Policy paper

UK-EEA EFTA states: future relationship negotiations

Published 20 July 2020

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

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  1. The UK left the European Union on 31 January 2020 under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement. In parallel, the UK also agreed the EEA EFTA Separation Agreement with the EEA EFTA states (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). This agreement largely mirrors the provisions of the Withdrawal Agreement, covering citizen’s rights as well as resolving a small number of other issues arising from the UK’s departure from the EU.

  2. At the time, the Governments of the United Kingdom, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway noted their joint intention to put in place new arrangements by the end of the transition period, particularly on trade. It is with those arrangements that all parties now concern themselves, agreeing to accelerated negotiations through the summer, and with an ambition to conclude a set of agreements spanning both trade and non-trade areas.

  3. On the UK side, the Strategic Relationship Lead in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has responsibility for coordinating across the negotiations, working closely with No 10’s Task Force Europe (TFE) to ensure coordination with ongoing UK-EU negotiations. The Department for International Trade (DIT) will be responsible for trade negotiations, with other departments responsible for the negotiations in non-trade areas as appropriate.

  4. On the Norwegian side, the negotiations are the overall responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries will be responsible for trade negotiations, with other departments responsible for the negotiations in non-trade areas as appropriate.

  5. On the Icelandic side, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Iceland is responsible for the overall negotiations with the UK. It is also responsible for the free trade negotiations. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will be assisted by experts from the relevant line Ministries.

  6. On Liechtenstein’s side, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Principality of Liechtenstein is responsible for the overall negotiations with the UK. It is also responsible for the free trade negotiations. The Permanent Mission of Liechtenstein to EFTA in Geneva is leading these negotiations.

  7. The parties are open to discussing a range of areas, either as a group, or as bilateral discussions, including but not limited to; a Free Trade Agreement; Social Security Coordination; Internal Security; Mobility; Transport; Education; Research; Civil Judicial Cooperation; and Energy (Electricity Interconnection). Some of these areas will be prioritised for agreement by the end of the transition period. This is in addition to fisheries negotiations, which are already advanced with Norway, and fisheries cooperation which is being negotiated bilaterally with Iceland. The scope of the discussions between the parties may evolve over time, particularly in areas where discussions are dependent on other negotiations or processes.

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