View source for Organization:European Free Trade Association

{{Short description|Regional trade organization and free trade area}}
{{Infobox Geopolitical organization
| conventional_long_name = European Free Trade Association
| linking_name = the European Free Trade Association
| native_name =  {{collapsible list
 | framestyle = font-size:9pt;border:0;padding:0;margin:0;
 | titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:center;white-space:nowrap;
 | title = {{resize|9.5pt|Native names:}}
 | liststyle = text-align:left;font-weight:normal;
 | {{native name|de|Europäische Freihandelsassoziation}}
 | {{native name|is|Fríverslunarsamtök Evrópu}}
 | {{native name|fr|Association européenne de libre-échange}}
 | {{native name|it|Associazione europea di libero scambio}}
 | {{native name|nb|Det europeiske frihandelsforbund}}
 | {{native name|nn|Det europeiske frihandelsforbundet}}
 | {{native name|rm|Associaziun europeica da commerzi liber}}
 | {{native name|se|Eurohppá friddjagávpelihttu}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.samediggi.fi/wp-content/uploads/materiaalit/samedikki_lahkasanit_2005.pdf|title=Láhkasánit - Saamelaiskäräjät|work=Sámi Parliament of Finland|access-date=29 August 2019}}</ref>
 }}
| symbol_type = Logo
| symbol_width = 250px
| image_symbol = EFTA logo.svg
| image_map = Europe-EFTA.svg
| map_caption = {{map caption |location_color=green |countryprefix=the |country=EFTA{{none<!--prevent automatic linking by template-->}} |region=[[Earth:Europe|Europe]] |region_color=green & dark grey}}
| org_type = [[Place:Regional organization|Regional organization]], [[Finance:Free-trade area|Free-trade area]]
| membership_type = Member states
| membership = {{unbulleted list |class=nowrap|{{ISL}}  |{{LIE}} |{{NOR}} |{{CHE}}}}
| admin_center_type = Secretariat
| admin_center = [[Place:Geneva|Geneva]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|46|57|N|7|27|E|type:city}}
| largest_settlement = [[Place:Oslo|Oslo]]<br/>{{smaller|{{coord|59|56|N|10|41|E|display=inline}}}}
| languages_type = Official working<br />language
| languages = English
| languages2_type = Official languages<br />of member states
| languages2 = 
{{collapsible list  |titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal;
|title = 7 languages
|[[Social:French language|French]] 
|[[Social:German language|German]]
|[[Social:Icelandic language|Icelandic]]
|[[Social:Italian language|Italian]] 
|[[Social:Norwegian language|Norwegian]]
|Romansh
|[[Social:Sámi languages|Sámi]]
 }}
| leader_title1 = Secretary General
| leader_name1 = Henri Gétaz
| leader_title2 = Council Chair
| leader_name2 = Iceland<ref>{{cite web |title=Chairmanship |url=https://www.efta.int/about-efta/chairmanship | date=July 2020 | publisher=EFTA |website=efta.int}}</ref>
| established_event1 = Convention signed
| established_date1 = 4 January 1960
| established_event2 = Established
| established_date2 = 3 May 1960
| area_rank = 
| area_magnitude = 
| area_km2 = 529,600
| area_sq_mi = 204,518
| percent_water = 
| population_estimate = 14,400,000<ref name=imf.org />
| population_estimate_rank = 
| population_estimate_year = 2020
| population_density_km2 = 26.5
| population_density_sq_mi = 68.7
| population_density_rank = 
| GDP_PPP = $1.0 trillion<ref name=imf.org>{{cite web|url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2021/April/weo-report?c=176,142,146,&s=NGDPD,PPPGDP,LP,&sy=2020&ey=2020&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=subject&ds=.&br=1 | title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects|website=imf.org}}</ref>
| GDP_PPP_rank = 
| GDP_PPP_year = 2020
| GDP_PPP_per_capita = $70,000
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 
| GDP_nominal = $1.1 trillion<ref name="imf.org"/>
| GDP_nominal_rank = 
| GDP_nominal_year = 2020
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = $79,000
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 
| currency = {{unbulleted list
| {{flagdeco|ISL}} Króna ([[ISO 4217|ISK]])
| {{flagdeco|NOR}} Krone ([[ISO 4217|NOK]])
| {{flagdeco|CHE}}{{flagdeco|LIE}} Franc ([[ISO 4217|CHF]])
 }}
| time_zone = {{unbulleted list|[[Western European Time|WET]] ([[Physics:Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]])|[[Central European Time|CET]] (UTC+1)}}
| time_zone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| DST_note = {{smaller|Note: Iceland observes WET all year, while Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland observe CET and CEST.}}
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| official_website = {{URL|efta.int}}
}}

The '''European Free Trade Association''' ('''EFTA''') is a regional trade organization and [[Finance:Free trade area|free trade area]] consisting of four European states: Iceland, [[Finance:Liechtenstein|Liechtenstein]], {{wipe|Norway}} and {{wipe|Switzerland}}.<ref name=TradeRelations>{{cite web|url=http://www.efta.int/sites/default/files/publications/bulletins/EFTA_Free_Trade_Relations_July-August_2006.pdf |title=1949-Bulletin-10-Web|access-date=8 May 2017}}</ref> The organization operates in parallel with the [[Social:European Union|European Union]] (EU), and all four member states participate in the [[Organization:European Single Market|European Single Market]] and are part of the Schengen Area.<ref>{{cite web|title=The European Free Trade Association|url=http://www.efta.int/|website=efta.int|access-date=12 December 2014}}</ref> They are not, however, party to the European Union Customs Union.

