After the Principality of Liechtenstein's accession to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA Agreement), the Government established the EEA Coordination Unit in July 1995.

The main responsibilities of the EEA Coordination Unit are:

Coordinating incorporation and implementation of EEA law

The EEA Coordination Unit coordinates the incorporation and implementation of EEA-relevant EU legal acts into national law, continuously informs the experts of the Liechtenstein National Administration on the development of EU law, and supports them in the various phases of the incorporation process.

EEA-relevant EU legal acts are incorporated on an ongoing basis, in accordance with the decisions of the EEA Joint Committee. These decisions are announced in the Liechtenstein Law Gazette and are then published in the “EWR-Register”.

Advising the Government and the offices of the National Administration on EEA-law matters

The EEA Coordination Unit is the central contact office for the Government and the offices of the National Administration on questions of EEA law. In this connection, it not only supports the experts of the Liechtenstein National Administration in the incorporation, implementation, and application of EEA law, but also prepares legal opinions on EEA law on behalf of the Government and participates in working groups and negotiating delegations appointed by the Government.

Representing the Government in proceedings before the EFTA Surveillance Authority, the EFTA Court, and the European Court of Justice

The EEA Coordination Unit represents the Government:

• in the subcommittees of the Standing Committee of the EFTA States
• in proceedings before the EFTA Surveillance Authority and the EFTA Court
• in negotiations with the EU Commission (together with the Liechtenstein Mission in Brussels)

and works closely together with the EFTA Secretariat in Brussels during the incorporation process. The EEA Coordination Unit also prepares written statements on behalf of the Government with respect to proceedings pending before the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg, where the matter is of significance to Liechtenstein or the European Economic Area (EEA).

Documentation/information on EU/EEA topics

The EEA Documentation Division of the EEA Coordination Units offers interested citizens and companies numerous information and documentation services, such as:

• information materials on EU/EEA topics
• EU legal acts
• jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice and the EFTA Court

Other responsibilities of the EEA Documentation Division include:

• ongoing updates of the “EWR-Register” and the “EWR-Rechtssammlung”
• publication of the quarterly periodical, "SEWR-News" (current topics of EU/EEA law)
• maintenance of the website of the EEA Coordination Unit and the EEA section of the Liechtenstein Portal (official website of the Principality of Liechtenstein)

Contact office for citizens and companies with cross-border problems (SOLVIT)

Although the European Economic Area generally functions smoothly, citizens and companies sometimes encounter problems, possibly if authorities in other Member States incorrectly apply EEA rules. SOLVIT was created to solve problems as effectively as possible, without having to approach the courts. The system is free of charge.

Useful Links
Organigram EEA Coordination Unit (PDF, 91.87 KB)

Responsibility for content lies with the EEA Coordination Unit .