Originally Posted by pip08456

Of the three highlighted there is no notional sovereignty involved. We not only joined each one as a sovereign nation but helped set them up. Each of which we can if we wish (I wouldn't want to) withdraw from without penalty.

NATO is a common defence originally against Soviet Russia and also includes the US and Canada. It could do nothing about the Russian annexation of part of the Ukraine as they weren't a member state.

The UN, again we are a founding member and along with the others have the power of veto over whatever any other country would like to do along with China, France, Russia, and the United States. So anyhing that may impinge on our sovereignty could just be vetoed.

5 Eyes is is an intelligence alliance that has nothing to do with the rest of Europe it is made up of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

So no notional surrender or otherwise of sovereignty there. They are agreements that can be ended at any time with no penalty, not that I would wish it.

EFTA was started by the 7 nations that the EEC (then) did not accept into their agreement back in 1960 including the UK (gotta love Charles de Gaul), it now consists only of 4. However I digress.

1960 The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is founded by Austria, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, to promote closer economic cooperation and free trade in Europe..

Snip...

There's a few thing inbetween relating to the EEA but.

2010 Iceland begins accessions negotiations with the EU. The EEA EFTA Forum of Elected Representatives of Local and Regional Authorities is established.

And that is the effective end of EFTA as an independant trade alliance.