Member States of the European Communities and EFTA States
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Agreement on the European Economic Area - Final Act - Joint Declarations - Declarations of the Governments of the Member States of the European Communities and of the EFTA States - Miscellaneous agreements - Agreed minutes - Declaration by one or more Contracting Parties to the Agreement on the European Economic Area
PREAMBLE
THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY,
THE EUROPEAN COAL AND STEEL COMMUNITY,
THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM,
THE KINGDOM OF DENMARK,
THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY,
THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC,
THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN,
THE FRENCH REPUBLIC,
IRELAND,
THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC,
THE GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG,
THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS,
THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC,
THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND,
AND
THE REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA,
THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND,
THE REPUBLIC OF ICELAND,
THE PRINCIPALITY OF LIECHTENSTEIN,
THE KINGDOM OF NORWAY,
THE KINGDOM OF SWEDEN,
THE SWISS CONFEDERATION,
hereinafter referred to as the "CONTRACTING PARTIES",
CONVINCED that the European Economic Area will contribute to the building of a Europe founded on peace, democracy and human rights;
REAFFIRMING the high priority they attach to the privileged relations between the European Communities, their Member States and the EFTA States, based on proximity, enduring common values and European identity;
DETERMINED to contribute, on the basis of a market economy, to the liberalisation of world trade and to cooperation in this area, in particular in compliance with the provisions of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and with the Convention on the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development;
CONSIDERING the objective of creating a dynamic and homogenous European Economic Area based on common rules and equal conditions of competition, providing for appropriate means of enforcement, including in the field of justice, on the basis of equality and reciprocity and according to an overall balance of advantages, rights and obligations of the Contracting Parties;
DETERMINED to ensure the widest possible achievement of free movement of goods, persons, services and capital throughout the European Economic Area and to strengthen and broaden cooperation on horizontal and framework policies;
DESIRING to promote the harmonious development of the European Economic Area and convinced of the need to contribute, through the implementation of this Agreement, to the reduction of economic and social disparities between the regions;
DESIROUS of contributing to strengthening the cooperation between Members of the European Parliament and Parliaments of the EFTA States as well as between the social partners of the European Communities and of the EFTA States;
CONVINCED that individuals will play an important role within the European Economic Area by exercising the rights conferred upon them by this Agreement and by defending those rights in law;
DETERMINED to preserve, protect and improve the quality of the environment and to ensure a prudent and rational utilisation of natural resources, based in particular on the principle of sustainable development, as well as on the need for preventive action and precautionary measures
DETERMINED to take as a basis for the development of future standards a high level of protection as regards health, safety and the environment;
CONSCIOUS of the importance of developing the social dimension, including equal treatment for men and women, within the European Economic Area, and desirous of ensuring economic and social progress and promoting conditions for full employment, improved living standards and better working conditions in the European Economic Area;
DETERMINED to promote the interests of consumers and to strengthen their market position in order to achieve a high level of consumer protection;
COMMITTED to the common objectives of strengthening the scientific and technological basis of European industry and encouraging it to become more competitive at international level;
WHEREAS the conclusion of this Agreement shall in no way prejudge the possibility of accession of any EFTA State to the European Communities;
CONSIDERING that the Contracting Parties, in full respect of the independence of the courts, aim to achieve and maintain a uniform interpretation and application of this Agreement and of the provisions of Community legislation whose content is reproduced in this Agreement, and to ensure equal treatment of individuals and economic operators as regards the four freedoms and the conditions of competition;
CONSIDERING that this Agreement does not restrict the decision-making autonomy of the Contracting Parties nor their power to conclude treaties, subject to the provisions of this Agreement and the limitations imposed by public international law,
HAVE DECIDED to conclude the following Agreement: (see original document)
