The European Free Trade Association (EFTA)  was founded in 1960 by seven Western European States (Austria, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom) as a reaction to the creation of the European Communities (EC). The Stockholm Convention established a free trade zone for industrial goods. A lean institutional system with a Secretariat and various committees supports the activities of the Association. The highest decision-making body is the EFTA Council. Iceland joined in 1970 and Finland in 1986. Denmark and the United Kingdom left EFTA in 1973 when they joined the EC, Portugal in 1986, and Austria, Finland, and Sweden in 1995.
Pursuant to the Customs Union with Switzerland  , Liechtenstein was indirectly – through a special protocol – included in EFTA and the 1972 Swiss-EC free trade agreement. In 1991, Liechtenstein became a full member of EFTA, in order to represent its own interests beyond the scope of the Customs Treaty in the negotiations on the European Economic Area (EEA ), such as with respect to the free movement of services and persons. Moreover, the EFTA States have concluded numerous free trade agreements with third States since 1991. The replacement of the Stockholm Convention with the Vaduz Convention in 2002 enabled the remaining EFTA States Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland to attain a level of economic integration that corresponds in essence to the content of the Bilateral Agreements between Switzerland and the EU and that approaches the EEA in the areas covered by the Convention.
The headquarters of EFTA are located in Geneva. However, after entry into force of the EEA, the part of the EFTA Secretariat exclusively concerned with EEA matters was moved to Brussels. The focus of the activities in Geneva is to manage EFTA relations with third countries, mainly through the negotiation and maintenance of free trade agreements. Currently, the EFTA network comprises 20 Free Trade Agreements with total fo 29 countries (four of these free trade agreements - with the GCC States, Colombia, Serbia and Albania - will enter into force only during the course of 2010 - status February 2010). Negotiations with other partner countries are ongoing.
The Permanent Mission of Liechtenstein in Geneva , headed by Ambassador Norbert Frick, is responsible for EFTA affairs.
Like the other three EFTA member States, Liechtenstein periodically chairs the EFTA Council for six months. Liechtenstein held the EFTA Chairmanship for the last time during the 1st halt of 2007. Liechtenstein will be in the chair in the EFTA in Geneva in the second half of 2009. Therefore, the EFTA Ministerial meeting on 17 December 2009 in Geneva was chaired by Minister Aurelia Frick. In the fringes of this meeting, free trade agreements with both Serbia and Albania were signed.
In the year 2010 EFTA celebrates its 50th anniversary. At the occasion of 15 years of EEA (2009)/50 years EFTA (2010) a seminar took place already in November 2009 in Geneva. On the request of the Secretary-General of EFTA, the seminar was moderated by Mr Ernst Walch, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liechtenstein. Minister Aurelia Frick - as EFTA Ministerial Chair - held an introductory speech. The actual anniversary event will take place in May/June 2010.
Further information:
Vaduz Convention (PDF, 132.10 KB) 
Country comparison Liechtenstein - Switzerland (PDF, 343.15 KB)
Country comparison Liechtenstein - Iceland (PDF, 1.41 MB)
Country comparison Liechtenstein - Norway (PDF, 1.39 MB)
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