View source for European Free Trade Association

{{short description|Regional trade organisation and free trade area}}
{{distinguish|European Economic Area}}
{{redirect|EFTA}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{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:center;font-weight:normal;
 | {{native name|fr|Association européenne de libre-échange}}
 | {{native name|de|Europäische Freihandelsassoziation}}
 | {{native name|is|Fríverslunarsamtök Evrópu}}
 | {{native name|it|Associazione europea di libero scambio}}
 | {{native name|se|Eurohppá friddjagávpelihttu}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Láhkasánit - Saamelaiskäräjät |url=https://www.samediggi.fi/wp-content/uploads/materiaalit/samedikki_lahkasanit_2005.pdf |work=Sámi Parliament of Finland |access-date=29 August 2019}}</ref>
 | {{native name|no|Det europeiske frihandelsforbund}}
 | {{native name|rm|Associaziun europeica da commerzi liber}}
}}
| 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=[[Europe]] |region_color=green & dark grey}}
| org_type               = [[Regional organisation]], [[Free-trade area]]
| membership_type        = Member states
| membership             = {{unbulleted list |class=nowrap|{{ISL}} |{{LIE}} |{{NOR}} |{{CHE}}}}
| admin_center_type      = Secretariat
| admin_center           = [[Geneva]]<br>[[Brussels]]<br>[[Luxembourg City]]
| coordinates            = {{coord|46|57|N|7|27|E|type:city}}
| largest_settlement     = [[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
|[[French language|French]] 
|[[German language|German]]
|[[Icelandic language|Icelandic]]
|[[Italian language|Italian]] 
|[[Norwegian language|Norwegian]]
|[[Romansh language|Romansh]]
|[[Sámi languages|Sámi]]
 }}
| leader_title1          = Secretary General
| leader_name1           = [[Kurt Jaeger|Kurt Jaeger]]
| leader_title2          = Council Chair
| leader_name2           = Iceland<ref>{{cite web |title=Chairmanship |url=https://www.efta.int/about-efta/chairmanship |publisher=EFTA |website=efta.int |date=July 2020}}</ref>
| established_event1     = Convention signed
| established_date1      = 4 January 1960
| established_event2     = Established
| established_date2      = 3 May 1960
| area_rank              = 
| area_magnitude         = 
| area_km2               = 528,618<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/reg_area3__custom_17346161/default/table?lang=en|title=Area by NUTS 3 region|publisher=[[Eurostat]]|website=ec.europa.eu/eurostat|date=14 February 2025|access-date=4 July 2025}}</ref>
| area_sq_mi             = 204,101
| percent_water          = 
| population_estimate    = 15,073,574<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tps00001__custom_17672180/default/table|title=Population on 1 January|publisher=[[Eurostat]]|website=ec.europa.eu/eurostat|date=11 July 2025|access-date=6 August 2025}}</ref>
| population_estimate_rank = 
| population_estimate_year = 2025
| population_density_km2 = 28.5
| population_density_sq_mi = 73.9
| population_density_rank = 
| GDP_PPP                = $1.0 trillion<ref name=imf.org>{{cite web |title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects |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 |website=imf.org}}</ref>
| GDP_PPP_rank           = 
| GDP_PPP_year           = 2024
| GDP_PPP_per_capita     = $108,000
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 
| GDP_nominal            = $1.33 trillion<ref name="imf.org"/>
| GDP_nominal_rank       = 
| GDP_nominal_year       = 2024
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = $108,000
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 
| currency               = {{unbulleted list
| {{flagdeco|ISL}} [[Icelandic króna|Króna]] ([[ISO 4217|ISK]])
| {{flagdeco|NOR}} [[Norwegian krone|Krone]] ([[ISO 4217|NOK]])
| {{flagdeco|CHE}}{{flagdeco|LIE}} [[Swiss franc|Franc]] ([[ISO 4217|CHF]])
 }}
| time_zone              = {{unbulleted list|[[Western European Time|WET]] ([[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 organisation]] and [[free trade area]] consisting of four [[European states]]: [[Iceland]], [[Liechtenstein]], [[Norway]] and [[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 organisation operates in parallel with the [[European Union]] (EU), and all four member states participate in the [[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 [[trade bloc]]s, but is now much smaller and closely associated with its historical competitor, the EU. 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 "[[Inner_Six#Inner_Six_and_Outer_Seven|Outer Seven]]": [[Austria]], [[Denmark]], Norway, [[Portugal]], [[Sweden]], Switzerland and the [[United Kingdom]]).<ref name=history>{{cite web |title=EFTA through the years |url=https://www.efta.int/About-EFTA/EFTA-through-years-747 |publisher=efta.int |date=2014 |access-date=13 April 2019}}</ref> A revised Convention, the [[Vaduz]] Convention, was signed on 21 June 2001 and entered into force on 1 June 2002.<ref>{{cite web |title=The EFTA Convention &#124; European Free Trade Association |url=https://www.efta.int/Legal-Text/EFTA-Convention-1152 |website=www.efta.int}}</ref><ref name="VaduzConvention">{{cite web|title=Convention Establishing the European Free Trade Association (Consolidated version, last amended on 1 November 2021)|url=https://www.efta.int/sites/default/files/uploads/2024-04/Vaduz_Convention_Agreement_Updated_1_November_2021.pdf|date=21 June 2001|access-date=1 September 2024}}</ref>

