Liechtenstein–European Union relations: Difference between revisions
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Relations between Liechtenstein and the European Union (EU) are shaped heavily by Liechtenstein's participation in the European Economic Area (EEA).
Market access
Liechtenstein is the only microstate (not counting Iceland by population or EU members) that is a part of the EEA. It joined on 1 May 1995 after becoming a full member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in 1991 (previously, it had been in EFTA as part of Switzerland). All EFTA states bar Switzerland are in the EEA, which gives them access to the EU single market. It also obliges Liechtenstein to apply certain European Union laws. There are very few issues not covered by the EEA agreement and there is some further cooperation with the EU via Switzerland as Liechtenstein is highly intergreated with the Swiss economy (including using the Swiss franc).[1]
Schengen
Liechtenstein became a signatory of the Schengen Agreement on 28 February 2008, but is not, as of September 2011, part of the Schengen Area. There are, however, plans to implement the agreement fully at a later date (see below). Switzerland shares an open border with Liechtenstein and is a full Schengen Area member. This open border is not considered a threat to European security because it would be highly difficult or impossible to enter Liechtenstein without first landing in or entering a Schengen state. There is currently no timeline for Liechtenstein's implementation of the agreement and the process has been delayed or postponed several times. The border with Austria is not open, and it is treated as an external border post by Austria and Liechtenstein, making it necessary to pass through customs and passport control before crossing.
Liechtenstein signed a Schengen association agreement with the European Union on 28 February 2008,[2] and originally planned to join the Schengen Area on 1 November 2009. However ratification was initially delayed at the behest of Sweden and Germany who felt that Liechtenstein had not done enough to fight tax evasion,[3][4] the Council of Ministers eventually consented to the ratification of the protocol on 7 March 2011,[5] with the protocol entering into force a month later.[6] Liechtenstein is now due to join the Schengen Area by the end of 2011.[7][8]
Other agreements
There are further bilateral agreements between the two parties on matters such as taxation of savings. There are also ongoing talks on combating fraud and exchanging information on tax matters.[1]
References
- ^ a b Principality of Liechtenstein, European External Action Service
- ^ Protocol between the European Union, the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein on the accession of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation’s association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis (OJ L 160, 2011, 18 June 2011, p. 3).
- ^ "Liechtenstein threatened with Swiss border controls". the Economist. 29 February 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
- ^ "Liechtenstein's Schengen-Accession Stopped". SR international—Radio Sweden. 19 May 2009.
- ^ "3073rd Council meeting, Employment and Social Policy (Provisional Version)" (PDF) (Press release). Council of the European Union. 7 March 2011. p. 17. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
- ^ Notice concerning the entry into force of the Protocol between the European Union, the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein on the accession of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation’s association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis (OJ L 160, 18 June 2011, p. 50).
- ^ AFP (7 March 2011). "Le Liechtenstein intègre Schengen". Le Figaro. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
- ^ "Fürstentum Liechtenstein neues Mitglied im Schengenraum". Stern.de. 7 March 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
