It would shift the balance, which is not necessarily in Norway's interests". Andie Sophia Fontaine. Membership of the EEA is a consequence of membership of the European Union (EU). If UK was to join EFTA, it could not readily enter its own trade agreements. However, their non-European Economic Area (EEA) family members will require immigration permission to enter, reside and work. Decisions are taken by joint EEA bodies (the EEA Council, the EEA Joint Committee, the EEA Joint Parliamentary Committee and the EEA Consultative Committee). [6], The EEA still applied to the UK during the Brexit transition period, based on Article 126 of the withdrawal agreement between the EU and the UK.[1]. In 1992, the then seven members of EFTA negotiated an agreement to allow them to participate in the ambitious project of the European Community’s internal market, launched in 1985 and … Neither the EU, nor its current 28 member States, are members of EFTA. It should be sold to the British public by repeatedly saying, “we are going back to the Common Market”. So why has this idea suddenly become a more tempting? Under the EEA Agreement, the UK would not necessarily be subject to European Court of Justice rulings but possibly also the EFTA Court, which resolves disputes under the EEA Agreement regarding EFTA Member States. The UK would withdraw from the EU and join the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). At a Glance UK citizens will have an unrestricted right to reside and work in Ireland after December 31, 2020. The UK and EEA EFTA States adopted rules of procedure for the Joint Committee. In January 2017, Theresa May announced a 12-point plan of negotiating objectives and confirmed that the British government would not seek continued permanent membership in the European Single Market,[4] leaving open an option of retaining EEA membership for a-one year transition period after EU exit day (originally 29 March 2019, postponed to 12 April and then to 31 October, before finally occurring on 31 January 2020). It would be subject in all such trade agreement to regulatory compliance equivalence with the EEA standards if it wishes to have access to the single market. EEA family permit would still be applicable allowing applicants to come to the UK provided they meet the following conditions. Drop in UK payments to EU by at least 55% although this figure could be much higher if the UK decided not to opt into a number of EU projects that the Norwegians wanted to join. EFTA membership does not entail EEA membership, but only EU and EFTA member states can currently be contracting parties to the EEA Agreement. Yes, you can rejoin the EU in the future. Membership would mean in effect being a member of the single market, free movement, and being bound by substantial parts of EU law, indirectly, with a reduced capacity to actually influence that law. This agreement largely mirrors the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated with the EU. It introduces a new way of working together and creating knowledge — more agile, more responsive, more pro-active, more actionable — befitting the challenges we will face and the knowledge we will need in the decade to come. [14], Given Scotland's vote in the 2016 referendum to remain in the EU, contrasted with that of the UK as a whole, With the EEA, the economic situation and trading environment that EU membership has delivered would remain substantially unchanged, allowing much of the status quo regarding the EU single market to be maintained as far as the UK is concerned. EFA Joint Committee. What is the single market? Were the UK to join the EEA as an EFTA member, it would sign up to existing EU internal market legislation that is part of the EEA Agreement. It’s very possible that the EU member states would be on board with this option – the arrangement has worked well with Norway. EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement; EEA Joint Committee; EU–Swiss Joint Committee; Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee; EFTA Court; European Court of Justice; References External links. The United Kingdom (UK) ceased to be a Contracting Party to the EEA Agreement after its withdrawal from the EU on 31 January 2020. But after the general election, this “hard Brexit” now seems highly unlikely. The new rules apply to non-EEA family members moving to Ireland after December 31, 2020. Countries inside the EU allow the free movement of goods, people, services and … A veto from one country affects the other countries: letting the UK join Efta and the EEC agreement to veto parts of it could undermine the agreement for all of us. It could then participate in the EEA agreement , a dynamic … EFTA states are not part of the EU Customs Union as outlined above. [3], Following the completion of its withdrawal from the EU, the UK could have sought to continue to be a member of the EEA through mechanisms available to members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Our joint Strategy indicates our direction of travel. Join The Energy Efficiency Association. This might lead to the EEA's dispute resolution provisions being invoked, which will not be a quick or easy exercise. To join the EFTA, the UK will need to gain the approval of current members, i.e. Not saying it will definitely happen this way but it’s