association. Several other factsheets can also be downloaded from our website.

EFTA Bulletin 1/2011
EFTA/EU Statistical Cooperation Handbook

EFTA Bulletin issue 1, 2011. The purpose of the updated handbook is to describe the institutional and practical aspects of EFTA statistical cooperation within and outside the EEA Agreement and the Swiss-EU Agreement.

Guide to EU & EEA Programmes - New and Updated Edition 2010

EFTA Bulletin issue 1, 2010.

This publication is an updated overview of EU programmes with EEA EFTA participation.

50th Anniversary of EFTA 1960-2010

In 2010, the European Free Trade Association celebrated its 50th anniversary. The EFTA Convention entered into force on 3 May 1960. You can read more about the publication and order it here.

More publications
EFTA Surveillance Authority EFTA Court eea grants
 

EFTA Seminar on the EEA: Brussels, 21 and 22 March 2013

EFTA’s two day seminar on the EEA will be held on 21 and 22 March at the EFTA Secretariat in Brussels.

The aim of the seminar is to provide professionals in both the public and private sectors with an overview of the EEA Agreement and how it works in practice.

The first day will focus on the roles and functions of the EEA EFTA institutions, with presentations on the EFTA Secretariat, the EFTA Surveillance Authority, the EFTA Court, the EEA and Norway Grants and the EFTA Statistical Office.

The second (half) day of the seminar will be dedicated to discussions on ‘Multi-speed Europe and the reviews of the EEA’.

Further information, including online registration and a draft programme, will be available nearer the time. In the meantime, please save the date!

For more information regarding this event, please contact:

Elin Bergerud
ebe@efta.int
+32 2 286 17 72