Microstates and the European Union

The five European microstates
 Andorra
 Liechtenstein
 Monaco
 San Marino
 Vatican City
bordered by the European Union (blue)

There are a number of microstates in Europe; due to their size, they are often closely linked with another larger state. Currently, the European microstates have special relations with the European Union.

They remain outside the Union, some due to the cost of membership, the EU not being designed with microstates in mind. Two other smaller countries in Europe, Luxembourg and Malta, are full members of the Union. Iceland is considered a microstate by some due to its small population;^[1] it is a member of the European Economic Area (EEA), and has applied for membership in the EU (See: Accession of Iceland to the European Union).

San Marino, Monaco, and the Vatican City use the euro and have been granted the right to mint a limited number of euro coins. They were allowed to do so, having used or been tied to the old eurozone currencies, and all have open borders. Andorra also uses the euro and is currently in negotiations with the EU to be granted the right to mint its own coins. Liechtenstein on the other hand uses the Swiss franc.

All but Andorra are part of the Schengen Agreement or have an open border with the Union. 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).

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		Application of EU law	Enforceable in local courts	Schengen Area	EU VAT area	EU customs territory	EU single market	Eurozone
Andorra (details)		Minimal	Unclear	No	No	Partial[2]	No	Unilaterally adopted. Formal agreement set to be implemented later[3]
Liechtenstein (details)		Partial	Unclear	Set to implement later	No	No	Yes[4]	No, CHF
Monaco (details)		With exemptions	Unclear	Yes[5]	Yes[5][6]	Yes[5][7]	Partial[citation needed]	Yes[5]
San Marino (details)		Minimal	Unclear	Open border[8]	Partial[9][10]	Partial[2]	No	Yes[9]
Vatican City (details)		No	No	Open border[11]	No	No	No	Yes[9]

See also

• Foreign relations of the European Union
• EU Enlargement and Microstates
• European microstates
• Special member state territories and the European Union
• European Union Value Added Tax Area

References

1. ^ http://www.cid.harvard.edu/archive/events/docs/zoega_herbertsson.pdf
2. ^ ^{a b} Customs union with some goods excluded. [1], [2]
3. ^ Unilaterally adopted the Euro in 2002. Signed monetary agreement] with the EU in 2011. First issue of Andorran euro coins is expected in 2013.
4. ^ European Economic Area
5. ^ ^{a b c d} Through agreement with France
6. ^ Commission proposal for Council directive on the common system of value added tax
7. ^ Article 3(1) of Council Regulation 2913/92/EEC of 12 October 1992 establishing the Community Customs Code (as amended) (OJ L 302, 19.10.1992, p. 1-50) [3].
8. ^ Although not formally part of the Schengen area, has an open border with Italy (although some random checks are made by Carabinieri, Polizia di San Marino and Guardia di Finanza).
9. ^ ^{a b c} Through agreement with Italy
10. ^ part of the excise territory only and not of the VAT territory
11. ^ Has an open border with Italy and has shown an interest in joining the agreement formally for closer cooperation in information sharing and similar activities covered by the Schengen Information System.[4]