At the joint EFTA–EC ministerial meeting held on 2 February 1988, Pertti Salolainen, Finnish Minister for Foreign Trade and Chairman of the EFTA Council, discusses the strengthened cooperation between the two regional European groups and the gradual development of a European Economic Space.

On 17 January 1989, in an address to the Members of the European Parliament, Jacques Delors, President of the European Commission, refers for the first time to the establishment of a European Economic Area in order to provide a structure for economic relations between the Member States of the Community and those of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

On 17 January 1989, Jacques Delors, President of the European Commission, proposes to the European Parliament the establishment of a European Economic Space (EES), a vast partnership comprising the Twelve and the seven member countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

On 19 December 1989, in Brussels, the representatives of the Twelve and of the European Commission and those of the Member States of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) adopt a joint declaration regarding their decision to open negotiations in 1990 with a view to the establishment of a European Economic Space (EES), later to become the European Economic Area (EEA).

On 19 December 1989, Roland Dumas, French Foreign Minister and President-in-Office of the Council of Ministers of the European Community, Jón Baldvin Hannibalsson, Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and current Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), Anita Gradin, Swedish Minister for Foreign Trade and Chairman of the EFTA Council of Ministers in the first half of 1990, Jean-Pascal Delamuraz, Head of the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Alois Mock, Austrian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Pertti Paasio, Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Kjell Magne Bondevik, Norwegian Minister for Foreign Affairs, comment on the joint declaration adopted following the EFTA-EC ministerial meeting held in Brussels.

On 13 May 1990, in connection with the establishment of a future European Economic Area (EEA), the French daily newspaper Le Monde speculates on the future of relations between the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

On 13 and 14 June 1990, at the end of their meeting held in Gothenburg to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the Heads of Government and Ministers of the EFTA Member States issue a joint declaration in which they set out their position before the negotiations with the Twelve on the European Economic Space (EES), later to become the European Economic Area (EEA).

In June 1990, in an article in the Portuguese magazine Cadernos de Economia, Luís Mira Amaral, Portuguese Minister for Industry and Energy, analyses the prospects for Portuguese industry in the future European Economic Space (EES), later to become the European Economic Area (EEA).

In summer 1990, following the fall of the Berlin Wall and the ongoing transformations in Eastern Europe, the monthly publication EFTA Bulletin welcomes the political impact of the establishment of the European Economic Space (EES), later to become the European Economic Area (EEA), as a prelude to a new architecture in Europe.

On 29 October 1990, during the state visit to Portugal by Mauno Koivisto, President of the Republic of Finland, Mário Soares, President of the Portuguese Republic, delivers an address at the Ajuda Palace in Lisbon in which he points out the benefits of a large European Economic Space (EES), later to become the European Economic Area (EEA), involving the Member States of the European Economic Community (EEC) and those of the European Free Trade Area (EFTA).

In summer 1990, in the monthly publication EFTA Bulletin, Sven Norberg, Director of Legal Affairs at the Secretariat of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in Geneva, outlines the importance of the legal and institutional implications, with particular regard to the decision-making process of the negotiations on the European Economic Space (EES), later to become the European Economic Area (EEA).

On 19 December 1990, following a meeting in Brussels between the Ministers of the Twelve, led by Gianni de Michelis, Italian Foreign Minister and President-in-Office of the Council, and the Ministers of the countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and Liechtenstein, led by Jean-Pascal Delamuraz, Member of the Swiss Federal Council and President of the EFTA Council, in the presence of Jacques Delors and Frans Andriessen, President and Vice-President of the European Commission, and Georg Reisch, Secretary-General of EFTA, the participants adopt a joint declaration on the establishment of the European Economic Area (EEA).

At this press conference, Wolfgang Schüssel, Austrian Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Chairman-in-Office of the Council of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), hopes that the negotiations on the European Economic Area (EEA) may reach a successful conclusion in June and describes the issues involved in the signing of such an agreement.

At this press conference, Frans Andriessen, Vice-President of the Commission of the European Communities with special responsibility for External Relations and Trade Policy and Cooperation with other European Countries, emphasises the positive atmosphere prevailing at the negotiations between the delegations of the European Communities and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) which aimed to reach an agreement leading to the establishment of a European Economic Area (EEA).

