Yes to Democracy 

If Norway becomes a member of the EU, we accept that the union’s laws take precedence over the Constitution and all other Norwegian laws, without the right of veto (also called the right of reservation) that exists in the EEA agreement. The Storting (Our national parliament) will be bound by the decisions made by the EU, and we cannot adopt laws that conflict with EU laws. 

Democratic Deficit 

The European Union, the EU, is fundamentally undemocratic. Lawmakers are only partly elected by the people. The EU’s decision-making processes are surrounded by secrecy. Citizens have little insight into what happens behind the closed doors of the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. 

In the EU, most laws must be adopted by both the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament. The Council of Ministers is not an elected body, but consists of one minister from each member state. Only the European Commission can propose new laws. Neither the Council nor the Commission can be held accountable or removed by voters in the EU. 

Only Half of EU Citizens Vote 

Many feel that the distance to the politicians is so big that there is no point in getting involved. Fewer people vote in elections for the European Parliament than in national elections. In the 2024 European Parliament election, only half voted (50.7 percent). 

One of the most important means of influencing EU policy is lobbying. There are about 30,000 active lobbyists in Brussels. Most are paid by large corporations, while, for example, consumer and environmental organizations cannot afford to hire as many lobbyists. Often it is the resourceful business interests that shape new EU legislation. 

Further to Brussels than to Oslo 

One of the strengths of Norwegian democracy is participation from voluntary organizations and activist groups. Whether you live in Veitvet or Vågå, it is harder to get your message through to EU politicians. It is further to Brussels than to Oslo. 

The EU has taken over authority from the member states in areas such as monetary policy, trade, climate, and food labeling. The solutions that suit the majority in the EU must apply everywhere, regardless of differences in culture, language, nature, and economic foundations. In this way, power and influence is moved further away from the people who are affected by the decisions. 

What Does the EEA Mean? 

The European Economic Area (EEA) introduces the EU’s rules for the internal market in Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. At the same time, Norway can participate in the EU’s expert committees that prepare new legislation. 

Around 15,000 EU rules have been incorporated into the EEA Agreement. This weakens our economic and political freedom of action. The EEA means less safe food, more bureaucracy, social dumping in the labor market, and a less independent energy and environmental policy. The authority ESA in Brussels monitors that Norway complies with all the rules. 

Less Comprehensive than the EU

The EEA Agreement does not include the EU customs union, agricultural policy, fisheries management, the monetary union with the common currency euro, or foreign and security policy. We can say no to adopting new EU legislation into the EEA Agreement (the right of veto). 

Before the EEA Agreement, Norway sold goods to the EU under a trade agreement that granted duty-free access for all industrial products. If Norway terminates the EEA, this agreement would apply again. 

Yes to Welfare 

For several years, Norway has ranked at the very top of the Human Development Index from the UN Development Programme (UNDP). The ranking emphasizes factors such as welfare, health, gender equality, and employment. Together with Iceland and Switzerland, which are also outside the EU, Norway has been identified as the country in the world with the best living conditions. 

When it comes to economic growth, the EU has stagnated compared to competing economic powers such as the United States and China. While Europe’s GDP in 2012 was higher than that of the United States, a decade later the continent had been surpassed by the U.S. The EU’s share of the global economy is shrinking year by year. 

EU membership would mean that Norway would have to contribute many billions of kroner to the EU budget. Sweden paid a net contribution of 19 billion kroner to the EU in 2023, and Denmark paid almost 15 billion. 

The Euro is an Experiment 

The EU has a common currency (the euro) and is a monetary union. This places restrictions on member states’ budget policies. Interest rates are not set nationally, but by the European Central Bank in Frankfurt. 

Not all countries benefit from the same monetary policy at all times. Regardless of whether a country is experiencing a boom or a recession, there is only one interest rate in the EU’s monetary union. It can be compared to placing houses from Athens to Kiruna, but with only one thermostat—and it is located in Frankfurt. The result is often that the houses in Kiruna are too cold, and those in Athens are too hot. The temperature is only comfortable in Frankfurt. 

The Norwegian economy is different from most EU countries in important ways. While Norway sells energy, the EU is a major importer. The same applies to trade in fish and seafood. Norway has a budget surplus and net national wealth. The EU has deficits and debt. Therefore, it often makes sense for Norway to pursue a different economic policy than the EU. 

