Editing European Economic Area (section)

==Enlargement==
===Recent EU member states===
When a state joins the EU, they do not necessarily simultaneously become part of the EEA.  They are obliged to apply separately, and an agreement between EEA member states must be signed and ratified to admit a new member.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.efta.int/~/media/Documents/legal-texts/eea/the-eea-agreement/Main%20Text%20of%20the%20Agreement/EEAagreement.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121111926/http://www.efta.int/~/media/Documents/legal-texts/eea/the-eea-agreement/Main%20Text%20of%20the%20Agreement/EEAagreement.pdf |archive-date=2012-01-21 |url-status=live |title=EEA Agreement |access-date=7 July 2013 |publisher=European Free Trade Association |at=Article 128}}</ref>

Following the [[2004 enlargement of the European Union|2004 enlargement of the EU]], which saw Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia [[Treaty of Accession 2003|acceding to the EU]] on 1 May 2004, the EEA Enlargement Agreement was applied on a [[Provisional application (treaty)|provisional]] basis to the 10 acceding countries as from the date of their accession to the EU while their EEA accession agreement was pending [[ratification]] by all EEA parties.<ref>{{CELEX|32004D0368|text=2004/368/EC: Council Decision of 30 March 2004 concerning the provisional application of the Agreement on the participation of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic in the European Economic Area and the provisional application of four related agreements}}</ref> 

On the other hand, following the [[2007 enlargement of the European Union|2007 enlargement of the EU]], which saw Bulgaria and Romania [[Treaty of Accession 2005|acceding to the EU]] on 1 January 2007, an EEA Enlargement Agreement was not signed until 25 July 2007 and only provisionally entered into force on 1 August 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eu-norway.org/about/41C3B197_B600_4489_8D22_A35FA685B979/ |title=Enlargement of the EU and the EEA |date=8 June 2009 |access-date=4 July 2013 |publisher=Mission of Norway to the EU |archive-date=5 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805134217/http://www.eu-norway.org/about/41C3B197_B600_4489_8D22_A35FA685B979/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.efta.int/eea/enlargement-of-the-eea.aspx |title=Enlargement of the EEA |access-date=4 July 2013 |publisher=European Free Trade Association |archive-date=10 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510102853/http://efta.int/eea/enlargement-of-the-eea.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=bulgrom>{{cite web |url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/documents-publications/agreements-conventions/agreement/?aid=2007059 |title=Agreement details |date=25 July 2007 |access-date=7 July 2013 |publisher=Council of the European Union |archive-date=11 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011034824/http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/documents-publications/agreements-conventions/agreement/?aid=2007059 |url-status=live }}</ref> The agreement did not fully enter into force until 9 November 2011.<ref name=bulgrom/>

Croatia is the newest EU member state, having [[2013 enlargement of the European Union|joined on 1 July 2013]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://europa.eu/news/external-relations/2011/03/20110302_en.htm |title=Croatians vote "Yes" to EU accession |date=22 January 2012 |access-date=9 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123185048/http://europa.eu/news/external-relations/2011/03/20110302_en.htm |archive-date=23 January 2012}}</ref> Croatia applied to join the EEA on 13 September 2012,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://daily.tportal.hr/214482/Croatian-gov-t-files-for-Croatia-s-entry-into-EEA.html |title=Croatian gov't files for Croatia's entry into EEA |date=13 September 2012 |access-date=7 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224114835/http://daily.tportal.hr/214482/Croatian-gov-t-files-for-Croatia-s-entry-into-EEA.html |archive-date=24 December 2013}}</ref> with the agreement concluded on 20 November 2013. It was signed in April 2014 and provisionally applied until it officially entered into force on 19 February 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=Agreement on the participation of the Republic of Croatia in the European Economic Area |url=https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/documents-publications/treaties-agreements/agreement/?id=2014013 |publisher=The Council of the EU |access-date=21 February 2025}}</ref>

===Future EU member states===
{{See also|Potential enlargement of the European Union}}