a likely enough scenario. Included in these changes are provisions in Appendix EU which allow EEA or Swiss citizens resident in the UK prior to 31 December 2020 to be joined by their family members under … the EEA citizen you’re joining is in the UK already or travelling with you to the UK within 6 months of the date of your application The person you’re joining must also either be: an EEA or Swiss citizen with ‘settled’ or ‘pre-settled’ status under the EU Settlement Scheme Write an article and join a growing community of more than 119,900 academics and researchers from 3,852 institutions. It would offer valuable certainty and clarity about the future. They also set the date from which so-called ‘triangulation’ will apply to 1 January 2021. The UK and EEA EFTA States adopted rules of procedure for the Joint Committee. The answer is yes. The EEA Agreement . The EEA aims to support sustainable development by helping to achieve significant and measurable improvement in Europe's environment, through the provision of timely, targeted, relevant and reliable … Non-EEA family members who are outside the UK will be entitled to apply for a Family Permit which allows them to come to the UK to join their EEA family members who reside in the UK. Only EU or EFTA members can currently become members of the EEA, meaning if Britain wants to secure full access to the single market after Brexit, joining EFTA is the logical route. EEA family permit would still be applicable allowing applicants to come to the UK provided they meet the following conditions. Bring them to the cliff edge, and perhaps they will see the logic of not jumping off. This means, of course, that if even a small group of hard-line Brexiters revolt, she will be defeated when she presents her Brexit deal to parliament. the UK's continuing EEA membership, that will not bring any benefits if the other members of the EEA refuse to accept that position. Membership of the EEA addresses important aspects of this, allowing the EU-27 to move to the free trade agreement that is the UK’s real aim. As Brexit negotiations get underway, it is becoming increasingly difficult to see how the UK can pursue its former “have your cake and eat it” strategy, particularly when it comes to a trade deal. The answer is yes. Background. [7][8] Some EU law originates from various international bodies on which non-EU EEA countries have a seat. I personally don’t want the UK anywhere near the EU unless there’s an overwhelming support on a massive turnout that favours such idea (70% on 70% sounds about right). Can I keep the accounts open? EU-UK institutional framework; This page was last edited on 6 January 2021, at 22:39 (UTC). The UK quit EFTA in 1972 but has the option of rejoining the group and then becoming part of the EEA as an EFTA member. It could then participate in the EEA agreement , a dynamic … Switzerland set up several dialogues with the UK: (1) a so-called Continuity Dialogue which deals with horizontal issues and oversees progress in each area, and (2) Specific Dialogues in areas currently … Tweet. Here’s a prediction. By Laura Whitcombe 07:17 … Will they still be able to apply for an EEA family permit? Government is that when the UK leaves the EU, the whole EEA Agreement will automatically cease to apply to the UK; the UK is a member of the EEA only by virtue of its membership of the EU. This is not, however, explicitly stated in the EEA Agre… NORWAY’s Prime Minister has urged the UK to join the European Economic Area (EEA) after Brexit, claiming there are “cost and benefits” that will give Oslo and London “bargaining power”. The United Kingdom could be allowed by other member states to join the EEA and EFTA but existing EEA members such as Norway would have concerns about taking the risk of opening a difficult negotiation with the EU that could lead … The EFTA Convention from January 1960 states that any country may join EFTA … The president of Switzerland Johann Schneider-Ammann stated that the UK's return would strengthen the association. Changes to the internal market would be incorporated into the EEA Agreement subject to the consent of the UK at the EEA Joint Committee; once in the EEA Agreement, the UK would have to incorporate these into UK law. When the family member arrives, they will need to register under the EU Settlement Scheme within 3 months of their arrival. The Financial Times reported (paywall) on Thursday that the environment secretary, Michael Gove, privately discussed the UK joining the European Economic Area (EEA) with liberal Tory MPs and Peers, as a backstop plan for Brexit. When the family member arrives, they will need to register under the EU Settlement Scheme within 3 months of their arrival. The obvious question for many is if the UK were to join the EEA, what exactly was the point of the referendum? If you are a citizen of one of the EEA countries, but not the UK, and you also have citizenship of another non-EEA country, you will be able to come to the UK under European law. Here’s a prediction. Even assuming that the UK is able to formulate a coherent negotiating position, will it long survive, or will the government’s internal contradictions lead to a breakdown of the negotiations with the EU-27? Norwegian PM dismisses calls for Britain to join the EEA as a 'holding position' if there is