Priorities of foreign policy 14 | Apart from the neighbouring countries, the United States of America is another priority country for Liechtenstein’s foreign policy. Liechtenstein and the United States are linked by their shared community of values. As a world power, the United States naturally is important for every country and accordingly also for Liechtenstein. Through their common membership in the European Economic Area, the EEA/EFTA states Norway and Iceland have become The globalisation, the partners of Liechtenstein as well. In the context of European integration, the respective EU Council presidency has likewise gained importance. For historical reasons, the increasing heterogeneity Czech Republic has been added as a priority country in the last three years. Recently, and the pressure for govern­- a special focus has been placed on deepening relations with selected countries in Asia. Additionally, relations with various other countries – especially in Europe – are main­tained at different levels. ­ments to save money have necessitated greater co- The advance of globalisation, the increasing heterogeneity in the EU, and the pressure for governments to save money have necessitated greater cooperation among like-minded states and groups of states. This also affects the classic responsibilities of states such as consular services for citizens and participation in international organisations. Opportunities to cooperate in these areas have for instance been explored in the context of quadrilateral meetings of Liechtenstein, Austria, Switzerland and Slovenia. This trend towards enhanced cooperation is of interest to a country like Liechtenstein with limited foreign policy resources, and it makes cooperation possible even with new partners, depending on the occasion and the interests at stake. This does not necessarily mean that these new partners become priority countries. European integration Liechtenstein has now been a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) for 17 years and an associated Schengen member since 2011. Liechtenstein’s membership in the EEA and its association with the Schengen and Dublin agreements serve to secure the sovereignty and independence of the country. An important precondition in this regard is the preservation of a strong business location. Unhindered access to the EU Single Market, which encompasses a total of 30 states and about 500 million citizens, constitutes a location advantage as well as a significant factor in sustainably ensuring the stability of Liechtenstein’s national economy. Membership in the EEA has substantially contributed to the diversification and internationalisation of Liechtenstein’s business location. At the same time, Liechtenstein has been able to preserve and further develop its good relations with Switzerland. This «parallel marketability» has proven its worth. However, European integration continues to be a «factory floor» where Liechtenstein must make an active contribution as a partner. At the same time, this represents an opportunity to enhance the European community of states’ perception of Liechtenstein as a reliable and committed partner showing solidarity and to improve knowledge of the diversity and the extraordinarily high performance of this small state. Liechtenstein’s accession to Schengen as an area without internal border controls for travellers can be seen as a logical consequence of Liechtenstein’s membership in the EEA. Liechtenstein’s accession also made operation among likeminded states.