What is the difference between the EU customs union and single market?
The EU is not only a single market – it is also a customs union. The countries club together and agree to apply the same tariffs to goods from outside the union. Once goods have cleared customs in one country, they can be shipped to others in the union without further tariffs being imposed.
What is customs union and single market?
It is an arrangement between countries who form a trade bloc in which a free trade area is created. This removes duties paid on goods that are sold internally and sets up a common external tariff that will be applied to goods entering from outside the area.
What is Article 49 of the Lisbon Treaty?
What is Article 49? Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union establishes how a country can join the EU. As the UK left the EU on the 31 January 2020, it is now considered a third country under EU law. If it wanted to rejoin the EU one day, the UK would join through the framework set out by Article 49.
What is the process of joining the EU?
A country wishing to join the EU submits an application to the European Council, which asks the European Commission to assess whether it meets the criteria to join. If the Commission thinks so, the European Council draws up a negotiating mandate. Negotiations continue until all chapters have been completed.
What countries make up the EFTA?
The 4 EFTA countries
- Iceland.
- Liechtenstein.
- Norway.
- Switzerland.
Is Turkey a European Union country?
Albeit not officially part of the European Union, Turkey is one of the EU’s main partners and both are members of the European Union–Turkey Customs Union. Turkey borders two EU member states: Bulgaria and Greece….Turkey–European Union relations.
| EU | Turkey |
|---|---|
| European Union Delegation, Ankara | Turkey Mission, Brussels |
Can a member of a customs union become an EFTA member?
Art. 56.3 of the EFTA Convention states that a new EFTA member state ‘shall apply to become a party to the free trade agreements between the Member States on the one hand and third states, unions of states or international organisations on the other.’ As a member of a customs union, a country acceding to EFTA could not comply with this obligation.
What financial contributions do the EEA EFTA states make to the EU?
The financial contributions of the EEA EFTA States to the EU related to the EEA Agreement are twofold. First, the EEA EFTA States contribute towards reducing economic and social disparities in the EEA through the EEA Grants.
Could the UK apply to re-join EFTA?
The UK government has clearly indicated that it does not intend to apply for membership of EFTA. However, if the UK were to seek to re-join EFTA, EFTA Member States would carefully examine the application. A request for membership of EFTA would be considered by the EFTA Council, where decisions are taken by consensus.
Is the UK still a member of the EEA?
The EEA EFTA States have agreed to treat the UK as an EU Member State during this period. Accordingly, the rights and obligations contained in the EEA Agreement continue to apply between the UK and the EEA EFTA States until 31 December 2020.