# European Economic Area

*Last updated: 2026-06-22*

> Unlike the EU single market, which is limited to European Union member states, the European Economic Area (EEA) extends the four fundamental freedoms—free movement of goods, persons, services, and capital—to three non-EU EFTA members: Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

Unlike the EU single market, which is limited to European Union member states, the European Economic Area (EEA) extends the four fundamental freedoms—free movement of goods, persons, services, and capital—to three non-EU EFTA members: Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. The EEA Agreement entered into force in 1994. For customs brokers and freight forwarders, the practical distinction matters: goods moving between EU and EEA countries are largely exempt from customs formalities, yet these countries are not part of the EU Customs Union and do not apply the Union Customs Code, meaning proof-of-origin requirements and certain regulatory checks still apply. A frequent source of confusion: Switzerland is an EFTA member but not an EEA member, and instead operates under a set of bilateral agreements with the EU.

**Source:** [https://www.efta.int/eea](https://www.efta.int/eea)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | European Economic Area |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 124 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-22 |
| Source | https://www.efta.int/eea |

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*Logistics Glossary — Freight Academy: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/european-economic-area](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/european-economic-area)*

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