§ Lord Brougham and Vauxasked Her Majesty's Government:
When the European Economic Area will enter into force.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Strathclyde)Following ratification of the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement by all EC member states and participating states of the European Free Trade Association, the Community formally concluded the EEA at the ECOFIN Council on 13th December. This means that the European Economic Area will enter into force on 1st January 1994.
The European Economic Area Agreement extends most of the EC's single market to five states of the European Free Trade Association: Austria, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden (Liechtenstein may join later). The UK ratified the EEA on 15th November 1993.