In addition to maintaining bilateral relations with other States, multilateral cooperation is an important element of Liechtenstein foreign policy. Multilateral relations enable Liechtenstein to secure its independence and develop its own foreign policy profile.

In 1950, Liechtenstein joined the Statute of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In 1975, Liechtenstein and 34 other States signed the Helsinki Final Act of the CSCE; membership in the Council of Europe followed in 1978, and in 1990, Liechtenstein joined the United Nations (UN) as the smallest Member State at the time. In addition to these more political multilateral relations, the 1990’s brought further important European and global agreements in the foreign economic field; European integration, namely relations with the European Union (EU), is of particular importance in this respect. Liechtenstein joined the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) as a full member in 1991, became a member of the of the European Economic Area (EEA) on 1 May 1995, and joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) on 1 September 1995.

Responsibility for content lies with the Office for Foreign Affairs, 9490 Vaduz, office@liechtenstein.li

Former Prime Minister Otmar Hasler
at the 2005 World Summit in New York