On 14 May 1991, the day after their meeting in Brussels, the Foreign Ministers of the Twelve, of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and of Liechtenstein issue a joint declaration in which they outline the progress of negotiations on the establishment of a European Economic Area (EEA).

In summer 1991, in the monthly publication EFTA Bulletin, Frans Andriessen, Vice-President of the European Commission with special responsibility for External Relations and Trade Policy, gives his views on the European Economic Space (EES), later to become the European Economic Area (EEA), and the new European architecture.

On 22 October 1991, negotiations begun in June 1990 between EFTA and the EC for the establishment of a European Economic Area culminate in a political agreement. The following day, the British daily newspaper The Guardian emphasises the importance of the agreement.

On 23 October 1991, the daily newspaper Luxemburger Wort analyses the implications of the agreement on the European Economic Area concluded the previous day in Luxembourg between the Twelve and the seven member countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

In autumn 1991, in an article in the monthly publication EFTA Bulletin, Veli Sundbäck, Junior Minister in the Finnish Foreign Ministry, outlines the difficulties surrounding the final stage of negotiations held with the representatives of the European Communities during the night of 21 to 22 October 1991 in Luxembourg in order to reach a conclusion on the European Economic Space (EES), later to become the European Economic Area (EEA).

On 24 October 1991, Ulf Dinkelspiel, Swedish Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade, gives a parliamentary briefing in which he explains the importance for Sweden of the establishment of the European Economic Area (EEA).

On 31 October 1991, the French weekly magazine L'Express looks into the implications of the agreement signed the previous week by the Twelve and the seven members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) with a view to establishing a European Economic Area (EEA).

On 12 November 1991, Alois Mock, Austrian Foreign Minister, delivers an address to the Austrian Parliament in which he analyses the decision to establish a European Economic Area (EEA) between the Twelve and the seven Member States of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

En automne 1991, Gérard Bauer, ancien représentant de la Confédération suisse auprès de l'Organisation européenne de coopération économique (OECE) et de la Haute Autorité de la Communauté européenne du charbon et de l'acier (CECA), passe au crible dans la revue Cadmos que publie à Genève le Centre européen de la Culture les enjeux pour la Communauté économique européenne (CEE) et pour l'Association européenne de libre-échange (AELE) de la négociation en cours sur l'Espace économique européen (EEE).

On 12 November 1991, as debates are held in the National Council, Norbert Gugerbauer, leader of the parliamentary party of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), criticises Austria’s participation in the European Economic Area (EEA) and calls for the immediate and rapid accession of the country to the European Communities.

In February 1992, in an article published in the Federalist monthly journal Crocodile as the Treaty on European Union is signed in Maastricht, Franz Blankart, State Secretary in the Swiss Confederation, emphasises the differences between Politcal Union, Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) and the European Economic Area (EEA).

On 1 May 1992, the Austrian daily newspaper Wiener Zeitung comments on the scope of the bilateral agreement signed between Austria and the European Economic Community (EEC) on road transit which paves the way for the signing, the following day in Oporto, of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Area (EEA).

In this interview, Bjørn Tore Godal, former Norwegian Minister for Trade and Merchant Shipping, recalls the debate in Norway concerning the creation of the European Economic Area (EEA). He describes, in particular, the difference in opinion on the country’s accession to the European Communities, between the Norwegian fishing industry and Norwegian fishermen.

On 18 January 1990, Anita Gradin, Swedish Minister for Foreign Trade, informs Parliament of the outcome of the ministerial meeting held on 19 December 1989 between the Member States of the EEC and those of EFTA with a view to closer cooperation between these two organisations in a European Economic Area.

On 2 May 1992, in Oporto, the Foreign Ministers of the Twelve and of the seven Member States of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) sign the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA).

Press release published on 2 May 1992 on the occasion of the signing, in Porto, of the Agreement establishing the European Economic Area (EEA).

On 2 May 1992, at the signing, in Oporto, of the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA), Jón Baldvin Hannibalsson, Chairman of the EFTA Council and Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, recognises the significance of the event.

On 2 May 1992, as the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) is signed in Oporto, Jacques Delors, President of the Commission of the European Communities, hopes that the establishment of the EEA will be a step towards the establishment of an enlarged Europe.

