Is the EEA a model for other countries?

As part of the project, Christian Frommelt gave a presentation in Opole on 27 October 2022 on the role of the European Economic Area (EEA) as a model for other European states that are currently unable or unwilling to join the European Union (EU). The presentation began with a brief introduction to the history of the EEA and its institutions and processes. Following on from this, the functioning of the EEA was analysed, before finally discussing the future of the EEA and the model character of the EEA in general.

One conclusion was that although the EEA functions reasonably well, it can hardly serve as a model of integration for other countries. For example, the EEA has an extremely complex institutional structure that only works because the EEA/EFTA states Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway have come to terms with this structure very well after more than 25 years of EEA membership.

The presentation also showed that fundamental questions of European integration regarding autonomy and legitimacy also arise outside the EU. Whether the autonomy of the EEA/EFTA states within the framework of the EEA is greater than if they were EU members cannot be said across the board, as was shown in the presentation.