European Economic Area

The article deals with a new phenomenon in the international economic relations, namely with the European Economic Area (the EEA) which is to come into force by virtue of the Agreement of association signed in 1992 by the European Communities and the EFTA states. There are mainly economic reasons which underlie the Agreement of association: traditional economic links between the EC and the EFTA states as well as their aiming at an optimal integration area to cope with the challenges of modem economy and international competition. The EEA means a free trade zone applying to manufactures (with limited liberalization of agricultural trade) accompanied by free movement of persons, services and capital. The introduction of ’the four freedoms’ will be connected with setting up of a system ensuring that competition is not distorted. The EEA may be looked upon in two ways: as a stage on the way to full membership of the EFTA stales in the EC or - as an alternative to this membership. There are strong indications for the first option but still the other cannot be excludedZadanie pt. „Digitalizacja i udostępnienie w Cyfrowym Repozytorium Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego kolekcji czasopism naukowych wydawanych przez Uniwersytet Łódzki” nr 885/P-DUN/2014 zostało dofinansowane ze środków MNiSW w ramach działalności upowszechniającej nauk