After 1995 only two founding members remained, 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 Vaduz Convention, which aimed to provide a successful framework for continuing the expansion and liberalisation of trade, both among the organisation's member states and with the rest of the world.

While the EFTA is not a [[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 [[Switzerland–European Union relations|set of multilateral agreements with the EU and its member states]] instead.

==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 (Stockholm City Hall)|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 [[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 "[[Inner_Six#Inner_Six_and_Outer_Seven|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=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |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>

[[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). [[1995 enlargement of the European Union|Austria, Sweden, and Finland joined the EU in 1995]] and thus ceased to be EFTA members.

Twice, in [[1972 Norwegian European Communities membership referendum|1972]] and in [[1994 Norwegian European Union membership referendum|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 [[Accession of Iceland to the European Union|applied for EU membership in 2009]] due to the [[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|(km<sup>2</sup>)}}
! Capital
! GDP {{small|in millions (PPP)}} <ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=World Economic Outlook Database, April 2025 Edition |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2025/April/weo-report?c=512,914,612,171,614,311,213,911,314,193,122,912,313,419,513,316,913,124,339,638,514,218,963,616,223,516,918,748,618,624,522,622,156,626,628,228,924,233,632,636,634,238,662,960,423,935,128,611,321,243,248,469,253,642,643,939,734,644,819,172,132,646,648,915,134,652,174,328,258,656,654,336,263,268,532,944,176,534,536,429,433,178,436,136,343,158,439,916,664,826,542,967,443,917,544,941,446,666,668,672,946,137,546,674,676,548,556,678,181,867,682,684,273,868,921,948,943,686,688,518,728,836,558,138,196,278,692,694,962,142,449,564,565,283,853,288,293,566,964,182,359,453,968,922,714,862,135,716,456,722,942,718,724,576,936,961,813,726,199,733,184,524,361,362,364,732,366,144,146,463,528,923,738,578,537,742,866,369,744,186,925,869,746,926,466,112,111,298,927,846,299,582,487,474,754,698,&s=PPPGDP,&sy=2024&ey=2025&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=IMF.org |publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]] |language=en}}</ref>
! GDP per capita {{small|(PPP)}} <ref name="IMF">{{cite web |date=22 April 2025 |title=GDP per capita, current prices - Purchasing power parity; international dollars per capita |url=https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/PPPPC@WEO/OEMDC/ADVEC/WEOWORLD |access-date=22 April 2025 |website=IMF.org |publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]]}}</ref>
|-
| {{Country|Iceland}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|1970|1|1}}
| {{UN_Population|Iceland}}
| {{Nts|103000}}
| [[Reykjavík]]
| {{Nts|31763}}
| {{Nts|80470}}
|-
| {{Country|Liechtenstein}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|1991|9|1}}
| {{UN_Population|Liechtenstein}}
| {{Nts|160.4}}
| [[Vaduz]]
| {{Nts|8180}}
| {{Nts|201110}}
|-
| {{Country|Norway}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|1960|5|3}}
| {{UN_Population|Norway}}
| {{Nts|385155}}
| [[Oslo]]
| {{Nts|606590}}
| {{Nts|106690}}
|-
| {{Country|Switzerland}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|1960|5|3}}
| {{UN_Population|Switzerland}}
| {{Nts|41285}}
| [[Bern]]
| {{Nts|881083}}
| {{Nts|97660}}
|}