no Brexit deal - as May again rules out the option The Prime … Membership of the EEA is a consequence of membership of the European Union (EU). The issue of the permits does not fall under the stricter United Kingdom (UK) immigration rules. EEA membership would also address important aspects of one of the trickier dilemmas for the UK: how to deal with the Irish border after Brexit. You must be able to abide by the professional standards expected of EEA members as outlined in our Code of Conduct. The UK tries one more time and ups the offer a bit more. The EU rejects the UK’s latest offer of 40 billion, saying it isn’t enough. The UK ceased to be a Contracting Party to the EEA Agreement after its withdrawal from the EU on 31 January 2020, as it was a member of the EEA by virtue of its EU membership, but retained EEA rights during the Brexit transition period, based on Article 126 of the withdrawal agreement between the EU and the UK. Health and environment, including air and noise pollution — Putting EEA’s work in the … Non-EEA nationals need an entry visa or approval letter to join a UK national family member. It could then participate in the EEA agreement, a dynamic arrangement bringing together the EFTA member states with the EU in a single market. During the transition, the EEA agreement will remain unchanged, and continue to apply as before, to both the remaining EEA members and the United Kingdom, as the UK will continue to be treated as if an EEA state. The EEA agreement meets several of Theresa May’s apparent negotiating red lines – no part of the UK would remain in the EU; no part of the UK would be subject to ever-closer union; no part of the UK would be subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice. [13] However, in August 2016 the Norwegian Government expressed reservations. [15] However, other EFTA states have stated that only sovereign states are eligible for membership, so Scotland could only join if it became independent from the UK.[16]. If the UK does not join the EEA, then the GDPR will no longer apply in the UK. The legal framework, however, would change fundamentally. Erna Solberg told the Financial Times in an interview that the Nordic country was prepared to see the UK join the EEA, conceding that the option was “on … The UK, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein have today signed the EEA EFTA Separation Agreement. It should … It’s less clear whether Norway, Iceland, and Lichtenstein would be happy to let the UK into the EEA – why let the cuckoo into the nest a second time? The EU rejects the UK’s latest offer of 40 billion, saying it isn’t enough. We reserve the right to refuse membership to anyone deemed to fall short of these standards The EU is also required to conduct extensive consultations with EEA EFTA members beforehand via its many committees and cooperative bodies. The EU-27’s position is that dealing with the Irish problem is one of three “divorce” issues on which substantial progress must be made before future relations between the UK and the EU can be addressed, including any free trade … Questions have been raised as to whether a state that withdraws from the EU automatically withdraws from the EEA, or whether such a withdrawal requires notice under Article 127 of the EEA Agreement[5] – and, if the courts so decide, whether such notice given by the UK would require an Act of Parliament. British membership of the European Economic Area, Proposed European Constitution referendum, Department for Exiting the European Union, United Kingdom opt-outs from EU legislation, Opinion polling on the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union, R (Miller) v Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, Continuing United Kingdom relationship with the European Union, European Union (Future Relationship) Bill, Effect on Scotland's constitutional position, Trade deal negotiation between the UK and EU, EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), Proposed second Scottish independence referendum, Common Agriculture and Fisheries Policies, Police and Judicial Co-operation in Criminal Matters, "Frequently asked questions on EFTA, the EEA, EFTA membership and Brexit", "How will the Brexit transition period work? If you are involved in Energy Efficiency your business can become a member of the Energy Efficiency Association. They also set the date from which so-called ‘triangulation’ will apply to 1 January 2021. The EEA Agreement (EU and EFTA members except Switzerland) does not cover Common Agriculture and Fisheries Policies, the EU Customs Union, the Common Trade Policy, the Common Foreign and Security Policy, direct and indirect taxation, and Police and Judicial Co-operation in Criminal Matters, leaving EFTA members free to set their own policies in these areas;[9] however, EEA countries are required to contribute to the EU Budget in exchange for access to the internal market. When the UK withdraws from the EU, the most likely legal position is that the UK will also fall out of the EEA and will therefore not be able to participate as an EEA member in the single market. Which would require a massive change of harts for millions in the UK. The EEA Agreement was signed in Porto on 2 May 1992, and came into force on 1 January 1994. 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