Treaty between the European Union, its member states, and a non-EU country
AEuropean Union Association Agreement or simplyAssociation Agreement (AA ) is a treaty between theEuropean Union (EU, or its predecessors), itsMember States and a non-EU country or bloc of countries that governs bilateral relations. Areas frequently covered by such agreements include the development of political, trade, social, cultural and security links. The provision for an association agreement was included in theTreaty of Rome , which established theEuropean Economic Community , as a means to enable co-operation of the Community with the United Kingdom, which had retreated from the treaty negotiations at theMessina Conference of 1955. According to theEuropean External Action Service , for an agreement to be classified as an AA, it must meet several criteria:[ 1]
1. The legal basis for [association agreements'] conclusion isArticle 217 TFEU (former art. 310 and art. 238 TEC)most favoured nation treatment;
— European External Action Service
The EU typically concludes Association Agreements in exchange for commitments to political, economic, trade, or human rights reform in a country. In exchange, the country may be offeredtariff -free access to some or all EU markets (industrial goods, agricultural products, etc.), and financial or technical assistance. Most recently signed AAs also include aFree Trade Agreement (FTA) between the EU and the external party.
Association Agreements have to be accepted by the European Union and need to beratified by all theEU member states and the state concerned.
AAs go by a variety of names (e.g. Euro-Mediterranean Agreement Establishing an Association, Europe Agreement Establishing an Association) and need not necessarily even have the word "Association" in the title. Some AAs contain a promise offuture EU membership for the contracting state.
The first states to sign such agreements wereGreece in 1961[ 2] Turkey in 1963.[ 3]
In recent history, such agreements have been signed as part of two EU policies, theStabilisation and Association Process (SAp) and theEuropean Neighbourhood Policy (ENP).
The countries of thewestern Balkans (official candidatesAlbania ,Bosnia and Herzegovina ,Montenegro ,North Macedonia ,Serbia , and potential candidateKosovo ) are covered by SAp. All six have "Stabilisation and Association Agreements" (SAA) with the EU in force.
TheEastern European neighbours ofArmenia ,Azerbaijan ,Belarus ,Georgia ,Moldova , andUkraine are all members of theEastern Partnership and are covered by the ENP. WhileRussia has a special status with theEU-Russia Common Spaces instead of ENP participation.
Meanwhile, the countries of theMediterranean , (Algeria ,Morocco ,Egypt ,Israel ,Jordan ,Lebanon ,Libya , thePalestinian Authority ,Syria ,Tunisia ) are also covered by the ENP and seven of the Mediterranean states have a "Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association" (EMAA) with the EU in force, while Palestine has an interim EMAA in force.[ 4]
Moldova andUkraine have Association Agreements in force.Armenia completed negotiations for a AA in 2013 but decided not to sign the agreement and later signed a revisedCEPA with the EU in 2017.[ 5] Azerbaijan was also negotiating an AA, but did not conclude one.[ 6]
Both the SAA and ENP are based mostly on the EU'sacquis communautaire and its promulgation in the co-operating states legislation. Of course, the depth of the harmonisation is less than full EU members and some policy areas may not be covered (depending on the particular state).
In addition to these two policies, AAs withfree-trade agreement provisions have been signed with other states andtrade blocs includingChile andSouth Africa .
