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Agreement on the European Economic Area

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This is the revised version from EUR-Lex dated 14/12/2019. There are no timeline of changes available for treaties, instead, previous dated versions from EUR-Lex (as pdf) can be accessed via the More Resources menu.

  1. Introductory Text

  2. PART I OBJECTIVES AND PRINCIPLES

    1. Article 1.(1) The aim of this Agreement of association is to...

    2. Article 2.For the purposes of this Agreement: the term ‘Agreement’ means...

    3. Article 3.The Contracting Parties shall take all appropriate measures, whether general...

    4. Article 4.Within the scope of application of this Agreement, and without...

    5. Article 5.A Contracting Party may at any time raise a matter...

    6. Article 6.Without prejudice to future developments of case-law, the provisions of...

    7. Article 7.Acts referred to or contained in the Annexes to this...

  3. PART II FREE MOVEMENT OF GOODS

    1. CHAPTER 1 BASIC PRINCIPLES

      1. Article 8.(1) Free movement of goods between the Contracting Parties shall...

      2. Article 9.(1) The rules of origin are set out in Protocol...

      3. Article 10.Customs duties on imports and exports, and any charges having...

      4. Article 11.Quantitative restrictions on imports and all measures having equivalent effect...

      5. Article 12.Quantitative restrictions on exports and all measures having equivalent effect...

      6. Article 13.The provisions of Articles 11 and 12 shall not preclude...

      7. Article 14.No Contracting Party shall impose, directly or indirectly, on the...

      8. Article 15.Where products are exported to the territory of any Contracting...

      9. Article 16.(1) The Contracting Parties shall ensure that any State monopoly...

    2. CHAPTER 2 AGRICULTURAL AND FISHERY PRODUCTS

      1. Article 17.Annex I contains specific provisions and arrangements concerning veterinary and...

      2. Article 18.Without prejudice to the specific arrangements governing trade in agricultural...

      3. Article 19.(1) The Contracting Parties shall examine any difficulties that might...

      4. Article 20.Provisions and arrangements that apply to fish and other marine...

    3. CHAPTER 3 COOPERATION IN CUSTOMS-RELATED MATTERS AND TRADE FACILITATION

      1. Article 21.(1) In order to facilitate trade between them, the Contracting...

      2. Article 22.A Contracting Party which is considering the reduction of the...

    4. CHAPTER 4 OTHER RULES RELATING TO THE FREE MOVEMENT OF GOODS

      1. Article 23.Specific provisions and arrangements are laid down in: Protocol 12...

      2. Article 24.Annex IV contains specific provisions and arrangements concerning energy.

      3. Article 25.Where compliance with the provisions of Articles 10 and 12...

      4. Article 26.Anti-dumping measures, countervailing duties and measures against illicit commercial practices...

    5. CHAPTER 5 COAL AND STEEL PRODUCTS

      1. Article 27.Provisions and arrangements concerning coal and steel products are set...

  4. PART III FREE MOVEMENT OF PERSONS, SERVICES AND CAPITAL

    1. CHAPTER 1 WORKERS AND SELF-EMPLOYED PERSONS

      1. Article 28.(1) Freedom of movement for workers shall be secured among...

      2. Article 29.In order to provide freedom of movement for workers and...

      3. Article 30.In order to make it easier for persons to take...

    2. CHAPTER 2 RIGHT OF ESTABLISHMENT

      1. Article 31.(1) Within the framework of the provisions of this Agreement,...

      2. Article 32.The provisions of this Chapter shall not apply, so far...

      3. Article 33.The provisions of this Chapter and measures taken in pursuance...

      4. Article 34.Companies or firms formed in accordance with the law of...

      5. Article 35.The provisions of Article 30 shall apply to the matters...

    3. CHAPTER 3 SERVICES

      1. Article 36.(1) Within the framework of the provisions of this Agreement,...

      2. Article 37.Services shall be considered to be ‘services’ within the meaning...

      3. Article 38.Freedom to provide services in the field of transport shall...

      4. Article 39.The provisions of Articles 30 and 32 to 34 shall...

    4. CHAPTER 4 CAPITAL

      1. Article 40.Within the framework of the provisions of this Agreement, there...

      2. Article 41.Current payments connected with the movement of goods, persons, services...

