European Economic Area (EEA)

the territory covered by a series of agreements signed in 1992 between the EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES and their member states and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries, designed to create the world's largest and most important integrated economic structure and to be a step towards the construction of a Europe based on peace, democracy and human rights. The EFTA organization was always in trouble when the UK, Denmark and the Republic of Ireland left to join the European Economic Community. EFTA is an intergovernmental organization promoting free trade and strengthening economic relations. EFTA's Member States are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Switzerland, while remaining inside EFTA is not in the EEA. The aim of the EEA is to implement the four freedoms on the basis of Community achievement to date - the ACQUIS COMMUNAUTAIRE. The EFTA countries have to help pay for the poorer European Union members. The EEA has a Council, and a Joint Committee. Various sub-committees operate and updating the agreement is now very regular as ever more EU law is adopted throughout the EEA.

Collins Dictionary of Law © W.J. Stewart, 2006

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References in periodicals archive

* EUROPEAN UNITY FACES A host of problems, including the Maastricht debate, the decision of Switzerland not to join the European Economic Area (EEA), turmoil in the former Yugoslavia and the stalled Uruguay Round of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade talks.

Accounting integration in Europe - still on track?

One possibility could be to remain in the European Economic Area (EEA), although this may be politically difficult.'

HSBC says Britain should consider staying in EEA

It also offers Novartis's cold sore management products in the European Economic Area and cold and flu, and pain relief products in Sweden.

Perrigo completes acquisition of range of OTC brands from GlaxoSmithKline

A policy officer at the European Free Trade Association Secretariat in Brussels, Johanna investigates relations between Iceland and the European Union (EU) through the lens of the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement.

Europeanization and the European economic area; Iceland's participation in the EU's policy process

Iceland is already heavily integrated into the EU market as it is part of EU's internal market through the European Economic Area and the Schengen Area.

Iceland Opens Its Labor Market for Bulgarians, Romanians

The EC also determined that the deal will not harm effective competition in the European economic area and that a sufficient number of rivals will remain in those markets.Country: , GermanySector: IT/Online Services, Wholesale/RetailTarget: MuM's value added distribution (VAD) operationsBuyer: Tech Data CorpVendor: Mensch und Maschine Software SE (MuM)Type: Corporate acquisitionStatus: Agreed

EC okays takeover of MuM's VAD business by Tech Data

After reviewing the proposed transaction, the European Commission concluded on 28 October that the proposed acquisition of the businesses by Veolia Water UK Plc and Veolia Voda SA (Czech Republic) would not significantly impede competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.

WATER SECTOR MERGER CLEARED

She added: "European Economic Area nationals may be deported on the grounds public policy, public security or public health."

Get tough on the EU gangsters; DEPORTATION

An agreement was reached on 26 October between the European Commission and the member states of the European Economic Area (EU27 plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) to link their respective Emission Trading Schemes (ETSs), making it the first international agreement of its kind.

EU/EEA/CLIMATE CHANGE : AGREEMENT REACHED ON ETS LINKAGE

Reykjavik must comply as a European Economic Area member (EEA), and the surveillance authority has asked the EFTA Court to order Iceland to comply.

Iceland flouting EU non-road mobile machinery emissions rules

The European Commission has now cleared the deal and concluded "the operation would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it".

Saudi deal is cleared

The year-to-year growth in the HICP for the European Economic Area (EEA) and for the European Union in May 2006 was 2.4%.