This review examines the financial contributions
from non-EU countries to the EU and its Member
States.
Contributions to the EU allow non-EU countries
to participate in EU programmes and activities.
They are split among nearly 30 programmes. In
addition, the European Free Trade Association
(EFTA) states provide funds directly to several
EU Member States, as part of the overall
arrangements between the EFTA states and the EU
governing the access of these countries to the EU’s
internal market.
We highlight some key challenges, one of which
concerns the withdrawal of the United Kingdom
from the EU and its impact on the contributions
paid by non-EU countries. Another challenge
for the EU will be to leverage the benefits of the
internal market to the financial contributions in
future negotiations with EFTA states.