European Economic Area

The European Economic Area (EEA) unites the 25 EU Member States and the three EEA EFTA States (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) in an Internal Market governed by the same basic rules. These rules aim to enable goods, services, capital, and persons to move freely about the EEA in an open and competitive environment, a concept referred to as the four freedoms. The reason for establishing EEA was the wish of 3 EFTA countries to participate in the Internal Market, while not assuming all responsibilities of EU membership.