EFTA was historically one of the two dominant western European [[Organization:Trade bloc|trade bloc]]s, but is now much smaller and closely associated with its historical competitor, the [[Social:European Union|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, {{wipe|Denmark}}, {{wipe|Norway}}, Portugal, Sweden, {{wipe|Switzerland}} and the {{wipe|United Kingdom}}).<ref name=history>{{cite web| url=https://www.efta.int/About-EFTA/EFTA-through-years-747 | title= EFTA through the years | publisher=efta.int| date=2014 | access-date = 13 April 2019}}</ref> A revised Convention, the [[Place:Vaduz|Vaduz]] Convention, was signed on 21 June 2001 and entered into force on 1 June 2002.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/Legal-Text/EFTA-Convention-1152|title=The EFTA Convention &#124; European Free Trade Association|website=www.efta.int}}</ref>

Since 1995, only two founding members remain, 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 [[Place:Vaduz|Vaduz]] Convention, which aimed to provide a successful framework for continuing the expansion and [[Finance:Free trade area|liberalization of trade]], both among the organization's member states and with the rest of the world.

Whilst the EFTA is not a [[Finance:Customs union|customs union]] and member states have full rights to enter into bilateral third-country trade arrangements, it does have a coordinated trade policy.<ref name=TradeRelations/> As a result, its member states have jointly concluded free trade agreements with the EU and a number of other countries.<ref name=TradeRelations/> 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|Switzerland–European Union relations|date=September 2023}}

==Membership==
===History===
[[File:EFTA AELE countries and former members.svg|thumb|{{legend|#276d3a|EFTA member states}}{{legend|#b3d9b4|Former members, which left to join the EU}}{{legend|#808080|Rest of EU member states}}|left]]
On 12 January 1960, the Convention establishing the European Free Trade Association was initiated in the Golden Hall of the Stockholm City Hall.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://prezi.com/zh9hxdbmm2jc/european-free-trade-association/ |title=European Free Trade Association by Shobicka Mehanathan on Prezi |publisher=Prezi.com |access-date=8 May 2017}}</ref> 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 [[Finance:Tariff|tariff]]s 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).<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Finland: Now, the Seven and a Half |magazine={{wipe|Time (magazine)}} |date=7 April 1961 |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,874317,00.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104144427/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,874317,00.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 November 2011 |access-date=18 July 2009 }}</ref>

{{wipe|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 [[Finance:2008–2011 Icelandic financial crisis|2008–2011 Icelandic financial crisis]], but has since dropped its bid.<ref>{{cite news|author=AFP in Reykjavik |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/12/iceland-drops-european-union-membership-bid |title=Iceland drops EU membership bid: 'interests better served outside' union |newspaper=The Guardian |date=12 March 2015 |access-date=17 August 2016}}</ref>

===Current members===
[[File:EFTA House.jpg|thumb|EFTA House in Brussels, 2022|left]]
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Contracting party
! Accession
! Population{{UN_Population|ref}}<br/>({{UN_Population|Year}})
! Area {{smaller|(km²)}}
! Capital
! GDP {{small|in millions (PPP)}}<ref name=Geary-Khamis group=note>in [[Finance:Geary–Khamis dollar|international dollars]] (rounded)</ref>
! GDP per capita {{small|(PPP)}}<ref name=Geary-Khamis group=note/>
|-
| {{Country|Iceland}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|1970|1|1}}
| {{UN_Population|Iceland}}
| {{Nts|103000}}
| [[Place:Reykjavík|Reykjavík]]
| {{Nts|12831}}<ref name=IMF_Iceland>{{cite web |url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2013/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=60&pr.y=9&sy=2009&ey=2012&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=176&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a= |title=Iceland |publisher=International Monetary Fund |access-date=17 April 2013}}</ref>
| {{Nts|39223}}<ref name=IMF_Iceland/>
|-
| {{Country|Liechtenstein}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|1991|9|1}}
| {{UN_Population|Liechtenstein}}
| {{Nts|160.4}}
| [[Place:Vaduz|Vaduz]]
| {{Nts|3545}}<ref name=Liechtenstein group=note>[[Finance:Liechtenstein|Liechtenstein]], Infobox</ref>
| {{Nts|98432}}<ref name=Liechtenstein group=note/>
|-
| {{Country|Norway}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|1960|5|3}}
| {{UN_Population|Norway}}
| {{Nts|385155}}
| [[Place:Oslo|Oslo]]
| {{Nts|265911}}<ref name=IMF_Norway>{{cite web |url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2012/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=72&pr.y=17&sy=2009&ey=2012&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=142&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a= |title=Norway |publisher=International Monetary Fund |access-date=20 April 2012}}</ref>
| {{Nts|53470}}<ref name=IMF_Norway/>
|-
| {{Country|Switzerland}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|1960|5|3}}
| {{UN_Population|Switzerland}}
| {{Nts|41285}}
| [[Place:Bern|Bern]]
| {{Nts|363421}}<ref name=IMF_Switzerland>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2013/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=57&pr.y=9&sy=2009&ey=2012&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=146&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a= |title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects |publisher=Imf.org |date=14 September 2006 |access-date=8 May 2017}}</ref>
| {{Nts|45417}}<ref name=IMF_Switzerland/>
|}

