EFTA 50 Years

In 2010, the European Free Trade Association celebrates its 50th anniversary. The EFTA Convention entered into force on 3 May 1960. In connection with this milestone in EFTA's existence and the 15th anniversary of the EEA Agreement, which entered into force 1994, EFTA organised a seminar in November 2009 in Geneva, entitled Partners in Progress. A book including material from the seminar, called EFTA 1960 – 2010: Elements of 50 years of European history, was presented in Geneva on 3 May and on 5 May in Brussels. Commemorative events also have taken place in several EFTA free trade partner countries as well as during the EFTA Ministerial Meeting in Iceland in June.

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News

SwissPost launches EFTA stamp

02.09.2010

A special EFTA stamp has been issued by SwissPost in regard to EFTAs 50th anniversary this year. "The full unifying function of EFTA, with its trading partners, will be revealed though a series of stamps", explained Swiss Post chairman, Peter Hasler, in a press conference on 2 September.

Third round of free trade negotiations between EFTA and Hong Kong, China

30.08.2010

Delegations from the EFTA States and Hong Kong, China met for a third full round of negotiations on a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement between 23 and 27 August 2010 in Geneva.

EFTA and India hold fifth round of free trade negotiations

20.08.2010

Delegations from the four EFTA States and India continued their negotiations on a broad-based Free Trade Agreement on 17-19 August 2010 in New Delhi.

Employment rates in the EFTA countries amongst the highest in Europe in 2009

05.08.2010

In a recent news release published by Eurostat, the total employment rate for people aged 15-64 in the EU27 is calculated at 64.6 percent. The figures presented for the EFTA countries are substantially higher, with Switzerland yielding the highest employment rate of the 33 countries included in the Eurostat news release with 79.2 percent.

New agreement on EEA and Norway Grants signed

30.07.2010

Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and the EU signed the agreements for the EEA and Norway Grants 2009-14 on 28 July 2010, after the EU member states agreed on the final distribution for the beneficiary countries. €1.79 billion will be made available to projects that contribute to social and economic development in 15 EU member states in Central and Southern Europe.

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Publications

Annual Report 2009

49th Annual Report of the European Free Trade Association, 2009.

This is EFTA 2010

This publication is an overview of EFTA's activities and institutional framework.

European Economic Area 1994-2009

EFTA at a glance

A short introduction to 50 Years of EFTA

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The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is an intergovernmental organisation set up for the promotion of free trade and economic integration to the benefit of its four Member States: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The Association manages the EFTA Convention; EFTA’s worldwide network of free trade and partnership agreements, and the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement.

Upcoming events

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Seminar on copyright

Everything you don’t know about Extended Collective Agreement

The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) together with the Institute for Private Law and the Norwegian Research Center for Computers and Law, University of Oslo

Invite you to a Seminar on copyright exploring:

The Nordic Model - Extended Collective Agreement

The aim of this Seminar is to explore how the so called Nordic Model can contribute to make culture heritage available. It’s relation to international instruments will be analysed and you will be given examples of how the Nordic Model functions. Finally a panel, led by experts, will kick off the debate in which we hope you also will contribute actively as well.

When: Thursday 30 September 2010, 09.30 – 15.00
Where: EFTA Secretariat, Rue Joseph II, 12-16, B-1000 Brussels