===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 formerly 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 [[Andorra]], [[San Marino]], [[Monaco]], the [[Isle of Man]], [[Turkey]], [[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 |archive-date=22 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922175700/http://www.eu-norway.org/Global/SiteFolders/webeu/NOU2012_2_Chapter%2013.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

====Andorra, Monaco, and San Marino====
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 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=[[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>{{CELEX|52012DC0680R(01)|text=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}}</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=[[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 (Norway)|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 organisation. 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 [[European Union Association Agreement|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 [[Nordic countries|Nordic neighbours]], Sweden and Finland, have joined the EU. The [[Politics of Norway|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 [[1992 Swiss referendums|referendum in 1992]], more referendums on [[Switzerland and the European Union|EU membership]] have been initiated, the last time being in [[2001 Swiss referendums|2001]]. These were all rejected. Switzerland has been in a customs union with fellow EFTA member state and neighbour Liechtenstein since 1924.

====Iceland====
{{see also|Accession of Iceland to the European Union}}

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=https://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)====

[[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: [[Greenland]] from 1961 and the [[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 [[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 name="VaduzConvention"/> 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 [[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====
{{See also|Brexit negotiations}}
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 [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|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 [[European Single Market|internal market]], including continuing EEA membership as an EFTA member state, or the [[Switzerland–European Union relations|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= [[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 Aspaker|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 [[Nicola Sturgeon]] 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]] 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==
{{main|European Economic Area}}

{{see also|Iceland–European Union relations|Liechtenstein–European Union relations|Norway–European Union relations|Switzerland–European Union relations}}

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 [[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). It was established on 1 January 1994 following an agreement with the [[European Communities|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 |archive-date=27 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327112012/https://www.efta.int/sites/default/files/documents/legal-texts/eea/the-eea-agreement/Main%20Text%20of%20the%20Agreement/EEAagreement.pdf |url-status=dead }}</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 [[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 Member State territories and the European Union#Summary|special status]] in regard to EU laws applied as is the case with some [[Microstates and the European Union#Summary|European microstates]].

{|class="wikitable"
|+
!colspan="2" | {{nowrap|EFTA member states}} and&nbsp;territories
! Application {{nowrap|of [[EU law]]}}
! [[EURATOM]]
! [[European Defence&nbsp;Agency]]
! [[Schengen Agreement|Schengen area]]
! [[European Union Value Added Tax Area|EU&nbsp;VAT area]]
! [[European Union Customs Union|EU&nbsp;Customs Union]]
! [[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}}, [[Swiss franc|CHF]]
|-
| colspan="2" | {{NOR}}, except:
|{{Partial}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes|Participating non‑member state}}{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes|With exemptions, in EEA}}<ref name="EEA"/>
|{{No}}, [[Norwegian krone|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] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806071520/http://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/30079/qc0114777enn.pdf |date=6 August 2020 }} (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}}, [[Norwegian krone|NOK]]
|-
| style="border-top:hidden" |
|{{flagdeco|Norway}} [[Svalbard]]
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{No|[[Demilitarised]]}}
|{{No}}<ref name="Schengen">{{CELEX|21999A0710(02)|text=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}}</ref>
|{{No}}, VAT free<ref name="Svalbard Jan Mayen VAT"/>
|{{No}}
|{{No}}<ref name="EEA"/><ref name="Protocol40">{{CELEX|21994A0103(41)|text=Agreement on the European Economic Area - Protocol 40 on Svalbard}}</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}}, [[Norwegian krone|NOK]]
|-
| style="border-top:hidden" |
|{{flagdeco|Norway}} [[Bouvet Island]]
|{{No}}{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes|Participating}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}, [[Norwegian krone|NOK]]
|-
| style="border-top:hidden" |
|{{flagdeco|Norway}} [[Peter I Island]]
|{{No}}{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}
|{{No}}
|{{No|[[Demilitarised]]}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}, [[Norwegian krone|NOK]]
|-
| style="border-top:hidden" |
|{{flagdeco|Norway}} [[Queen Maud Land]]
|{{No}}{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}
|{{No}}
|{{No|[[Demilitarised]]}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}, [[Norwegian krone|NOK]]
|-
| colspan="2" | {{CHE}}, except:
|{{Partial}}
|{{Yes|Participating associated state<ref name=Swiss-EURATOM>{{CELEX|32014D0954|text=2014/954/Euratom: Council Decision of 4 December 2014 approving the conclusion by the European Commission, on behalf of the European Atomic Energy Community, of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Union and European Atomic Energy Community and the Swiss Confederation associating the Swiss Confederation to Horizon 2020 — the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation and the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community complementing Horizon 2020, and regulating the Swiss Confederation's participation in the ITER activities carried out by Fusion for Energy}}</ref>}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}, {{nowrap|Swiss–Liechtenstein}} VAT&nbsp;area
|{{No}}, {{nowrap|Swiss–Liechtenstein}} customs&nbsp;territory
|{{Yes|With exemptions, sectoral agreements}}{{efn|name="Swiss-EU"|[[Switzerland and the European Union|Through multiple sectoral agreements]]}}
|{{No}}, [[Swiss franc|CHF]]
|-
| style="border-top:hidden" |
|[[File:CHE Samnaun COA.svg|15px|link=]] [[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}}{{efn|name="Swiss-EU"}}
|{{No}}, [[Swiss franc|CHF]]
|}

