One of the most important and divisive issues in Norwegian political and economic debate since World War II has been the country's relationship with the European Union. This article is in need of improvement. ... Harald V, King of Norway (born February 21, 1937) is the monarch of Norway. ... This is a list of viceroys (visekonge), governors (Rigsstatholder), first ministers (førstestatsråd) and Prime Ministers (statsminister) of Norway. ... Jens Stoltenberg (born March 16, 1959) is a Norwegian economist, leader (since 2002) of the Norwegian Labour Party and the current Prime Minister of Norway. ... The Red-Green Coalition is a coalition of Norwegian parties, formed by the Labour, the Socialist Left Party, and the Centre Party. ... The Storting (Stortinget, literally The Big Thing) is the Norwegian Parliament, and is located in the capital city Oslo. ... This article lists political parties in Norway. ... This article is part of the Politics of Norway series. ... Results ¹A coalition of some members from the Socialist Peoples Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti), The Communist Party of Norway (Norges Kommunistiske Parti), and the Labour Party, which became the Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) in 1975. ... Results Categories: Elections in Norway | 1977 elections ... Results Categories: Elections in Norway | 1981 elections ... A general election to the Storting, the parliament of Norway, was held on 9 September 1985. ... A general election to the Storting, the parliament of Norway, was held on 11 September 1989. ... Results of the general election to the Storting, the parliament of Norway, held on September 13, 1993. ... A general election to the Storting, the parliament of Norway, was held on 15 September 1997. ... A general election to the Storting, the parliament of Norway, was held on 10 September 2001. ... Parliamentary elections were held in Norway on 12 September 2005. ... Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties (fylker, singular - fylke, Nynorsk: singular and plural fylke; until 1918 known as singular and plural- amt), and 433 municipalities (kommuner - Nynorsk: kommunar). ... Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties (fylker, singular - fylke), and 431 municipalities/communes (kommuner). ... Norway supports international cooperation and the peaceful settlement of disputes, recognizing the need for maintaining a strong national defense through collective security. ... Information on politics by country is available for every country, including both de jure and de facto independent states, inhabited dependent territories, as well as areas of special sovereignty. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

Chronology

Barn in Norway with its position

See also Norwegian EC referendum, 1972 and Norwegian EU referendum, 1994

In the early 1960s, Norway applied for membership in the Treaty of Rome when the United Kingdom asked to join. When France rebuffed the UK's application, Norway withdrew. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 588 pixelsFull resolution (1367 × 1005 pixel, file size: 848 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photography by Leif Knutsen. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 588 pixelsFull resolution (1367 × 1005 pixel, file size: 848 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photography by Leif Knutsen. ... A referendum on whether Norway should join the European Community was held on September 25, 1972. ... A referendum on whether Norway should join the European Union was held on November 28, 1994. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... The Treaty of Rome signing ceremony Signatures in the Treaty The Treaty of Rome established the European Economic Community (EEC) and was signed by France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg (the latter three as part of the Benelux) on March 25, 1957. ...

Norway completed its negotiations for the terms to govern a Norwegian membership in the European Community on January 22, 1972. Following an overwhelming majority in favor of joining the EC in early 1972, the government decided to put the question to a popular referendum, scheduled for September 24 and 25. The result was that 53.5% voted against membership and 46.5% for it. The Norwegian Labour Party government led by Trygve Bratteli resigned over the outcome of the referendum, and a coalition government led by Lars Korvald took over. The European Community (EC), more important of two European Communities, was originally founded on March 25, 1957 by the signing of the Treaty of Rome under the name of European Economic Community. ... January 22 is the 22nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Elections Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A referendum (plural: referendums or referenda) or plebiscite (from Latin plebiscita, originally a decree of the Concilium Plebis) is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. ... The Norwegian Labour Party (Det norske Arbeiderpartiet, DNA or Arbeiderpartiet, AP) is a social democratic political party in Norway. ... Trygve Martin Bratteli (January 11, 1910 - November 20, 1984) was a Norwegian politician from the Labour Party. ... Lars Korvald (born April 29, 1916) is a Norwegian politician from the Christian Democratic Party. ...

Norway entered into a trade agreement with the community following the outcome of the referendum. That trade agreement remained in force until Norway joined the European Economic Area in 1994.  EFTA countries (except Switzerland)  EU countries Together these form the EEA. The European Economic Area (EEA) came into being on January 1, 1994 following an agreement between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the European Union (EU). ...

