Talk:European Free Trade Association

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Okay categorization issue. It seems to me that placing EFTA under the categories of all its member states goes against the usual way of categorizing international organizations in Wikipedia. European Union for example isn't categorized under all 25 of its member-state categories, and NATO isn't categorized likewise under all its member-state categories. And so forth.

Since EFTA is directly EU-related on the other hand I'm gonna change the categories of Category:Iceland Category:Norway Category:Switzerland Category:Liechtenstein to that of Category:European Union

Aris Katsaris 13:54, 28 Sep 2004 (UTC)

Well that is just wrong, EFTA is not directly EU-related at all. The EEA is where these organizations cooperate but onw EFTA member is outside EEA. --Bjarki 11:57, 29 October 2005 (UTC)

I would love to see some attempt at explaining why these four nations have excluded themselves from the EU. I saw (for example) some explanation in an early-2004 The Economist survey of Switzerland, focusing on domestic party politics. (Please excuse this novice comment; I'll understand if you treat it as such.)

Well, Norway has not joined the EU because the majority of the people do not want it, notwithstanding the view of the main parties. Iceland's economy is hardly compatible with EU-membership. Switzerland is a country where the autonomy of the cantons is stronger than the EU member countries. And Liechtenstein is closely intervowen with Switzerland, plus it is a micro-state on hand with Andorra, Monaco and San Marino.

It would be interesting to see a list of the free trade agreements EFTA has made with non-EU countries. A Norwegian economist claimed some years ago that staying in EFTA and the EEA benefitted Norway more economically than joining the EU. This because the EEA in most businesses gives the same economical benefits as being a EU member, and in addition EFTA got several free trade agreements with non-EU. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 84.27.95.199 (talk) 12:24, 15 October 2007 (UTC)