      3. Article 42.(1) Where domestic rules governing the capital market and the...

      4. Article 43.(1) Where differences between the exchange rules of EC Member...

      5. Article 44.The Community, on the one hand, and the EFTA States,...

      6. Article 45.(1) Decisions, opinions and recommendations related to the measures laid...

    5. CHAPTER 5 ECONOMIC AND MONETARY POLICY COOPERATION

      1. Article 46.The Contracting Parties shall exchange views and information concerning the...

    6. CHAPTER 6 TRANSPORT

      1. Article 47.(1) Articles 48 to 52 shall apply to transport by...

      2. Article 48.(1) The provisions of an EC Member State or an...

      3. Article 49.Aid shall be compatible with this Agreement if it meets...

      4. Article 50.(1) In the case of transport within the territory of...

      5. Article 51.(1) The imposition, in respect of transport operations carried out...

      6. Article 52.Charges or dues in respect of the crossing of frontiers...

  5. PART IV COMPETITION AND OTHER COMMON RULES

    1. CHAPTER 1 RULES APPLICABLE TO UNDERTAKINGS

      1. Article 53.(1) The following shall be prohibited as incompatible with the...

      2. Article 54.Any abuse by one or more undertakings of a dominant...

      3. Article 55.(1) Without prejudice to the provisions giving effect to Articles...

      4. Article 56.(1) Individual cases falling under Article 53 shall be decided...

      5. Article 57.(1) Concentrations the control of which is provided for in...

      6. Article 58.With a view to developing and maintaining a uniform surveillance...

      7. Article 59.(1) In the case of public undertakings and undertakings to...

      8. Article 60.Annex XIV contains specific provisions giving effect to the principles...

    2. CHAPTER 2 STATE AID

      1. Article 61.(1) Save as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any aid...

      2. Article 62.(1) All existing systems of State aid in the territory...

      3. Article 63.Annex XV contains specific provisions on State aid.

      4. Article 64.(1) If one of the surveillance authorities considers that the...

    3. CHAPTER 3 OTHER COMMON RULES

      1. Article 65.(1) Annex XVI contains specific provisions and arrangements concerning procurement...

  6. PART V HORIZONTAL PROVISIONS RELEVANT TO THE FOUR FREEDOMS

    1. CHAPTER 1 SOCIAL POLICY

      1. Article 66.The Contracting Parties agree upon the need to promote improved...

      2. Article 67.(1) The Contracting Parties shall pay particular attention to encouraging...

      3. Article 68.In the field of labour law, the Contracting Parties shall...

      4. Article 69.(1) Each Contracting Party shall ensure and maintain the application...

      5. Article 70.The Contracting Parties shall promote the principle of equal treatment...

      6. Article 71.The Contracting Parties shall endeavour to promote the dialogue between...

    2. CHAPTER 2 CONSUMER PROTECTION

      1. Article 72.Annex XIX contains provisions on consumer protection.

    3. CHAPTER 3 ENVIRONMENT

      1. Article 73.(1) Action by the Contracting Parties relating to the environment...

      2. Article 74.Annex XX contains the specific provisions on protective measures which...

      3. Article 75.The protective measures referred to in Article 74 shall not...

    4. CHAPTER 4 STATISTICS

      1. Article 76.(1) The Contracting Parties shall ensure the production and dissemination...

    5. CHAPTER 5 COMPANY LAW

      1. Article 77.Annex XXII contains specific provisions on company law.

  7. PART VI COOPERATION OUTSIDE THE FOUR FREEDOMS

    1. Article 78.The Contracting Parties shall strengthen and broaden cooperation in the...

    2. Article 79.(1) The Contracting Parties shall strengthen the dialogue between them...

    3. Article 80.The cooperation provided for in Article 78 shall normally take...

    4. Article 81.Where cooperation takes the form of participation by EFTA States...

    5. Article 82.(1) When the cooperation envisaged under the present Part involves...

    6. Article 83.Where cooperation takes the form of an exchange of information...

    7. Article 84.Provisions governing cooperation in specific fields are set out in...

    8. Article 85.Unless otherwise provided for in Protocol 31, cooperation already established...

    9. Article 86.The EEA Joint Committee shall, in accordance with Part VII,...

