Association Agreement

'No to EEA' campaign in Norway (Photo: Nei til EU)

The EU has different types of agreements with other countries.

• Association Agreement
  An Association Agreement is an agreement between the EU and external (third) countries. According to Art. 310 TEC such an agreement is the basis of a close co-operation and may lead to later EU membership of the third country. 
• EEA Agreement
  The EEA agreement establishes a common economic area with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
• Partnership Agreement
  Partnership agreements have been signed with, for example, the former Soviet republics in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
• Stabilisation and Association Agreement
  The EU has Stabilisation and Association Agreements (SAA) with the Balkan countries.
• Development Association Agreement
  Development Association agreements are also called Co-operation Agreements (for example, with Maghreb, Mashreg, or the Cotonou agreement).
• Free Trade Association Agreements
  Free Trade Association Agreements (for example EEA agreement).