Norway Trades with the EU 

Norway has no difficulties selling goods and services to the EU without being a member. We are one of the EU’s largest trading partners. Norway sells products that both businesses and consumers in the EU need, while at the same time being a strong market for many EU companies. For example, the EU’s own production of seafood (fishing and aquaculture) covers only 40 percent of demand. Therefore, the EU needs to import seafood from Norway—both as raw materials and to ensure that EU citizens have fish on their dinner tables. 

Yes to Security and Solidarity 

We live today in turbulent times, in a world marked by injustice. The war in Ukraine and U.S. foreign policy have placed Europe in a difficult situation, and unjust global power structures weigh heavily on countries in the Global South. 

The EU does not hold the solutions to these problems. Norway has the opportunity to pursue a better policy for international security and solidarity outside the EU. 

Norway is Secure Outside the EU 

U.S. foreign policy under Donald Trump has cast doubt on the country’s loyalty to its European allies. In this situation, some have argued that the EU should and could become an alternative to NATO, and that Norway must therefore join. 

However, this is far from realistic. Within the EU there are too many divisions to build a security alliance quickly enough. That is why new initiatives have been launched outside the EU, partly as a result of the war in Ukraine. Norway is an active participant here. Norway has important allies both inside and outside the EU.

The Road to a More Just World 

Unfair trade agreements create large global economic inequalities. In trade policy, the EU seeks to become a power that can rival the U.S. and China. The result has been a series of trade agreements with countries in the Global South where the main aim has been to safeguard EU interests. Since these countries have weaker economic conditions than the EU, the agreements have had negative consequences for them. 

At the same time, the EU closes its borders to refugees. The EU’s border control agency, Frontex, has been criticized for human rights violations when people fleeing war and persecution are denied the right to have their asylum claims heard. Several thousand people have drowned in the Mediterranean in attempts to reach Europe. 

Norway contribute against such developments and be a driving force in the UN. Norway is already an important contributor in development aid. While the EU spends only a little over half a percent of its gross national income (GNI) on aid, Norway spends over one percent. Norway can pursue a more solidarity-based policy outside the EU. 

Yes to a Good and Fair Climate and Environmental Policy 

The climate and nature crisis is among the most serious challenges the world faces today. The world’s countries are falling behind on the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees, as set out in the Paris Agreement of 2015. At the same time, Earth’s ecosystems are exposed to extensive environmental destruction, which threatens biodiversity. 

International cooperation is necessary to solve these problems, and the world is larger than the EU. The climate and nature crisis requires action on global arenas. Norway can play an important role in this work as an independent voice outside the EU. 

The EU Struggles with Its Own Climate and Environmental Targets 

The EU’s climate and environmental policy suffers from several problems. When the EU has a common policy, it means that countries wishing to pursue more ambitious policies lose their voice in the UN’s global climate cooperation. 

Like Norway, the EU aims to more than halve climate emissions by 2030, but the follow-up of these targets is not going as planned. Member states are struggling to meet pollution targets for 2030. Several climate and environmental organizations have taken the EU to court, arguing that the policy is insufficient. 

Market Forces Take Priority 

EU policy is rooted in market-economic principles. This limits opportunities in climate and environmental policy. In the EU, measures must not, for example, be an obstacle to the free movement of goods. This makes it difficult for a country to take the lead with stricter environmental standards. Climate policy must also not come at the expense of economic growth. This makes it harder to pursue sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural and fisheries policies—something Norway can do today outside the EU. 

The EU’s climate policy has largely relied on the trading of emission allowances (quotas), but this has proven to be ineffective as the union simultaneously takes business interests into account. 

Norway, for example, has come much further than the EU in reducing emissions from road transport. The EU lags far behind Norway in the share of electric vehicles, where Norway is the world leader. 

The EU’s system is not suited to solving the climate problem. Norway has opportunities outside the EU to pursue a fair and effective climate policy. 

QUIZ: What Do You Know About Norway and the EU? 

One point for each correct answer 

1. What share of representatives in the European Parliament would Norway have received if it were an EU member? 

2. Can the European Parliament propose new laws? 

3. What is the euro? 

4. Denmark has opted out of adopting the euro. Could Norway do the same if we became an EU member? 

5. What is ACER? 

6. What is the capital of the EU? 

7. What is Frontex? 

8. The Norwegian people have said no to EU membership in two referendums. Do you remember the years of these referendums? 

9. Are the United Kingdom and Switzerland EU members? 

10. Is Switzerland part of the EEA? 

You can find the answers on the penultimate page.