===Former members===
[[File:Stamp 1967 - FINEFTA - Finland as an external member of EFTA.jpg|thumb|Finnish post stamp about the trade union concluded between Finland and EFTA, or the so-called FINEFTA agreement]]
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!State
!Accession
!Left EFTA
!Joined EEC/EU
|-
| {{Country|Austria}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|1960|5|3}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|1994|12|31}}
|{{dts|format=dmy|1995|1|1}}
|-
|{{Country|Denmark}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|1960|5|3}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|1972|12|31}}
|{{dts|format=dmy|1973|1|1}}
|-
|{{Country|Finland}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|1986|1|1}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|1994|12|31}}
|{{dts|format=dmy|1995|1|1}}
|-
|{{Country|Portugal}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|1960|5|3}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|1985|12|31}}
|{{dts|format=dmy|1986|1|1}}
|-
|{{Country|Sweden}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|1960|5|3}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|1994|12|31}}
|{{dts|format=dmy|1995|1|1}}
|-
|{{Country|United Kingdom}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|1960|5|3}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|1972|12|31}}
|{{dts|format=dmy|1973|1|1}} (withdrew {{dts|format=dmy|2020|1|31}})
|}

===Other negotiations===
[[File:EU and EFTA.svg|thumb|upright=1.5|Members of the European Union (blue) and<br/>EFTA (green)]]

Between 1994 and 2011, EFTA memberships for [[Religion:Andorra|Andorra]], San Marino, [[Place:Monaco|Monaco]], the Isle of Man, [[Place:Turkey|Turkey]], [[Place:Israel|Israel]], Morocco, and other European Neighbourhood Policy partners were discussed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eu-norway.org/Global/SiteFolders/webeu/NOU2012_2_Chapter%2013.pdf |title=Norway and the EU |publisher=Eu-norway.org |access-date=8 May 2017}}</ref>

====Andorra, Monaco, and San Marino====
In November 2012, after the [[Organization:Council of the European Union|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",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/118458.pdf|title=Council conclusions on EU relations with EFTA countries|publisher=[[Organization:Council of the European Union|Council of the European Union]]|date=14 December 2012|access-date=1 April 2013}}</ref> the European Commission published a report outlining the options for their further integration into the EU.<ref name=options>{{cite web|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2012:0680:REV1:EN:HTML|title=Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee of the Regions - EU Relations with the Principality of Andorra, the Principality of Monaco and the Republic of San Marino - Options for Closer Integration with the EU|year=2012}}</ref> 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: 
# A Sectoral Approach with separate agreements with each state covering an entire policy area. 
# A comprehensive, multilateral Framework Association Agreement (FAA) with the three states. 
# EEA membership, and 
# 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ue.eu.int/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/trans/134524.pdf |title=Council conclusions on EU relations with the Principality of Andorra, the Republic of San Marino and the Principality of Monaco |publisher=[[Organization:Council of the European Union|Council of the European Union]] |date=20 December 2012 |access-date=1 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517000353/http://ue.eu.int/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/trans/134524.pdf |archive-date=17 May 2013}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationen.no/2011/05/19/politikk/eos/eos-avtalen/eu/eeas/6642688/|title=Norge sier nei til nye mikrostater i EØS|date=19 May 2011|access-date=6 April 2013}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/ud/aktuelt/taler_artikler/eide_taler/2013/eosutvalget_130128.html?id=712742|title=Innlegg på møte i Stortingets europautvalg|date=28 January 2013|access-date=1 April 2013|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.klassekampen.no/61007/article/item/null |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130413223348/http://www.klassekampen.no/61007/article/item/null |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 April 2013 |title=Eide: Bedre blir det ikke |date=21 December 2012 |access-date=1 April 2013 }}</ref><ref name=NORLIE>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationen.no/2012/12/08/politikk/eos-avtalen/eos/san_marino/eu/7845048/|title=Regjeringa open for diskutere EØS-medlemskap for mikrostatar|language=no|last=Aalberg Undheim|first=Eva|date=8 December 2012|access-date=6 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latribunasammarinese.net/edizioni/2013/01-gennaio/03-01-2013boiw.pdf |title=La Norvegia chiude le porte a San Marino |date=3 January 2013 |access-date=6 April 2013 |publisher=La Tribuna Sammarinese |page=7 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307181930/http://www.latribunasammarinese.net/edizioni/2013/01-gennaio/03-01-2013boiw.pdf |archive-date=7 March 2014}}</ref> 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.<ref name=NORLIE/> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regdoc/rep/1/2013/EN/1-2013-793-EN-F1-1.Pdf|title=EU Relations with the Principality of Andorra, the Principality of Monaco and the Republic of San Marino: Options for their participation in the Internal Market|date=18 November 2013|access-date=20 November 2013|publisher=European Commission}}</ref>

====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 [[Place:Nordic countries|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,<ref>{{cite news |title=Iceland moves towards joining EU |work=BBC News |date=16 July 2009 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8153139.stm |access-date=18 July 2009 }}</ref> 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)====

