Utilisateur:Gilles Mairet/Micro-états européens et Union européenne

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The five European microstates
Drapeau d'Andorre Andorra
Drapeau du Liechtenstein Liechtenstein
Drapeau de Monaco Monaco
Drapeau de Saint-Marin San Marino
Drapeau du Vatican Vatican City
bordered by the European Union (blue)

There are a number of microstates in Europe. Because of their size, they are often closely linked with another larger state. Currently, all of the European microstates have special relations with the European Union[1].

The microstates of Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, and the Vatican City remain outside the Union, some because of the cost of membership as the EU has not been designed with microstates in mind. Andorra is, by population, the largest of the 5 microstates with 78,115 according to a census taken in 2011. Two other small countries, Luxembourg and Malta, are full members of the European Union and both inhabited by populations over 400,000. Iceland is considered a microstate by some, because of its small population of 320,060 per April 2012.[2] It is a member of the European Economic Area (EEA), and is recognized as an official candidate for accession to the Union, though the negotiations have been suspended. If Iceland accedes to become an EU member state, it would enter as the smallest EU state measured by population, although twelfth largest by geographical size.

Status of relations[modifier | modifier le code]

San Marino, Monaco, and the Vatican City use the euro through an agreement with the EU and have been granted the right to issue a limited number of euro coins. They were allowed to do so as they had used or been tied to the old eurozone currencies. Andorra also has an agreement with the EU to use the euro, and will be permitted to issue euro coins once it meets certain conditions of its monetary agreement. They are expected to issue their first coins on 1 January 2014.[3] Liechtenstein, on the other hand, uses the Swiss franc.

Liechtenstein is a full member of the Schengen Agreement and Monaco has an open border with France and Schengen laws are administered as if it were a part of France. San Marino and the Vatican City have an open borders with their neighbouring Schengen Area state Italy.

Monaco is a part of the EU Customs territory through an agreement with France, and is administered as part of France. San Marino and Andorra are in a customs union with the bloc. Liechtenstein is a member of the EEA so is within the EU internal market and applies certain EU laws. All of the microstates are also part of other organisations such as the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (the Vatican is member only of the OSCE).

Andorra, Monaco, and San Marino have all stated their desire to deepen relations with the EU. San Marino has considered joining the EEA in the past,[4][5] and there is an active discussion within the country on submitting an application for EU membership[6].

In November 2012, after the Council of the European Union had called for an evaluation of the EU's relations with these microstates, which they described as "fragmented",[7] the European Commission published a report outlining options for their further integration into the EU.[6] Unlike Liechtenstein, which is a member of the EEA via the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the Schengen Agreement, relations with these three states are based on a collection of agreements covering specific issues. The report examined four alternatives to the current situation: 1) a Sectoral Approach with separate agreements with each state covering an entire policy area, 2) a comprehensive, multilateral Framework Association Agreement (FAA) with the three states, 3) EEA membership, and 4) EU membership. The Commission argued that the sectoral approach did not address the major issues and was still needlessly complicated, while EU membership was dismissed in the near future because "the EU institutions are currently not adapted to the accession of such small-sized countries." The remaining options, EEA membership and a FAA with the states, were found to be viable and were recommended by the Commission. In response, the Council requested that negotiations with the three microstates on further integration continue, and that a report be prepared by the end of 2013 detailing the implications of the two viable alternatives and recommendations on how to proceed[8].

As EEA membership is currently only open to EFTA or EU members, the consent of existing EFTA member states is required for the microstates to join the EEA without becoming members of the EU. In 2011, Jonas Gahr Støre, the then Foreign Minister of Norway which is an EFTA member state, said that EFTA/EEA membership for the microstates was not the appropriate mechanism for their integration into the internal market due to their different requirements than large countries such as Norway, and suggested that a simplified association would be better suited for them.[9] Espen Barth Eide, Støre's successor, responded to the Commission's report in late 2012 by questioning whether the microstates have sufficient administrative capabilities to meet the obligations of EEA membership. However, he stated that Norway was open to the possibility of EFTA membership for the microstates if they decide to submit an application, and that the country had not made a final decision on the matter.[10][11][12][13] Pascal Schafhauser, the Counsellor of the Liechtenstein Mission to the EU, said that Liechtenstein, another EFTA member state, was willing to discuss EEA membership for the microstates provided their joining did not impede the functioning of the organization. However, he suggested that the option direct membership in the EEA for the microstates, outside of both the EFTA and the EU, should be given consideration[12].

On 18 November 2013 the EU Commission published their report which concluded that "the participation of the small-sized countries in the EEA is not judged to be a viable option at present due to the political and institutional reasons", but that Association Agreements were a more feasible mechanism to integrate the microstates into the internal market, preferably via a single multilateral agreement with all three states[14].

Summary[modifier | modifier le code]

This table summarises the various components of EU laws applied in the microstates. Some territories of EU member states also have a special status in regard to EU laws applied as is the case with some European Free Trade Association members and their sovereign territories.

