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. 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. 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. In December 2014 the Council of the European Union approved negotiations being launched on such an agreement, and they began in March 2015. Negotiations had been planned to be concluded by 2020. Membership Deepening Andorra's relationship with the EU generally requires compliance with the EU's four freedoms (only goods is achieved) together with fiscal and financial sector reforms to EU standards (removing its tax haven reputation). The government has said that "for the time being" there is no need to join the EU. Minister of Foreign Affairs Gilbert Saboya Sunyé said in 2016 that the country did not wish to become an EU member state. The opposition Social Democratic Party is in favour. See also Enlargement of the eurozone Microstates and the European Union Andorra–France relations Andorra–Spain relations References External links Andorran mission to the European Union Andorra Mint EU relations with the Principality of Andorra, European External Action Service Andorra : Customs Unions and preferential arrangements, European Commission DG Taxation & Customs Union EU-Andorra Customs Agreement, European Commission Treaties Database EU-Andorra Cooperation Agreement (PDF), Official Journal of the European Union EU-Andorra Taxation Agreement (PDF), Official Journal of the European Union Operational Programme "France-Spain-Andorra" 2007-2013, European Commission Agreements on monetary relations (Monaco, San Marino, the Vatican and Andorra), European Commission Emerson, Michael (2007) Andorra and the European Union, (PDF) Centre for European