European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
Association européenne de libre-échange (AELE)
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Contact Details
URL: https://www.efta.int/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eftasecretariat
X: https://twitter.com/EFTAsecretariat
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/efta
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eftasecretariat/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/EFTAvideo
Founded
1960-01-04 Stockholm Sweden
History
Established on signature of the Stockholm Convention, by the governments of Austria, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK, following initial decision by government officials of these countries, June 1959, Saltsjöbaden (Sweden).
The Stockholm Convention (hereafter referred to as the Convention) entered into force on 3 May 1960. Finland became an associate member in June 1961; and was formally approved as a full member 4 Nov 1985, with effect from 1 Jan 1986. Iceland became a full member in Mar 1970 and Liechtenstein in Sep 1991. Six members have left EFTA to become members of the H-XF0662 - European Communities (EC), now the first "pillar" of the F-XF2147 - European Union (EU): Denmark and the UK at the end of 1972; Portugal as of 31 Dec 1985; Austria, Finland and Sweden as of 31 Dec 1994.
Guidelines for developing the EFTA-EC relationship and creation of F-XF0847 - European Economic Area (EEA) - originally referred to as European Economic Space (EES) - were set out in the Luxembourg Declaration of 1984. Exploratory talks on free movement of goods, services, capital and labour throughout the 19-country area began in 1989; they also covered increased cooperation in other fields such as education, the environment, social policy and research and development.
The first meeting of EFTA-EC negotiators for formal negotiations on the establishment of a European Economic Area encompassing all EFTA and EC countries took place on 20 June 1990, with the aim of concluding negotiations in 1991 so that the EEA Agreement could come into force on 1 Jan 1993, at the same time as the EC single market. The EEA Agreement was finally concluded on 21 Oct 1991, signed 2 May 1992 and entered into force on 1 Jan 1994 for all EC and EFTA countries except Switzerland, which rejected the Agreement in a referendum on 1 Jan 1994. Updated EFTA Convention, the Vaduz Convention, signed at EFTA Ministerial meeting, 21 June 2001, Vaduz (Liechtenstein) and entered into force 1 June 2002, principally covers relations between EFTA members of EEA and Switzerland with the European Union so that all EFTA members benefit from privileged trading relations.
The legal texts of the EEA Enlargement were signed 11 Nov 2003, and as of 1 May the 10 new EU Members States are also members of the EEA.
Aims
Promote free trade and economic cooperation between members, within Europe and globally.
Events
55 past events available with paid subscription only.Activities
Available with paid subscription only.Structure
Council (usually meets 8 times a year at ambassadorial level and once a year at ministerial level). Main committees under Council: Parliamentary Committee; EFTA Board of Auditors; Consultative Committee; Budget Committee. Further substructure of Committees: Economic Committee; Committee on Third-Country Relations; Committees on general trade issues (3); EFTA Convention Committees (6). Annually rotating Chairmanship. Secretariat, headed by Secretary-General.
Decision-making process in the EEA Agreement through two-pillar structure of EFTA and EU. On EFTA side, institutions include: Standing Committee; E-XE3052 - EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA); F-XF5096 - EFTA Court; EFTA Parliamentary Committee; EFTA Consultative Committee.
Languages
Available with paid subscription only.Staff
Available with paid subscription only.Annual Budget
Available with paid subscription only.Relations with Inter-Governmental Organizations
Available with paid subscription only.Relations with Non-Governmental Organizations
Available with paid subscription only.Publications
Available with paid subscription only.Members
Available with paid subscription only.Active Areas & Regions
Available with paid subscription only.Type I Classification
Available with paid subscription only.Type II Classification
Available with paid subscription only.Subjects *
Available with paid subscription only.UIA Org ID
XD0766
Last News
2024
** UN SDGs are linked to the subject classification.
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