Why isn't Norway part of the European Union?

Answer 1

Because they have more sense.

In all honesty, Norway did a vote on whether or not they would join the EU. Most people didn't and that has been respected; politically, it is a very dangerous area since many parties want to join but don't dare voicing it in case their voters disagree.

Answer 2

The people of Norway have voted on more than one occasion not to join the European Union. Norwegians believe the cons of joining the EU outweigh the pros. The country would have to switch from using the Norwegian Kroner to the Euro and also contribute financially to EU governance. Citizens of Norway already maintain a high standard of living and do not see their joining the EU as providing any added benefits.

Answer 3

Norwegian membership of the EU was rejected by popular referendum twice -- in 1972 and 1994.

Norway IS a member of the European Economic Agreement which can be seen as a partial membership or a partnership with the EU.

Significantly, Norway enjoys almost full access to the common market (except agriculture and fisheries) and is a member of the Schengen area (common border controls). Norwegians and Europeans can freely move between and work in Norway and EU member states.

However, cooperation is mostly limited to the economy. Norway also retains its own currency and the right to abstain from cooperation in areas where there is a significant conflict between Norwegian and European interests.

Answer 4

While the European Union was formed, there was a free-trade area formed between many countries, mostly in Scandinavia. Almost all of its members left to join the EU with the exception of Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Currently, Iceland is in process of becoming a member of the EU and Norway and Liechtenstein show future plans of joining and the two are already a part of European Economic Area (a formation between the free-trade area [with the exception of Switzerland] and the EU). Switzerland shows no sign of joining the EU, but they actually applied for admission in the 1990s, but put their application on hold.

Anyways, Norway would have to do minimal changing if it were to join. The country has already applied for membership 4 times, but they were vetoed twice by France and the government lost the referendum the other two times (meaning citizens voted no). Norway actually still has an application submitted to the EU but it has been frozen. It may be unfrozen and accepted, however, as this is what happened with Malta, a current EU member. Norway would also have to pay a hefty membership fee to join the EU (every country has to do this, but Norway's would be higher because its citizens earn more on average). However, it wouldn't be that drastic if Norway joined, considering it is already involved in many organizations, affairs, etc. as the EU is.

Answer 5

There are two ways to read this question:

From a functional perspective, why has Norway not joined the European Union?

There is no issue in Norway that would prevent it from becoming an EU member state. Its economy does well and it is already party to a number of European Union Agreements like the Schengen Border Controls Agreement. However, Norway has allowed its citizens to vote twice on whether it should join the European Union or not and the referendum failed both times. The first time, the vote failed by 54% to 46% and the second time it failed by 52% to 48%. Most EU scholars believe that it is only a matter of time before Norway has a third vote that will lead to Norway joining the European Union.

From an ideological perspective, why has Norway not joined the European Union?

There are several general reasons that Norwegians who oppose joining the European Union do so, but the majority of them are not particular to Norway. These include issues like the giving up of part of national sovereignty, the Greek/Euro Debt Crisis, the influx of immigrants from poorer regions, increase in imports that could harm local industry, etc. However, there are also three major reasons specific to Norway that Norwegians who oppose joining the European Union do so, aside from the general arguments used in other countries.

The first of these specifically Norwegian reasons is that Norway's economy would place it in the top half of European Union countries economically. This is unique since most countries are in the lower half when they apply to join the European Union. Countries that are in the top half contribute funds to the European Union to help countries in the lower half and candidate countries engage in domestic improvements to make their countries. Many Norwegians are not interested in seeing their taxes going to subsidize developments in other countries.

The second of these specifically Norwegian reasons is that both petroleum and fishing, the primary industries in Norway, would be subject to EU regulations as a result of the EU treaties. This would mean that Norway would have to cut down substantially on its fishing and would have increased taxes and reallocation of its petroleum exports. This could serve to put another monetary dent in Norway, which Norwegians in those industries are not excited about at all.

The final reason is that, as a party of Schengen, Norway already has the one benefit that many Europeans want from the European Union, the easing of border controls and freer travel. Since Norway did not have to join the European Union to get Schengen, the benefits of freer travel have accrued without the costs of additional regulations and further integration into the European Union.