Fact Check: EFTA includes Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.

Fact Check: "EFTA includes Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein."

What We Know

The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is a regional trade organization that currently consists of four member states: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Established in 1960, EFTA was created to promote free trade and economic integration among its members and operates alongside the European Union (EU) without being part of the EU Customs Union. All four EFTA member states participate in the European single market and are part of the Schengen Area, which allows for passport-free travel across many European countries (Government.nl).

Analysis

The claim that "EFTA includes Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein" is supported by multiple reliable sources. According to the Wikipedia entry on the European Free Trade Association, it explicitly lists these four countries as its members. Furthermore, the Government of the Netherlands confirms this membership, stating that EFTA is composed of the same four nations.

Additional sources, such as the EFTA official website and a report from the European Parliament, also affirm that these four countries are the only current members of EFTA. The consistency across these sources indicates a high level of reliability, as they are either governmental or well-established informational platforms.

While the information is straightforward and corroborated, it is essential to note that Switzerland, although a member of EFTA, is not part of the European Economic Area (EEA), which includes only Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway (European Parliament). This distinction does not affect the claim regarding EFTA membership but is relevant for understanding the broader context of these countries' relationships with the EU.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that "EFTA includes Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein" is accurate. All four countries are indeed members of the European Free Trade Association, as confirmed by multiple credible sources.

Sources

1. European Free Trade Association - Wikipedia
2. EU, EEA, EFTA and Schengen Area countries - Government.nl
3. EFTA: Introduction - Global Edge
4. The European Free Trade Association
5. The European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland and the North - European Parliament
6. EFTA countries - German Federal Statistical Office