Below are some useful links for U.S. firms interested in learning more about doing business in Europe. For sector-specific links, visit your Showcase Europe industry sector.

The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) includes Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein, and Switzerland. Three of the members, Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein, participate in the EU's single market through the European Economic Area (EEA).

The main web portal for the European Union, maintained by the Commission, contains links to the European institutions (the Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council), and databases of press releases, EU laws, and other publicly available information.

The EU's Enlargement website offers information on accession countries and insight on the EU enlargement process.

The Office for Hamonization in the Internal Market (OHIM), carries out registration procedures for Community trade marks and Community designs. The Community trade mark and the Community design are tools for protection of rights to certain categories of intellectual property in all the countries of the European Union. OHIM offers companies an opportunity to protect IP rights through a single application in a single language, a single administrative center and a single file to be managed.

The American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union is an organization representing views of companies of American parentage to the EU institutions.

The Council of American States in Europe brings together the economic development offices of the 22 U.S. states with full-time offices in Europe.

Links to web sites outside the U.S. Government or the use of trade, firm, or corporation names within U.S. Commercial Service web sites are for the convenience of the user. Such links and use do not constitute an express or implied official endorsement or approval by the United States Department of Commerce of any private sector web site, or of the products or services of specifically identified companies or entities.