    10. Article 87.The Contracting Parties shall take the necessary steps to develop,...

    11. Article 88.Without prejudice to provisions of other Parts of this Agreement,...

  8. PART VII INSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS

    1. CHAPTER 1 THE STRUCTURE OF THE ASSOCIATION

      1. Section 1 The EEA Council

        1. Article 89.(1) An EEA Council is hereby established. It shall, in...

        2. Article 90.(1) The EEA Council shall consist of the members of...

        3. Article 91.(1) The office of President of the EEA Council shall...

      2. Section 2 The EEA Joint Committee

        1. Article 92.(1) An EEA Joint Committee is hereby established. It shall...

        2. Article 93.(1) The EEA Joint Committee shall consist of representatives of...

        3. Article 94.(1) The office of President of the EEA Joint Committee...

      3. Section 3 Parliamentary cooperation

        1. Article 95.(1) An EEA Joint Parliamentary Committee is hereby established. It...

      4. Section 4 Cooperation between economic and social partners

        1. Article 96.(1) Members of the Economic and Social Committee and other...

    2. CHAPTER 2 THE DECISION-MAKING PROCEDURE

      1. Article 97.This Agreement does not prejudge the right for each Contracting...

      2. Article 98.The Annexes to this Agreement and Protocols 1 to 7,...

      3. Article 99.(1) As soon as new legislation is being drawn up...

      4. Article 100.The EC Commission shall ensure experts of the EFTA States...

      5. Article 101.(1) In respect of committees which are covered neither by...

      6. Article 102.(1) In order to guarantee the legal security and the...

      7. Article 103.(1) If a decision of the EEA Joint Committee can...

      8. Article 104.Decisions taken by the EEA Joint Committee in the cases...

    3. CHAPTER 3 HOMOGENEITY, SURVEILLANCE PROCEDURE AND SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES

      1. Section 1 Homogeneity

        1. Article 105.(1) In order to achieve the objective of the Contracting...

        2. Article 106.In order to ensure as uniform an interpretation as possible...

        3. Article 107.Provisions on the possibility for an EFTA State to allow...

      2. Section 2 Surveillance procedure

        1. Article 108.(1) The EFTA States shall establish an independent surveillance authority...

        2. Article 109.(1) The fulfilment of the obligations under this Agreement shall...

        3. Article 110.Decisions under this Agreement by the EFTA Surveillance Authority and...

      3. Section 3 Settlement of disputes

        1. Article 111.(1) The Community or an EFTA State may bring a...

    4. CHAPTER 4 SAFEGUARD MEASURES

      1. Article 112.(1) If serious economic, societal or environmental difficulties of a...

      2. Article 113.(1) A Contracting Party which is considering taking safeguard measures...

      3. Article 114.(1) If a safeguard measure taken by a Contracting Party...

  9. PART VIII FINANCIAL MECHANISM

    1. Article 115.With a view to promoting a continuous and balanced strengthening...

    2. Article 116.A Financial Mechanism shall be established by the EFTA States...

    3. Article 117.Provisions governing the Financial Mechanisms are set out in Protocol...

  10. PART IX GENERAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS

    1. Article 118.(1) Where a Contracting Party considers that it would be...

    2. Article 119.The Annexes and the acts referred to therein as adapted...

    3. Article 120.Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement and in particular in...

    4. Article 121.The provisions of this Agreement shall not preclude cooperation: within...

    5. Article 122.The representatives, delegates and experts of the Contracting Parties, as...

    6. Article 123.Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent a Contracting Party from...

    7. Article 124.The Contracting Parties shall accord nationals of EC Member States...

    8. Article 125.This Agreement shall in no way prejudice the rules of...

    9. Article 126.(1) The Agreement shall apply to the territories to which...

    10. Article 127.Each Contracting Party may withdraw from this Agreement provided it...

    11. Article 128.(1) Any European State becoming a member of the Community...

    12. Article 129.(1) This Agreement is drawn up in a single original...

  11. Signature

  12. ATTACHMENTS

    1. PROTOCOLS

