Editing European Economic Area (section)

==Legislation==
{{Supranational European Bodies|size=400px|align=right}}
The non-EU members of the EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) have agreed to enact legislation similar to that passed in the EU in the areas of [[social policy]], [[consumer protection]], [[Natural environment|environment]], [[company law]] and statistics.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}} These are some of the areas covered by the former [[European Community]] (the "first pillar" of the European Union).

The non-EU members of the EEA are not represented in [[Institutions of the European Union]] such as the [[European Parliament]] or European Commission. This situation has been described as "fax democracy", with Norway waiting for their latest legislation to be [[fax]]ed from the commission.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ekman |first=Ivar |title=In Norway, EU pros and cons (the cons still win) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/26/world/europe/26iht-norway.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=7 May 2017 |date=27 October 2005 |archive-date=20 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120174153/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/27/world/europe/in-norway-eu-pros-and-cons-the-cons-still-win.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/vo050608/debtext/50608-17.htm |title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 8 Jun 2005 (pt 17) |publisher=Publications.parliament.uk |date=8 June 2005 |access-date=7 May 2017 |archive-date=31 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731024056/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/vo050608/debtext/50608-17.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> However, EEA countries are consulted about new EU legislative proposals and participate in shaping legislation at an early stage. The EEA Agreement contains provisions for input from the EEA/EFTA countries at various stages before legislation is adopted, including consent at the [[EEA Joint Committee]]. Once approved at the EEA Joint Committee, it is part of the EEA Agreement, and the EFTA states within the EEA must implement it in their national law.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.efta.int/eea/decision-shaping |title=Influencing the EU – EEA Decision Shaping &#124; European Free Trade Association |publisher=Efta.int |access-date=7 May 2017 |archive-date=26 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126002221/https://www.efta.int/eea/decision-shaping |url-status=live }}</ref>