NEWS ANALYSIS: After two hectic weeks full of political speculation and new signs of public support for the EU, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre could announce that he’ll be forming a new minority government made up strictly of ministers from his own Labour Party. Gone is his former coalition partner, the district-friendly and anti-EU Center […]
What are your views on Norway’s relationship with the EU?
1994 is not that long ago, and the politicians still entered EU regardless.
When we visited Brussel during VGs ~10 years ago we had a guide show us around the EU headquarters, when the guide asked how many wanted to join EU only two people raised their hand. Small sample pool, but I don’t think the younger voting generation are overwhelmingly pro EU or anything. A 2023 poll also had 56% in opposition to joining EU, and only 52% in support for EØS.
It’s 31 years ago. The people who were of voting age at that time are 49 or older now. The average age in Norway is 41. The average Norwegian isn’t old enough to have voted on the EU even once, much less twice.
and the politicians still entered EU regardless.
They did not. We are in the EEC and Schengen, but not in the EU.
Your anecdote is just that. The Finns and Swedes had a sudden change of heart about NATO after Putin invaded. Norwegians might similarly have a change of heart about NATO and the EU if NATO starts rotting at the head.
They did not. We are in the EEC and Schengen, but not in the EU.
EØS is essentially the same as joining, just worse
Your anecdote is just that. The Finns and Swedes had a sudden change of heart about NATO after Putin invaded. Norwegians might similarly have a change of heart about NATO and the EU if NATO starts rotting at the head.
Why mix a defensive alliance with what is mutating into “United States of Europe”, those are vastly different kind of deals. You’re not giving up any serious form of autonomy by joining NATO.
[EEC] is essentially the same as joining, just worse
I tend to agree; I think the decision to not be able to vote was a bad one.
Why mix a defensive alliance with what is mutating into “United States of Europe”, those are vastly different kind of deals.
Norway is a sparsely populated and poorly defended country with a lot of natural resources and a long, often strategic, coastline. We’re better off being allied to countries that share our ideals, in a union that has actually brought peace to the continent, than being gobbled up by some other superpower that believes in one or another variant of ethnic supremacy.
You’re not giving up any serious form of autonomy by joining NATO.
NATO is to a large degree “USA with friends”. An EU defence is looking more and more needed.
Norway is a sparsely populated and poorly defended country with a lot of natural resources and a long, often strategic, coastline. We’re better off being allied to countries that share our ideals, in a union that has actually brought peace to the continent, than being gobbled up by some other superpower that believes in one or another variant of ethnic supremacy.
Eh, Russia could have taken parts of Norway back in the days if they wanted. It’s clear they are more interested in the parts of Europe they consider “theirs”. Their hostility towards us nowadays is likely because they view us an American army base. I’m not against NATO, but I think we would be mostly fine without it too.
NATO is to a large degree “USA with friends”. An EU defence is looking more and more needed.
It’s getting a bit off-topic but NATO without USA is still functional. The only serious threat in Europe would be from Russia, which can’t even take on Ukraine. And again, it’s far different from what EU is. USA deciding to ban X or enforce Y has no bearing on the other NATO members.
The average Norwegian has never had the chance to vote on the EU. The people who voted twice are all retired or dead.
1994 is not that long ago, and the politicians still entered EU regardless.
When we visited Brussel during VGs ~10 years ago we had a guide show us around the EU headquarters, when the guide asked how many wanted to join EU only two people raised their hand. Small sample pool, but I don’t think the younger voting generation are overwhelmingly pro EU or anything. A 2023 poll also had 56% in opposition to joining EU, and only 52% in support for EØS.
It’s 31 years ago. The people who were of voting age at that time are 49 or older now. The average age in Norway is 41. The average Norwegian isn’t old enough to have voted on the EU even once, much less twice.
They did not. We are in the EEC and Schengen, but not in the EU.
Your anecdote is just that. The Finns and Swedes had a sudden change of heart about NATO after Putin invaded. Norwegians might similarly have a change of heart about NATO and the EU if NATO starts rotting at the head.
EØS is essentially the same as joining, just worse
Why mix a defensive alliance with what is mutating into “United States of Europe”, those are vastly different kind of deals. You’re not giving up any serious form of autonomy by joining NATO.
I tend to agree; I think the decision to not be able to vote was a bad one.
Norway is a sparsely populated and poorly defended country with a lot of natural resources and a long, often strategic, coastline. We’re better off being allied to countries that share our ideals, in a union that has actually brought peace to the continent, than being gobbled up by some other superpower that believes in one or another variant of ethnic supremacy.
NATO is to a large degree “USA with friends”. An EU defence is looking more and more needed.
Eh, Russia could have taken parts of Norway back in the days if they wanted. It’s clear they are more interested in the parts of Europe they consider “theirs”. Their hostility towards us nowadays is likely because they view us an American army base. I’m not against NATO, but I think we would be mostly fine without it too.
It’s getting a bit off-topic but NATO without USA is still functional. The only serious threat in Europe would be from Russia, which can’t even take on Ukraine. And again, it’s far different from what EU is. USA deciding to ban X or enforce Y has no bearing on the other NATO members.