I really do get that some leavers want nothing to do with the single market and some remainers want only full fat EU. EFTA/EEA is neither. It is a pre-existing commercial free trade agreement made available in 1994 when the EU was still the European Community. /2
I genuinely don’t believe the EU of 2019 would make available today a free trade agreement as generous as the #EEA if it didn’t exist. See how today’s EU is trying to strong arm Switzerland out of their more generous bilateral agreements. /3
Things that I’m sure the EU now regrets are: EFTA’s early stage input into new EU regulations (now greater than EU nations under QMV), its ability to cherrypick and the EFTA Court’s ability to disagree with the ECJ. All reasons Eftarians like me look positively on the EEA. /4
Do we need EEA? - could a comprehensive Canada ++ FTA do better for Britain? Possibly, but does anyone who has watched the last three years of EU machinations think an FTA will be easily concluded? Or between then and now we will be subject to less new EU law than the EEA? /5
EEA will not solve the Irish land border problem by itself, but it would remove the need for an Irish sea regulatory border and simplify some of the trade issues we face. It would not stop us signing other FTAs or leaving the EEA entirely on twelve months notice /6
EEA would (and this is a big issue for a lot of leavers I know) retain freedom of worker and travel movement - something many like me think benefits our economy. It also allows UK nationals and businesses to benefit from pre-existing pro-EEA legislation in EU countries. /7
What EFTA/EEA is not is a customs union. Don’t be confused by “Norway plus” or “CM2.0” which are code for bespoke deals fashioned on the EEA but without the benefits of EFTA’s flexibility or protection from the ECJ. Better instead create new pillars to benefit all EFTA members /8
As I said at the start, EFTA/EEA is not perfect & won’t satisfy either end of the spectrum, but I promote it because as FTA compromises go, it’s pretty good and quick to adopt. That’s why the extremes would rather spread disinformation than engage with its advantages directly /9
There are a lot of good Twitter accounts happy to educate you on the benefits of #EFTA #EEA - I particularly recommend the very patient @Ali_H_Smile - a good way to frame a question is “Is it true that..?” and we will happily help you sort fact from fiction. /11 Ends
