Episode 2: EU + Norway = ?

Even though Norway is not a member of the European Union the relation between the two has since the 1990s been highly intertwined. Due to this there are a number of Norwegian actors present in the European capital of Brussels to keep tabs on and lobby policy toward the EU institutions with the consideration of Norwegian prospects.

EU Membership Applications

After World War II Norway had a close relation to the United kingdom (UK) and followed their every move concerning a possible membership in the EU. Because of the strained relationship between the already member France, and the UK, the application to the EU was shot down two times. Both in the 1960s and 70s. On the third time of applications the UK became a member of the EU, then called EC (European Communities), while Norway had to withdraw due to a referendum with a 53.5% vote against membership (1972). This led to the sitting prime minister, Trygve Brattlien, resigning. The polarization and internal turmoil of the previous government had also led to Per Borten resigning as prime minister even before the referendum had been realized. This was not the last referendum Norway executed in relation to a possible EU-membership and in 1994 there was again a majority of 52.2% against EU-membership.

The EEA Agreement 

The one thing differentiating these two periods of application and referendums was that another EU agreement was being negotiated in the backdrop and approved in 1992. The EEA agreement facilitated an economic trade agreement between the EU and seven partners: Finland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, and the Netherlands. Today there are only three countries left in the EEA agreement, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein, while the other four have become full-fledged members of the EU. This agreement was an alternative to EU-membership and ensured economic gain and trade through access to the internal market. It is also being viewed as a measure that has calmed the highly polarized discourse of EU-membership in Norway.

Four Principles

Four principles create the core of the EEA agreement, free movement of goods, people, services and capital. All EU policy that is considered to be EEA-relevant is taken to the EEA committee with the aim of adapting it into the agreement and hence into each country's own laws and regulations. Each country has the opportunity to veto these policy proposals, but there is not a single example of this happening. Nevertheless, there have been adaptations and discussions before laws have been implemented into the EEA-agreement. 

In the End

In summary this is a short explanation of why Norway is considered as both outside, and inside the European Union. It is an agreement negotiated in the light of both rejections of applications to the EU, referendums with a majority against membership, and a highly polarized Norwegian backdrop. In the end it has ensured access to the European market with free movement of goods, people, services and capital, as well as a conciliating mechanism toward a polarized Norwegian people. In addition it has strengthened the need and focus on Norwegian presence in Brussels.