{{wipe|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: [[Place:Greenland|Greenland]] from 1961 and the [[Biography:Faroe Islands|Faroe Islands]] from 1968.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.dk/samling/20081/almdel/ugf/bilag/74/657075.pdf|title=Responsum om muligheder for Færøernes tilknytning til EFTA samt for Færøernes og Grønlands tilknytning til EU|language=da|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207093847/https://www.ft.dk/samling/20081/almdel/ugf/bilag/74/657075.pdf|archive-date=7 December 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> 
In mid-2005, representatives of the [[Biography:Faroe Islands|Faroe Islands]] raised the possibility of their territory re-joining the EFTA.<ref>{{cite news |last=Spongenberg |first=Helena |title=Faroe Islands seek closer EU relations |publisher=EUobserver |date=8 October 2007 |url=http://euobserver.com/9/24907 |access-date=18 July 2009 }}</ref> Because Article 56 of the EFTA Convention only allows sovereign states to become members of the EFTA,<ref>{{cite web |title=Convention Establishing the European Free Trade Association |date=21 June 2001 |url=http://www.efta.int/content/legal-texts/efta-convention/eftaconvention-texts/convention-2001|access-date=18 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091021091149/http://www.efta.int/content/legal-texts/efta-convention/eftaconvention-texts/convention-2001 |archive-date=21 October 2009}}</ref> 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.<ref name=faroes>{{cite web|url=http://www.mfa.fo/Files/Billeder/Uttanrikisradid/tekstir/ESfr%C3%A1grei%C3%B0ingEN%5B1%5D.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823140509/http://www.mfa.fo/Files/Billeder/Uttanrikisradid/tekstir/ESfr%C3%A1grei%C3%B0ingEN%5B1%5D.pdf |archive-date=23 August 2011|title=The Faroes and the EU - possibilities and challenges in a future relationship|year=2010|publisher=The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Faroes|page=53|access-date=15 August 2013|quote=Under its constitutional status the Faroes cannot become a contracting party to the EEA Agreement in its own right due to the fact that the Faroes are not a state.}}</ref>

The Faroes already have an extensive bilateral free trade agreement with Iceland, known as the [[Finance:Hoyvík Agreement|Hoyvík Agreement]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hoyvík Agreement|url=https://www.government.fo/en/foreign-relations/foreign-trade/hoyvik-agreement/|access-date=24 June 2021|website=www.government.fo|language=en}}</ref>

====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 [[Organization:European Single Market|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/rp13-42.pdf|title=Leaving the EU - Research Paper 13/42|date=1 July 2013|access-date=19 May 2015|publisher=House of Commons Library}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.cnbc.com/2016/06/27/the-associated-press-the-latest-lithuania-says-uk-must-say-if-decision-is-final.html |title= The Latest: Lithuania says UK must say if decision is final |publisher= {{wipe|CNBC}} |date= 27 June 2016 |via= Associated Press |archive-date= 3 July 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160703064040/http://www.cnbc.com/2016/06/27/the-associated-press-the-latest-lithuania-says-uk-must-say-if-decision-is-final.html |access-date=18 September 2016 |url-status= live}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite news|author=Patrick Wintour |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/09/norway-may-block-uk-return-to-european-free-trade-association |title=Norway may block UK return to European Free Trade Association |newspaper=The Guardian |date=9 August 2016 |access-date=17 August 2016}}</ref>

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".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/politics/holyrood/1086376/sturgeon-hints-the-scottish-government-could-seek-norway-style-eu-relationship/|title=Sturgeon hints the Scottish Government could seek Norway-style EU relationship|date=17 November 2016|access-date=17 November 2016}}</ref> 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,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/16/iceland-scotland-could-not-start-applying-efta-independence/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/16/iceland-scotland-could-not-start-applying-efta-independence/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Iceland: Scotland could not start applying for EFTA until after independence|date=16 March 2017|access-date=24 March 2017|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|last1=Johnson|first1=Simon}}{{cbignore}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|title=We're taking back control of Brexit, say MPs|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/mps-say-were-taking-back-control-on-brexit-as-study-shows-britain-will-have-the-eu-s-slowest-growing-a3760461.html|access-date=25 February 2018|newspaper=Evening Standard|date=7 February 2018}}</ref>

==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 [[Organization:European Single Market|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.efta.int/eea/eea-agreement.aspx |title=EEA Agreement &#124; European Free Trade Association |publisher=Efta.int |date=1 January 1994 |access-date=17 August 2016}}</ref><ref name=croatsign>{{cite web|url=http://www.efta.int/eea/news/croatia-joins-eea-2750|title=Croatia joins the EEA|date=12 April 2014|access-date=11 April 2014|publisher=European Free Trade Association}}</ref> It was established on 1 January 1994 following an agreement with the European Economic Community (which had become the European Community two months earlier).<ref name=agreement>{{cite web|url=http://efta.int/~/media/Documents/legal-texts/eea/the-eea-agreement/Main%20Text%20of%20the%20Agreement/EEAagreement.ashx |title=Agreement On the European Economic Area |publisher=European Free Trade Association |date=1 August 2016 |access-date=8 May 2017}}</ref> 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|date=January 2021}}. One EFTA member, Switzerland, has not joined the EEA but has a series of bilateral agreements, including a [[Finance:Free trade agreement|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.

