Why Norway rejects EU membership?

Question

Why Norway rejects EU membership?

Answer 1

Oil industry which would have made it a net contributor

The loss of control over the own huge maritime area (one of the world´s largest and richest fishing areas).

Answer 2

I would assume Norway wants to keep its national identity.

Answer 3

The state does not want to surrender any of its sovereignty.

Answer 4

There are many reasons why Norway has rejected membership four times since the 1960's. Some have to do with internal Norwegian politics of the moment at each election referendum. Others are perennial, and deal with Norway's view of their role in the world.

Norway did not regain their independence and sovereignty as a country until 1905. They have been jealous of their national identity, and wary of international organizations that seek uniformity of laws and regulation. The parties within have at times argued against EU membership for these reasons.

Public opinon polls have fluctuated up and down on the subject. The high-water mark was in 2002, when more than 65% of the public was polled as supporting EU membership. But a vote later rejected it, and polls today are less than 50% again.

Opposition in earlier decades has been led by leftist parties in Norway. Today, the Centrist Party and a coalition of rural agricultural interests have been the principal opponents.

The agricultural interests are very influential in Norwegian politics. They are opposed because they oppose any external influence on subsidies and agricultural sales policies, that would be dictated by Brussels. We can already see what the influence of the common agricultural policies have done to agricultural subsidies in France, Italy and Germany. There is serious opposition for that reason. It is felt that Norway would suffer internally if it allowed itself to be controlled by foreign influences on their markets and exports.

Norway also has misgivings about military, political and governmental influences by the bigger European states. As a smaller country, they do not see the world from the same perspective as London, Paris or Bonn. They will go their own way as long as their governments do not see a role for their country to influence these policies by the rest of the EU. The cost politically is just too high.

Answer 5

I feel Norway  does need de Union  as Eastern Europe. The rowegian (norse) economy is well developed and the oil revenues gives to Norway mor independence and viavility than those european countries need the Union to modernize their economies.

Answer 6

Oil and money.  The EU cannot offer Norway anything.

What I cannot understand is why everything is so expensive in Norway.