- Aug 18, 2014
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In my post I merely pointed out that the EHIC card was not an EU entity but run by the EEA.
The UK would always have its trade with the EU as a bargaining point.
Switzerland voted not to join the EEA and managed to get a separate deal, so it is possible.
Do EEA countries pay into the EU?
Its worrying that you still have a vote...
Terry
"Do EEA countries pay in" .......Yes ask the Norwegians . Their minister said they pay the equivalent to the UK without having any input.
@fastpat has clarified the Swiss position.
Anyone who is in the EEA or like the Swiss , in the EFTA has exactly the same conditions imposed on them to get any agreements that being a full me,ber entails.
A UK out vote & wanting ANY sort of deal re; trade with the EU & the first thing would be " Open Borders" .
Glad you mentioned the Switzerland position:
"The cornerstone of EU-Swiss relations is the Free Trade Agreement of 1972.
As a consequence of the rejection of theEEA membership in 1992, Switzerland and the EU agreed on a package of seven sectoral agreements signed in 1999 (known in Switzerland as "Bilaterals I"). These include: free movement of persons, technical trade barriers, public procurement, agriculture and air and land transport. In addition, a scientific research agreement fully associated Switzerland into the EU's framework research programmes.
A further set of sectoral agreements was signed in 2004 (known as "Bilaterals II"), covering, inter alia, Switzerland's participation in Schengen and Dublin, and agreements on taxation of savings, processed agricultural products, statistics, combating fraud, participation in the EU Media Programme, the Environment Agency, and Swiss financial contributions to economic and social cohesion in the new EU Member States.
In 2010 an agreement was signed on Swiss participation in EU education, professional training and youth programmes.
In overall, around 100 bilateral agreements currently exist between the EU and Switzerland.
The on-going implementation of these agreements obliges Switzerland to take over relevant Community legislation in the covered sectors.
These bilateral agreements between the EU and Switzerland are currently managed through a structure of more than 15 joint committees"
So they had to open their borders and agree to be governed by EU legislation without any input to that legislation, seems like a worsening of our current position, oh hang on a minute I'm being all negative, perhaps because it is all negative!
The only bit you left out was last year when the Swiss said they were proposing introducing border checks again , due to migrant crisis, & the EU told them " Well I hope you are tearing up the agreements also ? " That was the end of that.