{|class="wikitable"
|+
!colspan="2" | {{nowrap|EFTA member states}} and&nbsp;territories
! Application {{nowrap|of EU law}}
! EURATOM
! European Defence&nbsp;Agency
! Schengen area
! EU&nbsp;VAT area
! EU&nbsp;Customs Union
! [[Organization:European Single Market|EU&nbsp;single market]]
! Eurozone
|-
| colspan="2" | {{ISL}}
|{{Partial}}
|{{no}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes|With exemptions, in EEA}}<ref name="EEA">{{cite web|url=http://www.efta.int/eea/eea-agreement/eea-basic-features#5 |title=The Basic Features of the EEA Agreement &#124; European Free Trade Association |publisher=Efta.int |access-date=8 May 2017}}</ref>
|{{No}}, ISK
|-
| colspan="2" | {{LIE}}
|{{Partial}}
|{{no}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}, {{nowrap|Swiss–Liechtenstein}} VAT&nbsp;area
|{{No}}, {{nowrap|Swiss–Liechtenstein}} customs&nbsp;territory
|{{Yes|With exemptions, in EEA}}<ref name="EEA"/>
|{{No}}, CHF
|-
| colspan="2" | {{NOR}}, except:
|{{Partial}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes|With exemptions, in EEA}}<ref name="EEA"/>
|{{No}}, NOK
|-
| style="border-top:hidden" |
|{{flagdeco|Norway}} Jan Mayen
|{{Partial}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes|Participating}}
|{{Yes}}<ref>[http://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/30079/qc0114777enn.pdf THE SCHENGEN AREA] (Council of the European Union, 2015)</ref>
|{{No}}, VAT free<ref name="Svalbard Jan Mayen VAT">{{Cite web|url=https://www.statsbudsjettet.no/Revidert-2004/Statsbudsjettet-fra-A-til-A/Moms-pa-kjop-av-tjenester-fra-Svalbard-eller-Jan-Mayen/|title=Moms på kjøp av tjenester fra Svalbard eller Jan Mayen|access-date=11 October 2020|archive-date=31 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731053030/https://www.statsbudsjettet.no/Revidert-2004/Statsbudsjettet-fra-A-til-A/Moms-pa-kjop-av-tjenester-fra-Svalbard-eller-Jan-Mayen/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|{{No}}
|{{Yes|With exemptions, in EEA}}<ref name="EEA"/>
|{{No}}, NOK
|-
| style="border-top:hidden" |
|{{flagdeco|Norway}} [[Place:Svalbard|Svalbard]]
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{No|Demilitarised}}
|{{No}}<ref name="Schengen">{{cite web|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:1999:176:0036:0049:EN:PDF |title=Agreement concluded by the Council of the European Union and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the latters' association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis |publisher=Eur-lex.europa.eu |date=10 July 1999 |access-date=8 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510111021/http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:1999:176:0036:0049:EN:PDF |archive-date=10 May 2011}}</ref>
|{{No}}, VAT free<ref name="Svalbard Jan Mayen VAT"/>
|{{No}}
|{{No}}<ref name="EEA"/><ref name="Protocol40">{{cite web|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:21994A0103(41):EN:HTML |title=EUR-Lex - 21994A0103(41) - EN |publisher=Eur-lex.europa.eu |access-date=17 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/App/accords/Default.aspx?command=declaration&id=297&lang=EN&aid=1992045&partyId=N&doclang=EN |title=Choose a language - Consilium |publisher=Consilium.europa.eu |access-date=17 August 2016 |archive-date=17 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117091844/http://www.consilium.europa.eu/App/accords/Default.aspx?command=declaration&id=297&lang=EN&aid=1992045&partyId=N&doclang=EN |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|{{No}}, NOK
|-
| style="border-top:hidden" |
|{{flagdeco|Norway}} [[Earth:Bouvet Island|Bouvet Island]]
|{{No}}
|{{Yes|Participating}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}, NOK
|-
| style="border-top:hidden" |
|{{flagdeco|Norway}} Peter I Island
|{{No}}
|{{No|Demilitarised}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}, NOK
|-
| style="border-top:hidden" |
|{{flagdeco|Norway}} Queen Maud Land
|{{No}}
|{{No|Demilitarised}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}, NOK
|-
| colspan="2" | {{CHE}}, except:
|{{Partial}}
|{{Yes|Participating associated state<ref name=Swiss-EURATOM>{{cite web|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32014D0954 |title=EUR-Lex - 32014D0954 - EN - EUR-Lex |publisher=Eur-lex.europa.eu |date=30 December 2014 |access-date=17 August 2016}}</ref>}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}, {{nowrap|Swiss–Liechtenstein}} VAT&nbsp;area
|{{No}}, {{nowrap|Swiss–Liechtenstein}} customs&nbsp;territory
|{{Yes|With exemptions, sectoral agreements}}<ref name=Swiss-EU group=note>Through multiple sectoral agreements</ref>
|{{No}}, CHF
|-
| style="border-top:hidden" |
|[[File:Samnaun-coa.png|15px|link=]] [[Finance:Samnaun|Samnaun]]
|{{Partial}}
|{{Yes|Participating with Switzerland<ref name=Swiss-EURATOM/>}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}, VAT free
|{{No}}, {{nowrap|Swiss–Liechtenstein}} customs&nbsp;territory
|{{Yes|With exemptions, sectoral agreements}}<ref name=Swiss-EU group=note/>
|{{No}}, CHF
|}