{{Supranational European Bodies |size=500px |align=right}}

===EEA institutions===
A [[EEA Joint Committee|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 [[Hallmark]]ing 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 31 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 41 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
!{{Reference column heading}}
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Albania.svg}} [[Albania]]
|1
|17 December 2009
|1 November 2010
|Goods
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/trade-relations/free-trade-network/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/trade-relations/free-trade-network/bosnia-and-herzegovina|title=Bosnia and Herzegovina|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Canada.svg}} [[Canada]]
|1
|26 January 2008
|1 July 2009
|Goods
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/trade-relations/free-trade-network/Canada|title=Canada|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|'''[[Central American Integration System|Central America]]'''<br/>{{flagicon image|Flag of Costa Rica.svg}} [[Costa Rica]]<br/>{{flagicon image|Flag of Panama.svg}} [[Panama]]
|4
|24 June 2013
|19 August 2014
|Goods & Services
|<ref name="efta_int">{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/trade-relations/free-trade-network/central-american-states-costa-rica-guatemala-honduras-and-panama|title=Central American States (Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama)|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Chile.svg}} [[Chile]]
|1
|26 June 2003
|1 December 2004
|Goods & Services
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/trade-relations/free-trade-network/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/trade-relations/free-trade-network/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/trade-relations/free-trade-network/Ecuador|title=Ecuador|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Egypt.svg}} [[Egypt]]
|1
|27 January 2007
|1 August 2007
|Goods
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/trade-relations/free-trade-network/Egypt|title=Egypt|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Georgia.svg}} [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]
|1
|27 June 2016
|1 September 2017
|Goods & Services
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/trade-relations/free-trade-network/georgia|title=Georgia|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|'''{{flagicon image|Flag of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf.svg}} [[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/trade-relations/free-trade-network/gulf-cooperation-council-gcc|title=Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Hong Kong.svg}} [[Hong Kong]]
|1
|21 June 2011
|1 October 2012
|Goods & Services
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/trade-relations/free-trade-network/hong-kong-china|title=Hong Kong, China|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{Flag|India}}
|1
|10 March 2024
|1 October 2025
|Goods & Services
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=India {{!}} European Free Trade Association |url=https://www.efta.int/trade-relations/free-trade-network/india |access-date=2025-10-20 |website=www.efta.int |language=en}}</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/trade-relations/free-trade-network/Indonesia|title=Indonesia|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Israel.svg}} [[Israel]]
|1
|17 September 1992
|1 January 1993
|Goods
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/trade-relations/free-trade-network/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/trade-relations/free-trade-network/jordan|title=Jordan|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Lebanon.svg}} [[Lebanon]]
|1
|24 June 2004
|1 July 2007
|Goods
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/trade-relations/free-trade-network/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/trade-relations/free-trade-network/mexico|title=Mexico|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Moldova.svg}} [[Moldova]]
|1
|27 June 2023
|1 September 2024
|Goods & Services
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/trade-relations/free-trade-network/moldova|title=Moldova|website=European Free Trade Association|access-date=17 November 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240928041639/https://www.efta.int/trade-relations/free-trade-network/moldova|archive-date=28 September 2024|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Kräuchi|first1=Thomas|last2=Olafsdottir|first2=Asdis|url=https://www.efta.int/media-resources/news/efta-and-moldova-sign-free-trade-agreement|date=27 June 2023|title=EFTA and Moldova sign a Free Trade Agreement|website=European Free Trade Association|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501113451/https://www.efta.int/media-resources/news/efta-and-moldova-sign-free-trade-agreement|access-date=17 November 2024|archive-date=1 May 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Montenegro.svg}} [[Montenegro]]