On 2 May 1992, Jón Baldvin Hannibalsson, Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and acting President of the Council of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), makes a speech during the signing ceremony of the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement in Oporto.

On 2 May 1992 in Oporto, representatives of the twelve Member States of the European Communities and of the seven Member States of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) sign the Agreement creating the European Economic Area (EEA).

Group photograph of the representatives of the seven Member States of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), taken during the ceremony held on 2 May 1992 in Oporto to celebrate the signing of the Agreement creating the European Economic Area (EEA).

On 2 May 1992, Konstantinos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece, signs the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) in Oporto.

‘The leap of faith.’ On 2 May 1992, in Oporto, despite protests from opposition parties, the Austrian Government — a coalition between the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) and the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) — signs the Agreement establishing the European Economic Area (EEA).

On 4 May 1992, the conservative daily newspaper La Libre Belgique comments on the signing of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Area (EEA) on 2 May 1992 in Oporto, seeing therein a new stage towards the enlargement of the European Communities.

On 5 May 1992, the French newspaper Le Monde comments on the signature of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Area (EEA), on 2 May 1992 in Porto, and welcomes the event as an important stage in the process of European integration.

In its issue for May to July 1992, the EFTA Bulletin welcomes the signing, on 2 May 1992, in Porto, of the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA).

Map showing the establishment, on 2 May 1992, and the development of the European Economic Area (EEA).

In 1992, the Statistical Office of the European Communities (Eurostat) publishes an information booklet on the statistical situation of the European Economic Area (EEA).

On 12 May 1992, Johannes Voggenhuber, spokesman for the Green Party in the Austrian National Council, condemns Austria’s participation in the European Economic Area (EEA) and outlines the dangers involved.

On 12 May 1992, Franz Vranitzky, Austrian Federal Chancellor, delivers an address to the Austrian National Council in which he considers the implications of the European Economic Area (EEA) and reaffirms his wish to see Austria accede to the European Communities.

In autumn 1992, in an article in the monthly publication EFTA Bulletin, Hadar Cars, former Swedish Trade Minister and Chairman of the Committee on the European Economic Area (EEA) in the Swedish Parliament, outlines the way in which Swedish MPs are drafting the bill which will allow the Parliament to approve the Agreement on the EEA signed on 2 May 1992 in Oporto by the Foreign Ministers of the Twelve and by those of the seven Member States of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

In the November 1992 edition of the journal EFTA Bulletin, Swiss diplomat Hansjörg Renk calls for the establishment of a European Economic Area (EEA), outlining the advantages that this agreement would offer the countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

On 30 October 1992, the European Parliament adopts a Resolution on economic and trade relations between the European Community and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries in the European Economic Area (EEA).

On 4 January 1994, the German daily newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung describes the European Economic Area (EEA) and emphasises the geopolitical and economic scope thereof.

On 17 May 1994, the first meeting of the Council of the European Economic Area (EEA) is held in Brussels. The Council is responsible for providing the political impetus for the implementation of the Agreement and for defining the general guidelines of the Joint Committee.

On 28 September 1989, the French daily newspaper Le Monde analyses the European policy of the Swiss Confederation and refers to the change of attitude of the Swiss people towards the European Communities.

On 18 May 1992, the Swiss Federal Council drafts a report analysing the advantages and disadvantages of possible Swiss accession to the European Community.

On 8 December 1992, commenting on the Swiss refusal, in a referendum, to ratify the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA), the Belgian daily newspaper Le Soir speculates on the EEA’s chances of success, particularly in the light of the enlargement process taking place in the European Communities.

In a referendum held on 6 December 1992, the Swiss vote against the accession of their country to the European Economic Area (EEA). The German cartoonist, Walter Hanel, portrays the path leading to the EEA as one fraught with pitfalls.

On 23 April, at the Congress of the Association of Swiss Foreign Trade Chambers, Bénédict de Tscharner, Ambassador and Head of the Swiss Mission to the European Communities, sets out Switzerland’s European policy after the negative outcome of the referendum on the accession of the country to the European Economic Area (EEA).

‘No comment’. In December 1991, cartoonist Hans Geisen illustrates Switzerland’s mistrust of the policy of European integration and emphasises the fact that, unlike the other European states, the country does not wish to take part in the European Union enlargement process.