      1. PROTOCOL 1 on horizontal adaptations

      2. PROTOCOL 2 on products excluded from the scope of the agreement in accordance with article 8(3)(a)

      3. PROTOCOL 3 concerning products referred to in article 8(3)(b) of the agreement

      4. PROTOCOL 4 on rules of origin

      5. PROTOCOL 5 on customs duties of a fiscal nature (Liechtenstein, Switzerland)

      6. PROTOCOL 6 on the building up of compulsory reserves by Liechtenstein

      7. PROTOCOL 7 on quantitative restrictions which Iceland may retain

      8. PROTOCOL 8 on State Monopolies

      9. PROTOCOL 9 on trade in Fish and other marine products

      10. PROTOCOL 10 on simplification of inspections and formalities in respect of carriage of goods

      11. PROTOCOL 11 on mutual assistance in Customs Matters

      12. PROTOCOL 12 on conformity assessment agreements with third countries

      13. PROTOCOL 13 on the non-application of anti-dumping and countervailing measures

      14. PROTOCOL 14 on trade in coal and steel products

      15. PROTOCOL 15 on transitional periods on the free movement of persons (Switzerland and Liechtenstein)

      16. PROTOCOL 16 on measures in the field of social security related to transitional periods on the free movement of persons (Switzerland and Liechtenstein)

      17. PROTOCOL 17 concerning Article 34

      18. PROTOCOL 18 on internal procedures for the implementation of Article 43

      19. PROTOCOL 19 on maritime transport

      20. PROTOCOL 20 on access to inland waterways

      21. PROTOCOL 21 on the implementation of competition rules applicable to undertakings

      22. PROTOCOL 22 concerning the definition of ‘undertaking’ and ‘turnover’ (Article 56)

      24. PROTOCOL 24 on cooperation in the field of control of concentrations

      25. PROTOCOL 25 on competition regarding coal and steel

      26. PROTOCOL 26 on the powers and functions of the EFTA Surveillance Authority in the field of State aid

      27. PROTOCOL 27 on cooperation in the field of State aid

      28. PROTOCOL 28 on intellectual property

      29. PROTOCOL 29 on vocational training

      30. PROTOCOL 30 on specific provisions on the organization of cooperation in the field of statistics

      31. PROTOCOL 31 on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms

      32. PROTOCOL 32 on financial modalities for implementation of Article 82

      33. PROTOCOL 33 on arbitration procedures

      34. PROTOCOL 34 on the possibility for courts and tribunals of EFTA States to request the Court of Justice of the European Communities to decide on the interpretation of EEA rules corresponding to EC rules

      35. PROTOCOL 35 on the implementation of EEA rules

      36. PROTOCOL 36 on the Statute of the EEA Joint Parliamentary Committee

      37. PROTOCOL 37 containing the list provided for in Article 101

      38. PROTOCOL 38 on the Financial Mechanism

      39. PROTOCOL 38a on the EEA financial mechanism

      40. PROTOCOL 38 B

      41. PROTOCOL 38 C on the EEA Financial Mechanism (2014-2021)

      42. PROTOCOL 39 on the ECU

      43. PROTOCOL 40 on Svalbard

      44. PROTOCOL 41 on existing agreements

      45. PROTOCOL 42 on bilateral arrangements concerning specific agricultural products

      46. PROTOCOL 43 on the Agreement between the EC and the Republic of Austria on the transit of goods by road and rail

      47. PROTOCOL 44 on the Agreement between the EC and the Swiss Confederation on the carriage of goods by road and rail

      48. PROTOCOL 44 On safeguard mechanisms pursuant to enlargements of the European Economic Area

      49. PROTOCOL 45 on transitional periods concerning Spain and Portugal

      50. PROTOCOL 46 on the development of cooperation in the fisheries sector

      51. PROTOCOL 47 on the abolition of technical barriers to trade in wine

      52. PROTOCOL 48 concerning Articles 105 and 111

      53. PROTOCOL 49 on Ceuta and Melilla

      54. PROTOCOL adjusting the trade aspects of the Europe Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Czech Republic, of the other part, to take account of the outcome of negotiations between the parties on new mutual agricultural concessions

      55. PROTOCOL adjusting the trade aspects of the Europe Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Slovak Republic, of the other part, to take account of the outcome of negotiations between the parties on new mutual agricultural concessions

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