EU Agreements with third states [ edit ] EU Association Agreements with neighbouring countries EU member states
Agreement on the European Economic Area
Stabilisation and Association Agreement
Agreement Establishing an Association
Partnership and Cooperation Agreement; Association Agreement under negotiations
Association Agreement under negotiations
Euro-Mediterranean Agreement Establishing an Association
Interim Euro-Mediterranean Agreement Establishing an Association
Cooperation Agreement; Euro-Mediterranean Agreement Establishing an Association initialled
Trade and Cooperation Agreement
Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement
Partnership and Cooperation Agreement signed
Negotiations on a Framework Agreement suspended
Association Agreements [ edit ] Currently in negotiations [ edit ] Formerly in negotiations but abandoned [ edit ] African statesConvention of Association (1964,[ 44] [ 45] Convention in 1976 ACP Convention (1976,[ 46] [ 47] [ 48] [ 49] PA in 2003Algeria CA (1978),[ 50] Bulgaria EAA (1995),[ 51] acceded to the EU in 2007 Croatia SAA (2005),[ 52] acceded to the EU in 2013 Cyprus AA (1973),[ 53] acceded to the EU in 2004 Czech Republic EAA (1995),[ 54] acceded to the EU in 2004 Czech and Slovak Federative Republic EAA (NA),[ 55] dissolution of Czechoslovakia EAC Agreement Establishing an Association (1971),[ 56] Convention in 1976Egypt CA (1978),[ 57] Estonia EAA (1998),[ 58] acceded to the EU in 2004 Greece AA (1961),acceded to the EU in 1981 Hungary EAA (1994),[ 59] acceded to the EU in 2004 Jordan CA (1978),[ 60] Latvia EAA (1998),[ 61] acceded to the EU in 2004 Lebanon CA (1978),[ 62] Lithuania EAA (1998),[ 63] acceded to the EU in 2004 Malta AA (1971),[ 64] acceded to the EU in 2004 Morocco CA (1978),[ 65] Poland EAA (1994),[ 66] acceded to the EU in 2004 Romania EAA (1995),[ 67] acceded to the EU in 2007 Slovakia EAA (1995),[ 68] acceded to the EU in 2004 Slovenia EAA (1999),[ 69] acceded to the EU in 2004 Tunisia CA (1978),[ 70] United Kingdom ACR (1955),[ 71] acceded to the EU in 1973 Free-trade agreements [ edit ] EU Free trade agreements European Union
Agreement in force
Agreement (in part) provisionally applied
Currently undergoing ratification [ edit ] Currently in negotiations [ edit ] Currently undergoing ratification [ edit ] Currently in negotiations [ edit ] Legend Impact on environment and national economies [ edit ] [ edit ] Trade agreements between the EU and other countries or free trade zones have differential effects on the respective economies. Agricultural industries are most significantly impacted when regional farms have to compete with large producers that gain access to markets when tariffs fall. For large agreements such as the AA withMercosur , significant opposition exists in European countries against cheaper imports of meats and other products.[ 146] [ 147]
The impact on the environment for those nations that export farm products from areas with rain forests or other ecologically relevant regions, for example in Brazil, has been increasingly documented by environmental groups opposing EU trade agreements.[ 148] [ 149]
^ "Association Agreements" (PDF) .European External Action Service . 11 May 2011. Archived fromthe original (PDF) on 1 April 2012. Retrieved9 August 2013 .^ "Accord créant une association entre la Communauté économique européenne et la Grèce" .Official Journal of the European Union 294– 342. 18 February 1963. Retrieved19 July 2013 .^ "Accord créant une association entre la Communauté économique européenne et la Turquie – Protocole n° 1 : protocole provisoire – Protocole n° 2 : protocole financier – Acte final – Déclarations" .Official Journal of the European Union 3687– 3697. 29 December 1964. Retrieved19 July 2013 .^a b "Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreements" .European Union . Retrieved21 July 2013 .^a b "Armenia – Trade – European Commission" .ec.europa.eu .^a b "Azerbaijan" .European External Action Service . Retrieved26 January 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved18 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved21 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved18 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved21 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved21 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved4 July 2014 .^a b c "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved18 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved21 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved21 July 2013 .^ "SAA Agreement with Kosovo*" . Council of the European Union. Retrieved7 December 2016 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved20 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved4 July 2014 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved18 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ Addressed by the EU as "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia " ^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved18 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved18 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^a b FACT SHEET – The European Union and Syria , EEAS. Published 14 July 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved18 July 2013 .^ "Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye | EEAS" .www.eeas.europa.eu . Retrieved21 April 2023 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved21 March 2014 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved27 June 2014 .^ "Official Journal of the European Union" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved13 July 2017 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved1 January 2021 .^ "EU-UK trade and cooperation agreement: Council adopts decision on conclusion" .consilium.europa.eu . 29 April 2021.^a b c "RECORDED HRVP Federica MOGHERINI host the ceremony on the occasion of the launching of the Association Agreement(s) negotiations with the Principality of Andorra, the Principality of Monaco and the Republic of San Marino" .European Commission . 18 March 2015. Retrieved18 March 2015 .^a b "Commission proposes Association Agreement with Andorra and San Marino to the Council" . European Commission. 26 April 2024. Retrieved13 July 2024 .^a b c Kathryn Carlson (7 May 2024)."EU announces deal with Andorra and San Marino – just don't mention finance" . Politico. Retrieved13 July 2024 . ^ "ENP Package – Libya" .European Commission . 27 March 2014. Retrieved9 July 2014 .^ "EU, Mercosur strike trade pact, defying protectionist wave" .Reuters Business News . Retrieved 30 June 2019.^ "European-Syrian Cooperation Agreement" .European External Action Service . Archived fromthe original on 16 September 2013. Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ "Syria" .European External Action Service . Retrieved8 August 2013 .^ "Convention of association between EEC and the African States and Malgache associated to the Community, as well as its Protocols and Annexes" .European External Action Service . Retrieved29 December 2021 .