What is the EEA?

On 1 May 1995, Liechtenstein officially joined the European Economic Area (EEA), becoming a full participant in the European single market. The EEA brings together the 27 Member States of the European Union (EU) and the three EEA/EFTA states – Liechtenstein, Iceland, and Norway – into a single market of around 455 million consumers, in which the same fundamental rules apply to all participating countries.

Citizens of all 30 EEA Member States have the right to exercise the four fundamental freedoms:

• movement of goods
• movement of persons
• movement of services
• movement of capital

Moreover, Article 4 of the EEA Agreement prohibits any discrimination on grounds of nationality (prohibition of discrimination). 

What does the EEA Agreement not cover?

The EEA Agreement does not cover the following EU policy areas, among others:

• common agricultural and fisheries policies
• customs union
• common commercial (trade) policy
• fiscal policy
• common foreign and security policy
• justice and home affairs (the EFTA countries are part of the Schengen area)
• economic and monetary union (EMU)

Since 1 May 2025, Liechtenstein can look back on 30 years of membership in the European Economic Area. The Government is taking this opportunity to inform Parliament and the Liechtenstein public about the country's experience with EEA membership in a comprehensive report, as it has done previously after one, five, ten, fifteen, twenty, and twenty-five years of membership.

As on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Liechtenstein's EEA membership, a survey of enterprises based in Liechtenstein in selected sectors was conducted to mark the 30th anniversary. The survey was developed by the University of Liechtenstein in close cooperation with the Ministry of General Government Affairs and Finance, the EEA Coordination Unit, the Mission to the European Union, and the Office for Foreign Affairs. A total of 176 interviews were evaluated. The data was analysed separately for the sectors of industry, banking, other financial services, and trades.

As on the occasion of the 20th and 25th anniversaries of Liechtenstein's EEA membership, a representative survey of Liechtenstein residents with Liechtenstein citizenship between the ages of 18 and 79 was conducted for the 30th anniversary. The survey was developed by the University of Liechtenstein in close cooperation with the Ministry of General Government Affairs and Finance, the EEA Coordination Unit, the Mission to the European Union, and the Office for Foreign Affairs.