===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.<ref>Brandtner, B (1992). [http://www.ejil.org/pdfs/3/2/2042.pdf The ‘Drama’ of the EEA Comments on Opinions 1/91 and 1/92]. Retrieved 24 December 2023.  .</ref>  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&nbsp;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==
[[File:AELE-Cooperation.svg|thumb|upright=2.25|Map of free trade agreements between EFTA and other countries
{{Legend|#00FF00|EFTA}}
{{Legend|#008080|Free trade agreement}}
{{Legend|#55FFDD|Ongoing free trade negotiation}}
{{Legend|#5FBCD3|European Economic Area}}
{{Legend|#D4FF2A|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.efta.int/free-trade.aspx |title=Free Trade &#124; European Free Trade Association |publisher=Efta.int |access-date=4 January 2023}}</ref>

EFTA's interactive Free Trade Map gives an overview of the partners worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.efta.int/free-trade/fta-map |title=Free Trade Map &#124; European Free Trade Association |publisher=Efta.int |access-date=17 August 2016}}</ref>

===Free trade agreements===

{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Nation (s)
!No of nations <br>represented
!Signed
!Effective
!Coverage
!Ref.
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Albania.svg}} Albania
|1
|17 December 2009
|1 November 2010
|Goods
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/Free-Trade-Agreement/Albania|title=Albania|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg}} Bosnia and Herzegovina
|1
|24 June 2013
|1 January 2015
|Goods
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/free-trade-agreements/bosnia-and-herzegovina|title=Bosnia and Herzegovina|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Canada.svg}} {{wipe|Canada}}
|1
|26 January 2008
|1 July 2009
|Goods
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/Free-Trade-Agreement/Canada|title=Canada|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|'''[[Organization:Central American Integration System|Central America]]'''<br/>{{flagicon image|Flag of Costa Rica.svg}} Costa Rica<br/>{{flagicon image|Flag of Panama.svg}} Panama
|2
|24 June 2013
|19 August 2014
|Goods & Services
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/Free-Trade-Agreement/Central-American-States|title=Central American States (Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama)|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Chile.svg}} {{wipe|Chile}}
|1
|26 June 2003
|1 December 2004
|Goods & Services
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/free-trade-agreements/chile|title=Chile|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Colombia.svg}} Colombia
|1
|25 November 2008
|1 July 2011
|Goods & Services
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/free-trade-agreements/colombia|title=Colombia|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Ecuador.svg}} Ecuador
|1
|25 June 2018
|1 November 2020
|Goods & Services
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/Free-Trade-Agreement/Ecuador|title=Ecuador|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Egypt.svg}} [[Place:Egypt|Egypt]]
|1
|27 January 2007
|1 August 2007
|Goods
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/Free-Trade-Agreement/Egypt|title=Egypt|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Georgia.svg}} [[Place:Georgia (country)|Georgia]]
|1
|27 June 2016
|1 September 2017
|Goods & Services
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/free-trade-agreements/georgia|title=Georgia|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|'''{{flagicon image|Flag of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf.svg}} [[Organization:Gulf Cooperation Council|Gulf Cooperation Council]]'''<br/>{{flag|Bahrain}}<br/>{{flag|Kuwait}}<br/>{{flag|Oman}}<br/>{{flag|Qatar}}<br/>{{flag|Saudi Arabia}}<br/>{{flag|United Arab Emirates}}
|6
|22 June 2009
|1 July 2014
|Goods & Services
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/free-trade-agreements/gcc|title=Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Hong Kong.svg}} [[Place:Hong Kong|Hong Kong]]
|1
|21 June  2011
|1 October 2012
|Goods & Services
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/free-trade-agreements/hong-kong|title=Hong Kong, China|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Indonesia.svg}} Indonesia
|1
|16 December 2018
|1 November 2021
|Goods & Services
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/Free-Trade-Agreement/Indonesia|title=Indonesia|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Israel.svg}} [[Place:Israel|Israel]]
|1
|17 September 1992
|1 January 1993
|Goods
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/free-trade-agreements/israel|title=Israel|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Jordan.svg}} Jordan
|1
|21 June 2001
|1 September 2002
|Goods
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/free-trade-agreements/jordan|title=Jordan|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Lebanon.svg}} [[Place:Lebanon|Lebanon]]
|1
|24 June 2004
|1 July 2007
|Goods
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/free-trade-agreements/lebanon|title=Lebanon|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Mexico.svg}} Mexico
|1
|27 November 2000
|1 July 2001
|Goods
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/free-trade-agreements/mexico|title=Mexico|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Montenegro.svg}} Montenegro
|1
|14 November 2011
|1 September 2012
|Goods
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/free-trade-agreements/montenegro|title=Montenegro|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Morocco.svg}} Morocco<ref group=note>Excluding Western Sahara</ref>
|1
|19 June 1997
|1 December 1999
|Goods
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/free-trade-agreements/morocco|title=Morocco|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Western Sahara excluded from EFTA-Morocco free trade agreement |url=http://www.spsrasd.info/en/detail.php?id=11569 |publisher=SPS |date=12 May 2010 |access-date=13 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516150119/http://www.spsrasd.info/en/detail.php?id=11569 |archive-date=16 May 2011}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of North Macedonia.svg}} North Macedonia
|1
|19 June 2000
|1 May 2002
|Goods
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/free-trade-agreements/north-macedonia|title=North Macedonia|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Palestine.svg}} Palestinian Authority
|1
|30 November 1998
|1 July 1999
|Goods
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/free-trade-agreements/palestinian-authority|title=Palestinian Authority|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Peru.svg}} Peru
|1
|24 June 2010
|1 July 2011
|Goods
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/free-trade-agreements/peru|title=Peru|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Philippines.svg}} {{wipe|Philippines}}
|1
|28 April 2016
|1 June 2018
|Goods & Services
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/Free-Trade-Agreement/Philippines|title=Philippines|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Serbia.svg}} Serbia
|1
|17 December 2009
|1 October 2010
|Goods
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/Free-Trade-Agreement/Serbia|title=Serbia|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Singapore.svg}} [[Place:Singapore|Singapore]]
|1
|26 June 2002
|1 January 2003
|Goods & Services
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/free-trade-agreements/singapore|title=Singapore|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of South Korea.svg}} {{wipe|South Korea}}
|1
|15 December 2005
|1 September 2006
|Goods & Services
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/free-trade-agreements/korea|title=South Korea|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|'''Southern African Customs Union'''<br/>{{flag|Botswana}}<br/>{{flag|Eswatini}}<br/>{{flag|Lesotho}}<br/>{{flag|Namibia}}<br/>{{flag|South Africa}}
|5
|26 June 2006
|1 May 2008
|Goods
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/free-trade-agreements/sacu|title=Southern African Customs Union (SACU)|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Tunisia.svg}} Tunisia
|1
|17 December 2004
|1 August 2005
|Goods
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/free-trade-agreements/tunisia|title=Tunisia|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Turkey.svg}} [[Place:Turkey|Turkey]]
|1
|25 June 2018
|1 October 2021
|Goods & Services
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/Free-Trade-Agreement/Turkey|title=Türkiye|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Ukraine.svg}} {{wipe|Ukraine}}
|1
|24 June 2010
|1 June 2012
|Goods & Services
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/free-trade-agreements/ukraine|title=Ukraine|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|}

