The British choice - EFTA or EEA? Aernout Fabius shares his knowledge and experience as a immigrant BeNeLux citizen and Tax Resident of the United Kingdom since 1971.
The United Kingdom (conservative government and Labour Party opposition) is in turmoil and lack a statesman type leader who is able to make the leap-of-faith to solve BrExit and kick the Article 50 process into Antarctica, which, sadly, is already melting and probably not cool enough to cope with BrExit's political hot heads!
The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is a regional trade organization and free trade area consisting of four European states: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.[3] The organization 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. They are not, however, party to the European Union Customs Union.
The European Economic Area (EEA) was established via the EEA Agreement in 1992, an international agreement which allows for the extension of the European Union (EU)'s single market to non-EU member parties. The EEA links the European Union member states and three EFTA states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) into an internal market governed by the same basic rules. These rules aim to enable free movement of labour, goods, services, and capital within the European Single Market, including the freedom to choose residence in any country within this area. The EEA was established on 1 January 1994 upon entry into force of the EEA Agreement. The contracting parties are the European Union (EU), its member states, and the member states of the European Free Trade Association.
However, the EEA Treaty is a commercial treaty and differs from the EU Treaties in certain key respects. The EFTA members do not participate in the Common Agricultural Policy or the Common Fisheries Policy. According to Article 1 its purpose is to "promote a continuous and balanced strengthening of trade and economic relation." Unlike the EU Treaties, there is no mention of "ever closer union".
Editor's comment
Is this the same Sovereign Nation I chose as my home-away-from-home in 1971? Probably!
In September 2019 I will be 3 years from my official retirement age. As I have stated repeatedly, it is your choice. I am content in the knowledge that I will not be entitled to participate in a people's referendum.
Editor's suggestion
If the British Parliament authorises another people's referendum, a binary vote is the worst choice and unlikely to settle the leave/remain question in the short/medium term (three to five years).
The United Kingdom (conservative government and Labour Party opposition) is in turmoil and lack a statesman type leader who is able to make the leap-of-faith to solve BrExit and kick the Article 50 process into Antarctica, which, sadly, is already melting and probably not cool enough to cope with BrExit's political hot heads!
The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is a regional trade organization and free trade area consisting of four European states: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.[3] The organization 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. They are not, however, party to the European Union Customs Union.
The European Economic Area (EEA) was established via the EEA Agreement in 1992, an international agreement which allows for the extension of the European Union (EU)'s single market to non-EU member parties. The EEA links the European Union member states and three EFTA states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) into an internal market governed by the same basic rules. These rules aim to enable free movement of labour, goods, services, and capital within the European Single Market, including the freedom to choose residence in any country within this area. The EEA was established on 1 January 1994 upon entry into force of the EEA Agreement. The contracting parties are the European Union (EU), its member states, and the member states of the European Free Trade Association.
However, the EEA Treaty is a commercial treaty and differs from the EU Treaties in certain key respects. The EFTA members do not participate in the Common Agricultural Policy or the Common Fisheries Policy. According to Article 1 its purpose is to "promote a continuous and balanced strengthening of trade and economic relation." Unlike the EU Treaties, there is no mention of "ever closer union".
Editor's comment
Is this the same Sovereign Nation I chose as my home-away-from-home in 1971? Probably!
In September 2019 I will be 3 years from my official retirement age. As I have stated repeatedly, it is your choice. I am content in the knowledge that I will not be entitled to participate in a people's referendum.
Editor's suggestion
If the British Parliament authorises another people's referendum, a binary vote is the worst choice and unlikely to settle the leave/remain question in the short/medium term (three to five years).
