Fact Check: The European Economic Area (EEA) includes EU member states and three additional countries.

Fact Check: "The European Economic Area (EEA) includes EU member states and three additional countries."

What We Know

The European Economic Area (EEA) is an economic zone that includes all member states of the European Union (EU) as well as three additional countries from the European Free Trade Association (EFTA): Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. The EEA was established to facilitate the free movement of goods, services, capital, and people between its member states, effectively integrating these countries into the EU's single market (GOV.UK, Government.nl, World Population Review).

As of now, the EEA comprises 30 countries: the 27 EU member states and the three EFTA countries. Switzerland, although a member of EFTA, is not part of the EEA but has a series of bilateral agreements with the EU that allow it to participate in the single market (Government.nl, Vlaanderen).

Analysis

The claim that the EEA includes EU member states and three additional countries is accurate and well-supported by multiple reliable sources. The official government websites of the UK and the Netherlands confirm that the EEA consists of all 27 EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway (GOV.UK, Government.nl).

Moreover, the historical context provided by the EEA Agreement, which was signed in 1992, outlines the framework for this economic collaboration, emphasizing the inclusion of EFTA member states in the EU's common market (World Population Review).

The sources referenced are credible, coming from government publications and reputable organizations that specialize in European affairs. They provide consistent information regarding the composition of the EEA, thus reinforcing the validity of the claim.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that "The European Economic Area (EEA) includes EU member states and three additional countries" is true. The EEA indeed consists of all 27 EU member states and three EFTA countries—Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway—confirming the accuracy of the statement.

Sources

1. Countries in the EU and EEA - GOV.UK
2. EU, EEA, EFTA and Schengen Area countries - Government.nl
3. Countries of the European Economic (EEA) Area 2025
4. Member States EU/EEA | IND
5. The countries of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area ...
6. List Of European Economic Area (EEA) Countries In 2025
7. List of EEA Countries and Their Role Explained - VisaVerge
8. PDF List of Member States