Microstates Schengen Area EU VAT area[15] EU customs territory EU single market Eurozone[16]
Drapeau d'Andorre Andorre (details) (no)[Note 1] (no) Customs union[Note 2] (no) Issuing rights[Note 3]
Drapeau du Liechtenstein Liechtenstein (details) Oui (no) (no)[Note 4] Oui[Note 5] (no)[Note 6]
Drapeau de Monaco Monaco (details) de facto[Note 7] Oui[Note 8][Note 9] Oui[Note 10] Partiel[Note 11] Yes[Note 12]
Drapeau de Saint-Marin Saint-Marin (details) Open border[Note 13] (no)[Note 14][Note 15] Customs union [Note 16] (no) Yes[Note 17]
Drapeau du Vatican Vatican (details) Open border[Note 18] (no) (no) (no) Yes[Note 19]

Notes[modifier | modifier le code]

  1. ↑ Accepts Schengen visas.[17]
  2. ↑ In a customs union with the EU.[18][19][17]
  3. ↑ Monetary agreement with the EU to issue euros.[20] Expected to issue their first coins on 1 January 2014.[3]
  4. ↑ Customs union with Switzerland.[21]
  5. ↑ Member state of the European Economic Area.
  6. ↑ Uses the Swiss franc.
  7. ↑ Although not formally part of the Schengen area, has an open border with France and Schengen laws are administered as if it were a part of France.[22][17]
  8. ↑ name=excise
  9. ↑ Through an agreement with France. Administered as a part of France for taxation purposes.[15][23][17]
  10. ↑ Through an agreement with France. Part of the EU Customs territory, administered as part of France.[24][25][17]
  11. ↑ Through an agreement with France.[26]
  12. ↑ Monetary agreement with the EU to issue euros.
  13. ↑ Although not formally part of the Schengen area, has an open border with Italy.[17]
  14. ↑ Part of the EU excise territory.[27]
  15. ↑ Through an agreement with Italy. Administered as a part of Italy for taxation purposes.[15][23]
  16. ↑ name=CU
  17. ↑ name=euros
  18. ↑ Although not formally part of the Schengen area, has an open border with Italy and has shown an interest in joining the agreement formally for closer cooperation in information sharing and other activities covered by the Schengen Information System.[28]
  19. ↑ name=euros

References[modifier | modifier le code]

  1. ↑ « EU relations with the Principality of Andorra, the Republic of San Marino and the Principality of Monaco », Council of the European Union, (consulté le )
  2. ↑ Tryggvi Thor Herbertsson et Gylfi Zoega, « A Microstate with Scale Economies: The Case of Iceland », Institute of Economic Studies Working Paper, University of Iceland, vol. W02:10,‎ (lire en ligne)
  3. ↑ a et b « The government announces a contest for the design of the Andorran euros », Andorra Mint, (consulté le )
  4. ↑ « The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has met the European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy », (consulté le )
  5. ↑ « San Martino to participate to the EEA », (consulté le )
  6. ↑ a et b « Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee of the Regions - EU Relations with the Principality of Andorra, the Principality of Monaco and the Republic of San Marino - Options for Closer Integration with the EU »,
  7. ↑ « Council conclusions on EU relations with EFTA countries », Council of the European Union, (consulté le )
  8. ↑ « Council conclusions on EU relations with the Principality of Andorra, the Republic of San Marino and the Principality of Monaco », Council of the European Union, (consulté le )
  9. ↑ « Norge sier nei til nye mikrostater i EØS », (consulté le )
  10. ↑ « Innlegg på møte i Stortingets europautvalg », Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway, (consulté le )
  11. ↑ « Eide: Bedre blir det ikke », (consulté le )
  12. ↑ a et b (no) Eva Aalberg Undheim, « Regjeringa open for diskutere EØS-medlemskap for mikrostatar », (consulté le )
  13. ↑ « La Norvegia chiude le porte a San Marino », La Tribuna Sammarinese, (consulté le ), p. 7
  14. ↑ « EU Relations with the Principality of Andorra, the Principality of Monaco and the Republic of San Marino: Options for their participation in the Internal Market », European Commission, (consulté le )
  15. ↑ a b et c « Taxation and Customs Union - Within the EU », European Commission (consulté le )
  16. ↑ « The euro outside the euro area », Europa (web portal) (consulté le )
  17. ↑ a b c d e et f « Obstacles to access by Andorra, Monaco and San Marino to the EU's Internal Market and Cooperation in other Areas », (consulté le )
  18. ↑ « Andorra : Customs Unions and preferential arrangements », European Commission (consulté le )
  19. ↑ « San Marino : Customs Unions and preferential arrangements », European Commission (consulté le )
  20. ↑ « Monetary Agreement between the European Union and the Principality of Andorra », Official Journal of the European Union,‎ (lire en ligne, consulté le )
  21. ↑ « Switzerland and Liechtenstein: December 2000 », World Trade Organization, (consulté le )
  22. ↑ « The Schengen acquis - Decision of the Executive Committee of 23 June 1998 on Monegasque residence permits », Official Journal of the European Union,‎ (lire en ligne, consulté le )
  23. ↑ a et b « COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2008/118/EC of 16 December 2008 concerning the general arrangements for excise duty and repealing Directive 92/12/EEC », Official Journal of the European Union,‎ (lire en ligne, consulté le )
  24. ↑ « Taxation and Customs - FAQ », European Commission (consulté le )
  25. ↑ « Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 of 12 October 1992 establishing the Community Customs Code », Official Journal of the European Union,‎ (lire en ligne, consulté le )
  26. ↑ EU relations with the Principality of Andorra, the Republic of San Marino and the Principality of Monaco: "If France adopts internal legislation transposing EU directives in certain areas covered by bilateral Agreements with Monaco, the Principality directly applies the French legislation in certain areas"
  27. ↑ « Annex 1: Overview of European Union countries », European Commission
  28. ↑ Teresa Küchler, « Vatican seeks to join Schengen borderless zone », EUobserver, (consulté le )

See also[modifier | modifier le code]

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