EU membership for Norway-good or bad

[Makrell]

As people who know EU knows Norway has had two votes for membership in 19992 and 1972, where we have declined twice. I am asking if EU has done anything good or bad for your country and if it would benefit Norway to join the EU.
Norway is a meber of EFTA or EØS and therefore must accept many of EUs regulations without having anything to say on the matters. But in the period norway has been outside EU we have become the best country in the world to live in according to many, above Denmark and Sweden which were traditionally more powerful and such. This might be solely on oil though. EU also want to remove many of our subsidies to farmers and such, which the farmers depend upon to survive. Sorry for bad english

[Basil II the B.S]

I'm generally an EU supporter, by I won't lie, it's probably good for the EU but bad for them right now.

[Armenum]

The better question is does Norway want to join EU, the sinking titanic....

[Imperial]

Does Norway even want to join the EU? They seem to be doing very well without them. Why change something that is working?

[Panzerbear]

I wouldn't exactly call European Union a sinking ship, but it definitely has its major problems. I have no idea why at this point Norway wants to be anywhere near Eurozone...

if I was Norway's minister of Finance, I'd run like hell from EU and instead would negotiate favorable trade agreements with individual countries.

[molonthegreat]

Doesn't Norway and Switzerland already have free trade deals with the EU? Since if that's the case I can't see any possible benefit for Norway to join, seeing how Norway would probably end up like the rest of the Nordic countries and pay billions of Euros a year to lazy French farmers and failed states while hardly getting any money back.

[Cavalier]

Norway doesn't need or want EU. EU doesn't need Norway, but want's the oil.

[Makrell]

Ah well it seems most of yu think its bad for norway in EU. And btw i just started this debate over a personal recollection there is no EU debate in Norway soon.
Most norwegain parties dont want a EU debate, since only 1 party is officially againist it and a number of parties want EU. But when thhe voting comes Ola Nordmann (joe the plumber) Defies the parties and vote againist EU

[Darth Red]

No big deal but I moved this to the Acedemy, I think this is a better place for this thread.

[conon394]

At this time I can't see much reason would want to join or what the benefits would be. Norway is already a prosperous, and well developed country, Its sovereign funds are huge and it thus buffered from worries about aging population or economic variability (and seeing as oil production remains and world prices are high...), Its in NATO so is physically secure, it would be a small player in the EU anyway...

OP what is the supposed benefit Norway would get?

[Makrell]

trade and such and an actual voice on the regulations instead of just like the
European Economic Area

[conon394]

trade and such and an actual voice on the regulations instead of just like the

But of course as non-member it has a voice on the regulations - it can ignore them. Its voice inside would be small would it not? Besides can't Norway play hard ball I doubt Iceland is making many grants to the EU right now? In fact Norway provides essenty all of the EEA Grants - given the needs of the less well of EU members I'd say Norway should be in a position to more or less get or do what it wants.

[CiviC]

I remember Iceland had the same low opinion of EU untill misfortune struck them and now they are negociated for accession because they realised it's better to have a safety net for not so happy times.

[Makrell]

I remember Iceland had the same low opinion of EU untill misfortune struck them and now they are negociated for accession because they realised it's better to have a safety net for not so happy times.

The state retirement fond abroad is the name of the norwegian one
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gov...Fund_of_Norway

[Treize]

I remember Iceland had the same low opinion of EU untill misfortune struck them and now they are negociated for accession because they realised it's better to have a safety net for not so happy times.

Except that Norway will not collapse and that it will have to pay billion to failed states. The money saved could be used to build up a reserve, but they don't need that.

[Exarch]

my impression is that some norwegians would rather stay independant and autonomous and the oil allows them to remain so.

a defence treaty with the EU and NATO is all that's needed for oslo

[Makrell]

my impression is that some norwegians would rather stay independant and autonomous and the oil allows them to remain so.

a defence treaty with the EU and NATO is all that's needed for oslo

Oslo and capital areas are actually yes to EU

[Manuel I Komnenos]

I remember Iceland had the same low opinion of EU untill misfortune struck them and now they are negociated for accession because they realised it's better to have a safety net for not so happy times.

I second that.
You never know what happens. It's not like Norway or any other country will always prosper.

[Treize]

I second that.
You never know what happens. It's not like Norway or any other country will always prosper.

Because they are bankrupt and now they want us to bail them out in exchange for their sovereignty, quite simpel.

The Norwegians would only have to pay a lot to help the poor suckers from EU, just like Germany is doing now. Although it might be beneficial for a country like mine, I doubt Norway has ANY reasons why they should join the EU, social, political or economic. They'll already in that trade organization with the EU, it' more than enough.

Exactly. Reap the benefits without becoming a german Bundesland.

[Adar]

Exactly. Reap the benefits without becoming a german Bundesland.

Na they just maintain their close relations with the Northern Europe without being forced to pay for CiviCs pool.