The European Free Trade Association

The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is an intergovernmental organisation set up for the promotion of free trade and economic integration to the benefit of its four Member States: IcelandLiechtensteinNorwaySwitzerland.

The Association manages the EFTA Convention; EFTA’s worldwide network of free trade and partnership agreements, and the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement.

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News Releases

  • EEA EFTA Comment on the proposed European Solidarity Corps   19.09.2017

    On 18 September 2017 Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway submitted a joint comment on a proposal for a new founding regulation laying down the legal framework of the European Solidarity Corps (ESC).

  • Seventh meeting of the EFTA Council in 2017   19.09.2017
    Secretary-General Mr Kristinn F. Árnason and Director of the Secretary-General’s Office, Mr Adalsteinn Leifsson, conducted the seventh meeting of the EFTA Council. The meeting was chaired by Liechtenstein Ambassador Mr Peter Matt.

    EFTA-EU cooperation and third-country relations were among the topics discussed during the seventh EFTA Council meeting in Geneva on 19 September 2017.

  • EFTA hosts biannual seminar on the EEA   13.09.2017
    Carsten Zatschler, Director of Legal and Executive Affairs, EFTA Surveillance Authority

    On 12 September 2017, 135 participants from both the public and private sectors met at the EFTA Secretariat in Brussels for an introductory seminar on the European Economic Area (EEA).

  • EFTA and MERCOSUR pursue free trade negotiations   01.09.2017
    Representatives of the EFTA and MERCOSUR States, meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, 29 August to 1 September 2017

    Delegations from the EFTA and MERCOSUR States met for the second round of free trade negotiations from 29 August to 1 September 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland.

  • EFTA and Turkey hold fifth round of negotiations   25.08.2017
    Mr Murat Yapici, Director-General for EU Affairs, Turkey, and Ms Cecilie Børnes Utgård, EFTA Spokesperson and Senior Adviser in the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries

    From 22 to 25 August 2017, delegations from the EFTA States and Turkey met in Geneva for the fifth round of negotiations on the modernisation and expansion of their Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Publications

  • This brochure, in Q&A format, contains general information on EFTA, its main activities and its institutional framework, with a special focus on the functioning of the EEA Agreement and the Internal Market, which allows for the free movement of goods, services, capital and persons across the EEA. The publication is available on paper or electronically.
  • This brochure, in Q&A format, provides an overview of EFTA's free trade relations with partner countries outside the European Union. It contains statistics on the EFTA States and their trading products, as well as key characteristics of the EFTA economies. The publication is available in paper or electronically. 

  • This two-page factsheet gives a general overview of the role and tasks of the European Free Trade Association.

  • Handbook on EEA EFTA procedures – 2nd edition

    EFTA Bulletin - October 2016.

    This second edition of the Handbook on the EEA EFTA procedures for incorporating EU acts into the EEA Agreement reflects changes made following the 2016 review, namely a reduction of the number of forms used for the processing of acts, and an updated list of categories of acts subject to the fast-track procedure. These changes apply from 24 October 2016.

  • 56th Annual Report of the European Free Trade Association, 2015. The report is only available in electronic PDF format.

  • EFTA Surveillance Authority
  • EFTA Court
  • FMO

EFTA Introductory Seminar on the EEA

Brussels, Tuesday 12 September 2017 9:00

This introductory seminar is intended to provide professionals, both inside and outside the European Union, with a thorough understanding of the Agreement on the European Economic Area and how it integrates Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway into the EU’s Internal Market.

 
Registration is now closed, but if you want to be put on a waiting list, please email to: tom@efta.int
 
 

 

EFTA Trade Statistics

EFTA Trade Statistics is a new, interactive tool that gives insight on trade relations with EFTA's partners over time and by type of merchandise.

 

Questions and answers on EFTA and the EEA

Frequently asked questions on EFTA
and the EEA