===Ongoing free trade negotiations===

*'''Central America'''<br/>{{flag|Guatemala}} (Signed 22 June 2015)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/Free-Trade-Agreement/Central-American-States|title=Central American States (Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama)|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
* {{flag|India}} (Since January 2008)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/ongoing-negotiations-talks/india|title=India|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
* {{flag|Kosovo}} (Since June 2022)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.efta.int/Free-Trade/news/EFTA-countries-and-Kosovo-met-today-Borgarnes-Iceland-launch-free-trade-negotiations-530386 |title=The EFTA countries and Kosovo met today in Borgarnes, Iceland, to launch free trade negotiations |work=Newsroom |publisher=EFTA |date=2022-06-20 |accessdate=2022-06-21 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/Ongoing-Negotiations-or-Talks/Kosovo|title=Kosovo|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
* {{flag|Malaysia}} (Since November 2012)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/ongoing-negotiations-talks/malaysia|title=Malaysia|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
* '''{{flag|Mercosur}}''' (Concluded 23 August 2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/ongoing-negotiations-talks/mercosur|title=MERCOSUR|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref><br/>{{Flag|Argentina}}<br/>{{Flag|Brazil}}<br/>{{Flag|Paraguay}}<br/>{{Flag|Uruguay}}
* {{flag|Moldova}} (Concluded 24 March 2023)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.efta.int/Free-Trade/news/EFTA-countries-and-Moldova-met-online-today-take-stock-ongoing-free-trade-negotiations-530406 |title=The EFTA countries and Moldova met online today to take stock of the ongoing free trade negotiations |work=Newsroom |publisher=EFTA |date=2022-06-20 |accessdate=2022-06-21 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/Free-Trade-Agreement/Moldova|title=Moldova|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
* {{flag|Thailand}} (Restarted June 2022)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.efta.int/Free-Trade/news/EFTA-countries-and-Thailand-met-today-Borgarnes-Iceland-launch-free-trade-negotiations-530391 |title=The EFTA countries and Thailand met today in Borgarnes, Iceland, to launch free trade negotiations |work=Newsroom |publisher=EFTA |date=2022-06-20 |accessdate=2022-06-21 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/ongoing-negotiations-talks/thailand|title=Thailand|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
* {{flag|Vietnam}} (Since July 2012)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/ongoing-negotiations-talks/vietnam|title=Vietnam|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>

'''Negotiations currently on hold'''
* {{flag|Algeria}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/ongoing-negotiations-talks/algeria|title=Algeria|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
* {{flag|Honduras}} (Central American States)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/ongoing-negotiations-talks/central-america|title=Central American States (Honduras)|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
* '''{{flag|Eurasian Economic Union}}'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/free-trade/ongoing-negotiations-talks/russia-belarus-kazakhstan|title=Russia / Belarus / Kazakhstan|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref><br/>{{flag|Belarus}}<br/>{{flag|Kazakhstan}}<br/>{{flag|Russia}}

'''Declarations on cooperation'''
* {{flag|Mauritius}}
* {{flag|Mongolia}}
* {{flag|Myanmar}} (on hold since 2022)<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite web|url=http://www.efta.int/free-trade/joint-declarations-on-co-operation |title=Joint Declarations on Cooperation &#124; European Free Trade Association |publisher=Efta.int |access-date=17 August 2016}}</ref>
* {{flag|Pakistan}}<ref name="autogenerated2"/>

