The confusing situation in world politics has led the Norwegians to open up the debate on whether the country should still join the European Union.
18: 24 • Updated 18:31
In Norway, political parties are deceiving settings in the September parliamentary elections, and one of the themes is a surprising opportunity: should Norway become a member of the EU?
This opportunity is highlighted at least in Norway’s second largest party, Høyre from downtown.
Høyren Saturday’s new season elected chairman Erna Solberg says the party is ready for “quick EU membership negotiations,” if the situation so requires.
“When the world encounters so much instability and turbulence, when fundamental political upheavals take place weekly, not every year, it is important to keep Norway to keep up with regard to safety,” says Solberg.
Norwegian reported Broadcasting Company NRK.
In Norway, there is currently a center -left Labor Party, which remained the only government party after the central party left the government coalition.
The largest part of the Labor Party has historically supported EU membership, while the center party has strongly opposed it.
New referendum?
One of the topics in Norway waiting for the elections in Norway has been whether a new referendum on EU membership should be held again in Norway.
In Norway, two referendums for union membership have previously been held, in 1972 and 1992. On both times, just over half of the Norwegians voted out in favor of being out.
The Conservative Party Solberg has said that there is no need to organize a new referendum. Still, Solberg wants to maintain the opportunity for a quick connection process if the world situation becomes even more confusing.
Trump’s trade wars launched the EU debate
Norwegian decision to leave the EU is historically related, inter alia, to the fact that voters have wanted Norway to maintain full control over the country’s oil resources and fishing activities.
Supporting EU membership is still not terribly high among Norwegian voters: late last year about 35 % Norwegians were in favor of joining the Union.
However, the EU debate has restarted, among other things, as the US transformed its trade policy to a more aggressive president Donald Trump in the second season.
Although Norway is not part of the EU, it is part of the European Free Trade Organization with Swiss, Iceland and Liechtenstein.