Commission's view of European Economic Area membership

10.9.2014

Question for written answer E-006753-14
to the Commission
Rule 130
Petr Mach (EFDD)

According to the Commission, what happens to a state’s membership of the European Economic Area (EEA) if it leaves the EU under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty? Does the country automatically lose its membership of the European Economic Area, or is each Member State also a party to the EEA Agreement and does it remain a member of the EEA upon leaving the EU?

Does the Commission distinguish between Member States which, as is the case with the UK, signed the EEA separately and those which, like the Czech Republic, became a party to the agreement on entry to the EU?