Barclay said: “This agreement underlines the importance of our relations with our close friends and allies in the EEA-EFTA countries. The United Kingdom was a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) from 1 January 1994 to 31 December 2020 following the entry into force of the 1992 EEA Agreement (adapted by a 1993 Protocol). Accession to the EEA is a consequence of membership of the European Union (EU). The UNITED KINGDOM ceased to be a party to the EEA Agreement after its withdrawal from the EU on 31 January 2020 as an EEA member due to its EU membership, but retained EEA rights during the Brexit transition period on the basis of Article 126 of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement. [1] During the transition period, which ended on 31 December 2020[2], the UK and the EU negotiated their future relationship. In the unlikely event of a “no deal” with the EU, the UK would still seek an agreement on citizens` rights with the EEA-EFTA states. We are discussing this with the EEA-EFTA States. In all scenarios, EFTA citizens can remain in the UK after they leave. This agreement was first announced and published in draft on 20 December 2018 and marks the formal signature today (28 January 2020). The Agreement between the EEA EFTA States and the United Kingdom deals with issues such as rights of residence, mutual recognition of professional qualifications and coordination of social security systems. It also contains agreements on separation issues such as agreements on goods placed on the EEA, EFTA or UK markets, intellectual property, data protection, public procurement and ongoing police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters.

The EEA EFTA States and the United Kingdom have agreed to maintain the rights of EEA EFTA citizens living in the United Kingdom and British citizens living in one of the EEA EFTA States when the United Kingdom leaves the European Union. The agreement mainly concerns the rights of EEA-EFTA and United Kingdom citizens who have settled in the countries of the other country under the right to free movement under the EEA Agreement. This agreement is only a first step. Negotiators on the EU side and the BRITISH government have agreed on a withdrawal agreement for the UK`s withdrawal from the EU. This agreement must be approved by the British Parliament and the European Parliament before it can enter into force. However, for the duration of the transposition period, the rights and obligations of the EEA Agreement will continue to apply to the United Kingdom. The EEA-EFTA Separation Agreement will therefore apply mainly to matters arising after the end of the transposition period. The UK and the EEA signatories to the EFTA sign an agreement to protect citizens` rights and resolve wider separation issues when the UK leaves the EU As these countries participate in the single market and other EU-led initiatives, this agreement will reflect a small number of other relevant separation issues that we agreed with the EU in the Withdrawal Agreement. The separation issues covered by this Agreement are: agreements on goods placed on the markets of the United Kingdom or EEA EFTA, intellectual property, ongoing police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters, data protection, public procurement and ongoing legal proceedings. This is significant as the UK`s total trade with EEA EFTA countries amounted to almost £30 billion in 2017.

The Separation Agreement is the Agreement on arrangements between Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Kingdom of Norway and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland following the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, the EEA Agreement and other applicable agreements between the United Kingdom and the EFTA States members of the EEA by virtue of the accession of the United Kingdom to the European Union. [18] Brexit Minister Steve Barclay signed the agreement on behalf of the UK with representatives from Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. We are pleased to have reached this agreement. It will protect the rights of our citizens when the UK leaves the EU and give security to businesses. As soon as the implementation period ends, we want to adopt new regulations to protect our historical relations, including in the area of trade. The EEA continued to apply to the United Kingdom during the Brexit transition period on the basis of Article 126 of the WITHDRAWAL Agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom. [1] The agreement is concluded before the day of withdrawal and is regulated by law as well as the EU Withdrawal Agreement by EU law (Withdrawal Agreement). However, the rights and obligations under the EEA Agreement and other international agreements concluded with those countries shall continue to apply to the United Kingdom for the duration of the transposition period. This means that businesses and citizens will not experience immediate changes to existing rules. EEA and EFTA nationals living in the UK can apply for the UK Settlement Scheme in the same way as EU citizens. The UK co-founded EFTA in 1960, but ceased to be a member in 1973 when it joined the EC, which became the EU.

. In January 2017, Theresa May announced a 12-point plan with negotiating targets, confirming that the UK government would not seek to become a permanent member of the European single market[4], leaving open the possibility of maintaining EEA membership for a transitional period of one year after the day of exit from the EU (initially on 29 March 2019, postponed to April 12 and then to October 31). before it finally happens on January 31, 2020). At the first meeting since the Brexit vote, EFTA responded by stating that it was open to the prospect of the UK joining the association, but that the UK had many problems to solve. President Johann Schneider-Ammann said Britain`s return would strengthen the club. [13] However, in August 2016, the Norwegian government expressed reservations. Norwegian European Affairs Minister Elisabeth Vik Aspaker told the Aftenposten newspaper: “It is not certain that it would be a good idea to include a large country in this organisation. This would change the balance, which is not necessarily in Norway`s interest. [14] EEA EFTA members and the United Kingdom signed a separation agreement on 28 January 2020. The Separation Agreement reflects the relevant parts of the Withdrawal Agreement between the EU and the UK. [3] The United Kingdom was a member of the European Economic Area as a member of the European Union. The question has been raised as to whether a state leaving the EU automatically withdraws from the EEA or whether such a withdrawal requires notification under Article 127 of the EEA Agreement[5] – and, if so decided by the courts, whether such notification by the UK would require an Act of Parliament.

[6] This means that UK and EEA EFTA citizens living in their respective countries at the end of the transposition period will continue to enjoy much of the same rights as before. These include rules on residence, healthcare, pensions and education, coordination of social security systems and mutual recognition of professional qualifications. More than 15 000 EEA EFTA nationals living in the UK and around 17 000 UK nationals living in EEA EFTA countries will benefit from these arrangements. “It will protect citizens` rights and ensure business security when the UK leaves the EU, and ensure an orderly exit and smooth transition as we make new arrangements for our future relationship with the EEA-EFTA states. Given Scotland`s vote in the 2016 referendum to remain in the EU as opposed to that of the UK as a whole, the Scottish government has been looking for methods to maintain EEA access or EEA membership. [15] However, other EFTA states have stated that only sovereign states are eligible for membership, so Scotland can only join if it becomes independent from the UK. [16] Under the EEA Agreement, the United Kingdom would not necessarily be subject to judgments of the Court of Justice of the European Communities, but perhaps also to the EFTA Court, which settles disputes under the EEA Agreement on the EFTA States. [17] The Court of Justice also rules on disputes between EEA persons and the EFTA Surveillance Authority. Following its withdrawal from the EU, the UK could have attempted to continue to be a member of the EEA through mechanisms available to members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

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