|1
|14 November 2011
|1 September 2012
|Goods
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/trade-relations/free-trade-network/montenegro|title=Montenegro|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Morocco.svg}} [[Morocco]]{{efn|Excluding [[Western Sahara]]}}
|1
|19 June 1997
|1 December 1999
|Goods
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/trade-relations/free-trade-network/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/trade-relations/free-trade-network/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/trade-relations/free-trade-network/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/trade-relations/free-trade-network/peru|title=Peru|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of the Philippines.svg}} [[Philippines]]
|1
|28 April 2016
|1 June 2018
|Goods & Services
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/trade-relations/free-trade-network/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/trade-relations/free-trade-network/Serbia|title=Serbia|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Singapore.svg}} [[Singapore]]
|1
|26 June 2002
|1 January 2003
|Goods & Services
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/trade-relations/free-trade-network/singapore|title=Singapore|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of South Korea.svg}} [[South Korea]]
|1
|15 December 2005
|1 September 2006
|Goods & Services
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/trade-relations/free-trade-network/republic-korea|title=Republic of 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/trade-relations/free-trade-network/southern-african-customs-union-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/trade-relations/free-trade-network/tunisia|title=Tunisia|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Turkey.svg}} [[Turkey]]
|1
|10 December 1991{{efn|Updated on 25 June 2018}}
|1 September 1992{{efn|Updated on 1 October 2021}}
|Goods & Services
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/trade-relations/free-trade-network/turkiye|title=Türkiye|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Ukraine.svg}} [[Ukraine]]
|1
|24 June 2010
|1 June 2012
|Goods & Services
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/trade-relations/free-trade-network/ukraine|title=Ukraine|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
|}

===Ongoing free trade negotiations===
'''Signed:'''
*{{flag|Guatemala}} (Signed 22 June 2015)<ref name="efta_int" />
* {{flag|Kosovo}} (Concluded 26 September 2024, Signed 22 January 2025)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/trade-relations/free-trade-network/kosovo|title=Kosovo|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref><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.regjeringen.no/en/aktuelt/norway-has-signed-a-new-free-trade-agreement-with-kosovo/id3084497/ | title=Norway has signed a new free trade agreement with Kosovo | date=22 January 2025 }}</ref>
* {{flag|Thailand}} (Signed 23 January 2025)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/trade-relations/free-trade-network/thailand|title=Thailand|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref><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.nationthailand.com/business/economy/40045494 | title=Government inks historic EFTA with 4 European nations in Davos | date=23 January 2025 }}</ref>
* {{flag|Malaysia}} (Concluded 11 April 2025, Signed 23 June 2025)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/trade-relations/free-trade-network/malaysia|title=Malaysia|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
* '''{{flag|Mercosur}}''' (Concluded 2 July 2025, Signed 16 September 2025)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/trade-relations/free-trade-network/mercosur|title=MERCOSUR|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref><br/>{{Flag|Argentina}}<br/>{{Flag|Brazil}}<br/>{{Flag|Paraguay}}<br/>{{Flag|Uruguay}}

'''Negotiations:'''
* {{flag|Vietnam}} (Since July 2012)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/trade-relations/free-trade-network/vietnam|title=Vietnam|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>

