Let us remember that Switzerland participated in the negotiations that led to the signing of the agreement on the European Economic Area.

The first Agreement on the European Economic Area was offered to the EFTA countries.

States that are signatories to the 1992 Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA):

For environmental reasons, Switzerland is also blocking agreement on the European Economic Area by refusing to allow heavy trucks to use its highways going to and from Italy.

Switzerland was actually a party to the agreement on the European Economic Area – an agreement that covered statistical cooperation – but was unable to ratify it, because of a ‘no’ vote in a national referendum on the issue in 1992.

The conclusion of this agreement, adopted here today, follows the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) which has been in force since 1994, covering the states of the EEA/European Free Trade Association.

A Commission spokesperson argues that this is contrary to the letter and spirit of the agreement on the European Economic Area, but in fact it is the dumping faced by Community producers which is really contrary to both letter and spirit.

Since the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) entered into force in 1994, the EEA/European Free Trade Association states - currently Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway - have contributed towards reducing economic and social disparities in the EEA.

Since the Agreement on the EEA entered into force in 1994, the EEA/European Free Trade Association states - currently Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway - have contributed towards reducing economic and social disparities in the EEA.

In a referendum held in 1992, however, the people of Switzerland voted against this agreement, thus making it impossible for Switzerland to participate in the agreement on the EEA and with the result that Switzerland' s application for European Union membership, submitted in May 1992, was put on hold.