Editing European Economic Area (section)

===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]].