'''Negotiations currently on hold'''
* {{flag|Algeria}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/trade-relations/free-trade-network/algeria|title=Algeria|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
* {{flag|Honduras}} (Central American States)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/trade-relations/free-trade-network/central-american-states-honduras|title=Central American States (Honduras)|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
* '''{{flag|Eurasian Economic Union}}'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/trade-relations/free-trade-network/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}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/trade-relations/free-trade-network/mauritius|title=Mauritius|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
* {{flag|Mongolia}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/trade-relations/free-trade-network/mongolia|title=Mongolia|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
* {{flag|Myanmar}} (on hold since 2022)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/trade-relations/free-trade-network/myanmar|title=Myanmar|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>
* {{flag|Pakistan}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efta.int/trade-relations/free-trade-network/pakistan|title=Pakistan|website=European Free Trade Association}}</ref>

===Obsolete agreements===
The following agreements are no longer active, being superseded by other agreements:<ref>{{Cite web|title=Inactive RTAs, including accessions|url=http://rtais.wto.org/UI/PublicPreDefRepByStatusInactive.aspx|website=[[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)
*{{flag|Spain}} (1980–1986)
*{{flag|Turkey}} (1995–2021)

==Travel policies==
===Free movement of people within EFTA and the EU/EEA===
{{main|Citizens' Rights Directive}}

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 [[Free Movement of Citizens Directive|freedom of movement]] in the [[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>{{CELEX|id=02004L0038-20110616|text=Consolidated text: Directive 2004/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States amending Regulation (EEC) No 1612/68 and repealing Directives 64/221/EEC, 68/360/EEC, 72/194/EEC, 73/148/EEC, 75/34/EEC, 75/35/EEC, 90/364/EEC, 90/365/EEC and 93/96/EEC}}</ref> (also sometimes called the "Free Movement Directive") defines the right of free movement for citizens of the [[European Economic Area]] (EEA),<ref>{{CELEX|id=22007D0158|text=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}}</ref> which includes the three EFTA members [[Iceland]], [[Norway]] and [[Liechtenstein]] plus [[Member state of the European Union|the member states of the EU]]. [[Switzerland]], which is a member of EFTA but not of the EEA, is not bound by the Directive but rather has a separate [[Switzerland–European Union relations|multilateral agreement]] on free movement with the EU and its member states.<ref>{{CELEX|id=02002A0430(01)-20210101|text=Consolidated text: Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Swiss Confederation, of the other, on the free movement of persons}}</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 |title=Free Movement of Persons {{!}} European Free Trade Association |url=https://www.efta.int/eea/policy-areas/persons |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=www.efta.int |language=en}}</ref>

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

|-
|2
|{{UK}}
|[[John Coulson (diplomat)|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 [[decolonisation]] 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 [[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==
* [[EFTA Court]]
* [[EFTA Surveillance Authority]]
* [[Central European Free Trade Agreement]] {{smaller|(CEFTA)}}
* [[Euro-Mediterranean free trade area]] {{smaller|(EU-MEFTA)}}
* [[European Union Association Agreement]]
* [[European Union free trade agreements]]
* [[Free trade areas in Europe]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

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

==Further reading==
*{{Cite book
  | editor = Graham Butler
  | authorlink = 
  | title = Research Handbook on EEA Internal Market Law
  | publisher = [[Edward Elgar Publishing]]
  | series = Research Handbooks in European Law
  | year = 2025
  | doi = 10.4337/9781803922461
  | s2cid =
  | url = https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/research-handbook-on-eea-internal-market-law-9781803922454.html
  | isbn = 978-1-80392-245-4 
}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline|European Free Trade Association}}
*[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)]

{{European Free Trade Association (EFTA)}}
{{European Economic Area (EEA)}}
{{Europe topics (small)}}
{{Economics}}
{{free trade agreements of the United Kingdom}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:European Free Trade Association| ]]
[[Category:European Economic Area]]
[[Category:1960 establishments in Europe]]
[[Category:Free-trade areas]]
[[Category:Intergovernmental organizations established by treaty]]
[[Category:Liechtenstein–Switzerland relations]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Geneva]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Luxembourg]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Brussels]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1960]]
[[Category:Trade blocs]]