Liechtenstein Institute conference ventured a look into the future of the EEA

19 May 2025 - Notification
On May 1, 2025, Liechtenstein celebrated the 30th anniversary of its accession to the European Economic Area (EEA) and thus its participation in the enlarged EU internal market. On May 14, 2025, the Liechtenstein Institute dedicated the international conference "The Future of the EEA Internal Market in view of current geopolitical and global economic challenges" to this occasion. Speakers from all EEA states ventured a look into the future.

In view of the current geopolitical context and the recent crises, the EEA is increasingly facing security and economic policy challenges. The focus is increasingly on securing Europe's future competitiveness, economic security and resilience. In addition, there is - once again - the possibility of Iceland and perhaps Norway joining the EU in the medium term. For Liechtenstein, the complexity increases due to its relations with Switzerland and its difficult relationship with the EU. The discussion of all these topics was followed by the presentation of the Research Handbook on the EEA Internal Market by the editor Graham Butler (University of Southern Denmark). The presentation of EEA internal market law follows the structure and systematic of the text of the agreement. It includes contributions by Georges Baur and Benedikt Pirker, who will join the Liechtenstein Institute in September 2025.

The event was concluded by a contribution from Petros Mavromichalis (EU Ambassador to Liechtenstein).

The conference was organized by Georges Baur, Head of Legal Research at the Liechtenstein Institute.

Speakers

  • Prof. Dr. Thomas Meier, Liechtenstein Institute
  • Brigitte Haas, Head of Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein
  • Dr. Georges Baur, Liechtenstein Institute
  • Dr. Christian Frommelt, University of Liechtenstein
  • Dr. Martin Geiger, Liechtenstein Institute
  • Prof. Peter van Elsuwege, Universiteit Gent/GELI
  • Ambassador Pascal Schafhauser, Brussels
  • Dr. Andrea Entner-Koch, EEA Staff Office, Liechtenstein
  • Prof. Gunnar Thor Pétursson, Háskólinn í Reykjavík (Iceland)
  • Prof. Halvard H. Fredriksen, Universitetet i Bergen (Norway)
  • Prof. Christa Tobler, Universiteit Leiden/Europainstitut Basel
  • Prof. Graham Butler, University of Southern Denmark


To the conference program

The entire conference can be viewed on YouTube .

Coverage
EEA: "No time for complacency". Article by Sina Thöny, Liechtensteiner Vaterland, May 15, 2025
Future of the single market in geopolitically difficult times. Article by Gregor Meier, Landesspiegel.li, May 14, 2025
30 years EEA: Conference in the town hall. 1FL TV, May 15, 2025

Picture above: The speakers at the conference with Head of Government Brigitte Haas, who opened the conference (Photo: Nils Vollmar).

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Picture below: Head of Government Brigitte Haas opened the conference. Thomas Meier welcomed the participants before Georges Baur introduced the conference proceedings. Christian Frommelt addressed the changing geopolitical circumstances in his presentation (Photo: Nils Vollmar).