===Obsolete agreements===
The following agreements are no longer active:<ref>{{Cite web|title=Inactive RTAs, including accessions|url=http://rtais.wto.org/UI/PublicPreDefRepByStatusInactive.aspx|website=[[Organization:World Trade Organization|World Trade Organization]]}}</ref>

*{{flag|Bulgaria}} (1995–2007)
*{{flag|Croatia}} (2002–2013)
*{{flag|Czech Republic}} (1993–2004)
*{{flag|Czechoslovakia}} (1992–1993)
*{{flag|Estonia}} (1996–2004)
*{{flag|Hungary}} (1995–2004)
*{{flag|Latvia}} (1996–2004)
*{{flag|Lithuania}} (1996–2004)
*{{flag|Poland}} (1995–2004)
*{{flag|Romania}} (1995–2007)
*{{flag|Slovakia}} (1993–2004)
*{{flag|Slovenia}} (1995–2004)
*{{flagicon image|Flag of Spain (1977–1981).svg}} {{wipe|Spain}} (1980–1986)
*{{flag|Turkey}} (1995–2021)

==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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.efta.int/legal-texts/efta-convention/detailed-overview-of-the-efta-convention#persons|title=Short Overview of the EFTA Convention|access-date=29 November 2017}}</ref> EFTA & EEA nationals also enjoy freedom of movement in the [[Social:European Union|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'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:32004L0038R(01)|title=EUR-Lex - 32004L0038R(01) - EN - EUR-Lex|website=Eur-lex.europa.eu|date=29 June 2004|access-date=25 November 2017}}</ref> (also sometimes called the "Free Movement Directive") defines the right of free movement for citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA),<ref>{{Citation|title=Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 158/2007 of 7 December 2007 amending Annex V (Free movement of workers) and Annex VIII (Right of establishment) to the EEA Agreement|date=8 May 2008|url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A22007D0158|language=en|access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref> which includes the three EFTA members Iceland, {{wipe|Norway}} and [[Finance:Liechtenstein|Liechtenstein]] plus the member states of the EU. {{wipe|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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=EUR-Lex - 22002A0430(01) - EN|url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:22002A0430(01):EN:HTML|access-date=1 January 2021|website=Official Journal L 114 |date=30 April 2002|pages=0006–0072|language=EN}}</ref>

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).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://livingingreece.gr/2007/09/05/what-is-an-eea-country-what-is-an-efta-country/ |title=What is an EEA country? What is an EFTA country? |publisher=Livingingreece.gr |access-date=8 May 2017}}</ref>{{source needed|date=September 2023}}

==General secretaries==
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|#
!State
!Name
!Year
|-
|1
|{{UK}}
|Frank Figgures
|1960–1965

|-
|2
|{{UK}}
|John Coulson
|1965–1972

|-
|3
|{{SWE}}
|Bengt Rabaeus
|1972–1975

|-
|4
|{{CHE}}
|Charles Müller
|1976–1981

|-
|5
|{{NOR}}
|Per Kleppe
|1981–1988

|-
|6
|{{AUT}}
|Georg Reisch
|1988–1994

|-
|7
|{{ISL}}
|Kjartan Jóhannsson
|1994–2000

|-
|8
|{{CHE}}
|William Rossier
|2000–2006

|-
|9
|{{NOR}}
|Kåre Bryn
|2006–2012

|-
|10
|{{ISL}}
|Kristinn F. Árnason
|2012–2018

|-
|11
|{{CHE}}
|Henri Gétaz
|2018–present
|}

==Portugal Fund==
The Portugal Fund came into operation in February 1977 when Portugal was still a member of EFTA.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.efta.int/sites/default/files/publications/annual-report/efta-annual-report-1976-1977-web.pdf | title = 1976-1977 Seventeenth Annual Report of the European Free Trade Association | page=21 | publisher= efta.int | date = September 1977 | access-date= 14 April 2019}}</ref> 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 [[Place:Western Europe|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.<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/1015035/2041337/Liquidation+of+the+EFTA+IDF.pdf/654b5c00-c803-4c12-b689-6a06af78363c|access-date=21 April 2023|website=europa.eu|title=New decision of Eurostat on deficit and debt. Liquidation of the EFTA Industrial Development Fund for Portugal|date=21 August 2003}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Organization:Central European Free Trade Agreement|Central European Free Trade Agreement]] {{smaller|(CEFTA)}}
* [[Finance:Euro-Mediterranean free trade area|Euro-Mediterranean free trade area]] {{smaller|(EU-MEFTA)}}
* European Union Association Agreement
* [[Finance:European Union free trade agreements|European Union free trade agreements]]
* [[Finance:Free trade areas in Europe|Free trade areas in Europe]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[https://archives.eui.eu/en/fonds/683464?item=ETUC Archives] of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), held in the European University Institute - [https://www.eui.eu/en/academic-units/historical-archives-of-the-european-union Historical Archives of the European Union.]
*[http://www.efta.int/ Official website]
*[https://eur-lex.europa.eu/collection/eu-law/efta.html Collection of acts adopted by the EFTA and published in the Official Journal (the OJEU)]

{{Economics}}

[[Category:Trade blocs]]
[[Category:Organizations (Finance)]]
[[Category:Organizations|Finance]]

{{Sourceattribution|European Free Trade Association}}