There are nine recognised candidates for [[Member state of the European Union|membership of the European Union]]: [[Accession of Turkey to the European Union|Turkey]] (since 1999), [[Accession of North Macedonia to the European Union|North Macedonia]] (2005), [[Accession of Montenegro to the European Union|Montenegro]] (2010), [[Accession of Serbia to the European Union|Serbia]] (2012), [[Accession of Albania to the European Union|Albania]] (2014), [[Accession of Moldova to the European Union|Moldova]] (2022), [[Accession of Ukraine to the European Union|Ukraine]] (2022), [[Accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the European Union|Bosnia and Herzegovina]] (2022) and [[Georgia–European Union relations|Georgia]] (2023). [[Accession of Kosovo to the European Union|Kosovo]] (whose independence is [[International recognition of Kosovo|not recognised by five EU member states]]) formally submitted its application for membership in 2022 and is considered a potential candidate by the European Union.<ref>{{cite web |title=Candidate Countries - Enlargement - Environment - European Commission |url= https://ec.europa.eu/environment/enlarg/candidates.htm |website=ec.europa.eu |access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Joining the EU |url=https://european-union.europa.eu/principles-countries-history/joining-eu_en |website=ec.europa.eu |access-date=4 July 2022 |archive-date=29 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221229112609/https://european-union.europa.eu/principles-countries-history/joining-eu_en |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Faroe Islands===
In mid-2005, representatives of the [[Faroe Islands]] hinted at the possibility of their territory 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 |archive-date=5 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605115717/http://euobserver.com/9/24907 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, the ability of the Faroes to join is uncertain because, according to Article 56 of the EFTA Convention, only states may become members of the Association.<ref>{{cite web |title=Convention Establishing the European Free Trade Association |date=21 June 2001 |url=http://www.efta.int/~/media/Documents/legal-texts/efta-convention/efta-convention-texts/8963-v6-Vaduz_Convention_Agreement.pdf|access-date=18 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810155628/http://efta.int/~/media/Documents/legal-texts/efta-convention/efta-convention-texts/8963-v6-Vaduz_Convention_Agreement.pdf |archive-date=10 August 2013}}</ref> The Faroes, which form part of the [[Danish Realm]], is not a [[sovereign state]], and according to a report prepared for the Faroes Ministry of Foreign Affairs "under its constitutional status the Faroes cannot become an independent Contracting Party to the EEA Agreement due to the fact that the Faroes are not a state".<ref name=faroes/> However, the report went on to suggest that it is possible that the "Kingdom of Denmark in respect of the Faroes" could join the EFTA.<ref name=faroes>{{cite web|url=http://www.mfa.fo/Files/Billeder/Uttanrikisradid/tekstir/ESfr%C3%A1grei%C3%B0ingEN%5B1%5D.pdf|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|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}}</ref> The Danish Government has stated that the Faroes cannot become an independent member of the EEA as Denmark is already a party to the EEA Agreement.<ref name=faroes/> The Faroes already have an extensive bilateral free trade agreement with Iceland, known as the [[Hoyvík Agreement]].

===Switzerland===
{{See also|Switzerland–European Union relations}}
A referendum of 1992 rejected this, and there is a prevalent opinion among EU/EEA countries that Swiss referendums would disrupt the EEA-EU cooperation, like has happened with the Switzerland-EU cooperation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bondolfi |first=Sibilla |date=2022-12-07 |title=Switzerland and EEA membership: not as simple as it sounds |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/business/switzerland-and-eea-membership-not-as-simple-as-it-sounds/48115308 |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=SWI swissinfo.ch |language=en-GB}}</ref>

A poll in December 2022 to mark 30 years since the 1992 EEA referendum indicated that 71% would vote for EEA participation if a referendum were held.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Skepsis gegenüber der EU auch 30 Jahre nach dem EWR-Nein |url=https://www.watson.ch/!433638460 |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=[[Watson (newspaper)|Watson]] |language=de}}</ref> For common Swiss people, a major difference between EEA and the Swiss agreement, is that EEA includes free movement for services including roaming prices for mobile phones. A members bill about joining EEA in 2022 was mostly rejected by the Federal Council, which deemed the present treaties more advantageous for Switzerland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geschäft Ansehen |url=https://www.parlament.ch/de/ratsbetrieb/suche-curia-vista/geschaeft?AffairId=20224316 |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=[[Federal Assembly (Switzerland)|Federal Assembly]]}}</ref>

===European microstates===
{{See also|Microstates and the European Union}}

In November 2012, after the [[Council of the European Union]] had called for an evaluation of the [[Microstates and the European Union|EU's relations with the sovereign European microstates]] of 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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214132613/http://www.consilium.europa.eu//uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/118458.pdf |archive-date=2010-12-14 |url-status=live |title=Council conclusions on EU relations with EFTA countries |publisher=[[Council of the European Union]] |date=14 December 2010 |access-date=1 April 2013}}</ref> the [[European Commission]] published a report outlining options for their further integration into the EU.<ref name=options>{{CELEX|52012DC0680R(01)|text=COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE 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}}</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: 1) a Sectoral Approach with separate agreements with each state covering an entire policy area, 2) a comprehensive, multilateral Framework Association Agreement (FAA) with the three states, 3) EEA membership, and 4) EU membership. 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 an FAA with the states, were found to be viable and were recommended by the commission.

As EEA membership is currently only open to EFTA or EU members, 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]], the then [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Norway)|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 [[European Single Market|internal market]] because their requirements differed 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|archive-date=12 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512162204/http://www.nationen.no/2011/05/19/politikk/eos/eos-avtalen/eu/eeas/6642688/|url-status=live}}</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 was open to the possibility of EFTA membership for the microstates if they decide 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 (Norway)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway]]|archive-date=4 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204212519/https://www.regjeringen.no/no/dokumentarkiv/stoltenberg-ii/ud/taler-og-artikler/2013/eosutvalget_130128/id712742/|url-status=live}}</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 |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|archive-date=12 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512185244/http://www.nationen.no/2012/12/08/politikk/eos-avtalen/eos/san_marino/eu/7845048/|url-status=live}}</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 |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 organisation. However, he suggested that the option of direct membership in the EEA for the microstates, outside both the EFTA and the EU, should be given consideration.<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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131223092624/http://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regdoc/rep/1/2013/EN/1-2013-793-EN-F1-1.Pdf |archive-date=2013-12-23 |url-status=live |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>