On 30 December 1959, in Lisbon, the Portuguese Minister of State with special responsibility for Trade, José Correia de Oliveira, signs the Convention of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

Interactive map showing the seven founder members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in 1960, as well as the subsequent accessions and withdrawals that have determined the present composition of the organisation.

Chronological table on Member States of the European Free-Trade Association (EFTA) showing the date of their accession or withdrawal from the organisation, as well as the date of the free-trade agreements concluded between them and the European Economic Community (EEC) [to become the European Community (EC) after the Treaty on European Union came into force on 1 November 1993].

Following the signing of the Convention establishing the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in Stockholm on 19 and 20 November 1959, the Portuguese Directorate-General for Economic and Consular Affairs issues a circular concerning the origin and the objectives of the Convention so as to lay down a common strategy for future meetings with the representatives of the seven Member States.

On 4 January 1960, in Stockholm, the Ambassadors or Foreign Ministers of Austria, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom sign the Convention establishing the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) which is to enter into force on 3 May 1960.

On 4 January 1960, in Stockholm, Austria, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom sign the Convention establishing the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

On 23 April 1960, MP Alberto de Araújo submits to the Portuguese National Assembly the proposal for the ratification of the Convention establishing the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), signed in Stockholm on 4 January 1960.

On 3 May 1960, after ratification by the national parliaments of the Seven, the Convention establishing the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) officially comes into force in Stockholm.

On 5 June 1961, the Portuguese Government publishes a memorandum in which it gives a progress report on the initial negotiations between the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Free Trade Area (EFTA), of which Portugal is a member.

In this interview, José da Silva Lopes, former Minister for Finance and Foreign Trade, outlines the origins of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the reasons why Portugal favoured accession to this organisation when it was established in 1960 rather than accession to the European Economic Community (EEC).

On 3 September 1962, the Minister of State for Trade, José Correia de Oliveira, delivers an address to the Portuguese people about the creation of the Portuguese Economic Area (PEA), which seeks to establish the free movement of goods, services and persons between Portugal and its overseas territories.

In this interview, José da Silva Lopes, former Minister for Finance and Foreign Trade, explains why Portugal participated in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) when it acceded to the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and outlines the consequences that this had on the country’s relations with its overseas territories.

These tables, published in 1961 in the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Bulletin, show the positive development of trade in the organisation’s Member States.

On 18 March 1964, in his address to the Portuguese National Assembly, MP Alberto de Araújo gives a positive analysis of the government’s finances. He also refers to relations between the mainland and the country’s overseas territories with regard to the Common Market and to Portugal’s participation in the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

The first Portuguese Delegation to the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), chaired by the Minister of State, José Correia de Oliveira (front row, centre).

On 27 and 28 October 1966, the Council of Ministers of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) meets in Lisbon in order to consider the issues relating to the procurement and trade policies of public undertakings.

In this interview, José Medeiros Ferreira, former Portuguese Foreign Minister, outlines the nature of Portugal’s relations with the Member States of the European Communities when it was a Member State of the European Free Trade Association.

In this commemorative publication to mark the 40th anniversary of the European Free Trade Association, published in 2000 by the organisation’s Secretariat, one page is devoted to the EFTA Industrial Development Fund for Portugal, implemented on 1 February 1977.

In this interview, José Medeiros Ferreira, former Portuguese Foreign Minister, explains the importance for Portugal of the decision to establish the EFTA Industrial Development Fund in 1975.