^ "Convention of association between EEC and African States and Malgache associated to the Community, as well as its Protocols and Annexes" .European External Action Service . Retrieved29 December 2021 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved21 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved12 November 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ "Agreement establishing an association between the European Economic Community and the United Republic of Tanzania, the Republic of Uganda and the Republic of Kenya" .European External Action Service . Retrieved29 December 2021 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ European Yearbook Springer Science+Business Media . 2013. p. 365.ISBN 9789401538954 ^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved18 July 2013 .^ "EU-Colombia Ecuador Peru FTA" .policy.trade.ec.europa.eu . 14 October 2024. Retrieved20 October 2024 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved20 July 2013 .^ "Agreement – Consilium" .consilium.europa.eu . Retrieved18 July 2018 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved21 July 2013 .^ Franco-Monegasque Treaty ^ "EU-New Zealand" .policy.trade.ec.europa.eu . 1 May 2024. Retrieved27 May 2024 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved21 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved18 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved18 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved1 November 2016 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved9 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved9 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved9 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved16 May 2021 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved13 August 2016 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 September 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved17 November 2016 .^ "Australia – Trade – European Commission" .ec.europa.eu .^ "India" .European Commission . Retrieved3 September 2012 .^ "EU trade relations with Malaysia" .policy.trade.ec.europa.eu . 5 March 2024. Retrieved27 May 2024 .^ "Morocco" .European Commission .^ "EU and the Philippines launch negotiations for a free trade agreement" .European Commission . 22 December 2015.^ "EU and Thailand hold first round of negotiations for Free Trade Agreement" .European Commission . 31 May 2013. Retrieved7 September 2013 .^ "Tunisia" .European Commission .^ "EU and US conclude first round of TTIP negotiations in Washington" .European Commission . 12 July 2013. Retrieved7 September 2013 .^ "Pacific" .European Commission . Retrieved22 April 2015 .^ "Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) – Trade – European Commission" .ec.europa.eu .^ State of Play EU Trade Commission September 2009Archived 13 January 2011 at theWayback Machine ^ "West Africa – Trade – European Commission" .ec.europa.eu .^ "Central Africa" .European Commission . Retrieved7 September 2013 .^ "The EU's bilateral trade and investment agreements – where are we?" .European Union . 1 August 2013. Retrieved7 September 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved9 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved13 January 2015 .^ "Joint Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and provisional application of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Armenia, of the other part" .European Commission . 25 September 2017. Retrieved16 October 2017 .In certain areas, the Agreement is also designed to bring Armenian law gradually closer to the EU acquis. However, it does not go as far as to establish an association between the EU and Armenia. ^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 September 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved9 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved9 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved18 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved9 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved18 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved18 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved13 January 2015 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved18 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 September 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 September 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved17 October 2016 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved18 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved18 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved18 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved18 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 September 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 September 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved18 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved18 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved17 October 2016 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved18 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved18 July 2013 .^ "Free Trade Agreement" .European External Action Service . Archived fromthe original on 8 August 2013. Retrieved9 August 2013 .^ "Russia – Trade – European Commission" .ec.europa.eu .^ "Press Release European Union – Thailand Partnership and Cooperation Agreement initialled today in Brussels" (PDF) .European External Action Service . 7 November 2013. Retrieved6 January 2016 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved18 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved18 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved18 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 August 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved21 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved18 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved18 July 2013 .^ "Agreement details" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 September 2013 .^ "Cooperation Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Yemen Arab Republic" .Council of the European Union . Retrieved7 September 2013 .^ Farmers, environmentalists slam ‘sell-out’ EU-Mercosur trade deal .France 24 . Retrieved 30 June 2019^ How two new free trade agreements could transform Brazil . WEF Agenda. Retrieved 30 June 2019.^ EU, Mercosur Reach Agreement on Trade The Wall Street Journal (World) . Retrieved 30 June 2019.^ Standardisation, Mutual Recognition Agreements and Technical Cooperation . EFTA Policy Areas. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
Africa Americas Asia Europe
Oceania Former General †= Disputed state, may not be recognised as an independent state by some or all European Union members.
Administration and policies
Leadership Structure
Policies Equipment Decorations Related
21 November 2013 – 23 February 2014
Main Main Aftermath Elections Main European Protest
Organizations Lead figures
Anti-protest
Organizations Lead figures
.svg)