On November 28, 1994, yet another referendum was held, narrowing the margin but yielding the same result: 52.2% opposed membership and 47.8% in favor. There are currently no plans to file another application. November 28 is the 332nd day (333rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ...

Position of political parties

Currently, parties supporting or opposing EU membership are to be found in both right-wing and left-wing coalitions: as a result, most governments contain pro- and anti-EU elements. To avoid a new debate on EU, anti-EU parties usually require "suicide paragraphs" in government-coalition agreements: if some party in the coalition officially begins a new debate on EU, the government will fall. This has been true for both the previous right-wing Bondevik government and the current left-wing Stoltenberg government. Kjell Magne Bondevik [IPA: çɛl mɑgne bʊnevik](born September 3, 1947) is a Norwegian Lutheran minister and politician. ... Jens Stoltenberg (born March 16, 1959) is a Norwegian economist, leader (since 2002) of the Norwegian Labour Party and the current Prime Minister of Norway. ...

The Norwegian Labour Party (Det norske Arbeiderpartiet, DNA or Arbeiderpartiet, AP) is a social democratic political party in Norway. ... The Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti or SV), is a Norwegian political party founded in 1975. ... A free market is an idealized market, where all economic decisions and actions by individuals regarding transfer of money, goods, and services are voluntary, and are therefore devoid of coercion and theft (some definitions of coercion are inclusive of theft). Colloquially and loosely, a free market economy is an economy... The Centre Party (Senterpartiet) is a Norwegian political party founded in 1920. ... The Conservative Party (Høyre, H, meaning right) is a Norwegian political party. ... This article is part of the Politics of Norway series. ...  EFTA countries (except Switzerland)  EU countries Together these form the EEA. The European Economic Area (EEA) came into being on January 1, 1994 following an agreement between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the European Union (EU). ... This article is part of or related to the Liberalism series Categories: Politics stubs | Liberal related stubs | Norwegian political parties | Liberal parties ...  EFTA countries (except Switzerland)  EU countries Together these form the EEA. The European Economic Area (EEA) came into being on January 1, 1994 following an agreement between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the European Union (EU). ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Elections Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A referendum (plural: referendums or referenda) or plebiscite (from Latin plebiscita, originally a decree of the Concilium Plebis) is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. ...

Prominent issues

Membership in the European Union was possibly the most controversial and polarizing issue in Norwegian politics since its independence in 1905. Both sides of the issue started advocacy organizations that persist to this day, and even within political parties there were divisions. Although the debate took on many forms, some of the most prevalent arguments on either side could be summarized

Against membership

• Surrender of political sovereignty: Norway would have to amend its constitution to become a member of the EU, ceding political power to the European parliament and commission.
• Lack of democracy in the EU: most EU decision makers (such as the European Commission) are appointed by governments, and not elected by the people.
• Reduction in economic self-determination: being subject to the economic policy of the EU would compromise Norway's ability to determine its own economic development, particularly with respect to rural needs and natural resources. Whaling is often given as an example of an industry whose existence would be threatened in case of EU membership (whaling is however insignificant for Norway's economy).
• Threat to self-sufficiency: increasing Norway's exposure to competition from other EU countries would reduce the country's self-sufficiency in food and other essential commodities. Some sectors, such as farming, are heavily subsidised for strategic reasons (to have food supply in case of war, for example), and membership in the EU would expose these sectors to competition from more fertile countries such as France or Italy. The former Farmer's party, now Centre party, has consistently been against EU membership.
• Threat to cultural identity: Norwegian culture would be overcome by commercial interests.
• Additional layer of government and bureaucracy: the European Union's administrative apparatus would add cost and inconvenience to an already well-developed Norwegian government.

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In favor of membership

• International cooperation to preserve peace: for several millennia, European powers have been at war with each other. By increasing interdependence among European powers, war is an increasingly unappealing option.
• Influence over decisions that affect Norway: the Norwegian economy is highly dependent on the EU's, and it would be better to be in a position of some power.
• Few additional duties: Norway is already compliant with most additional requirements that EU membership would imply, to the point that a few years ago Romano Prodi, then president of the European Commission, commented that "Norway is already the best member of the EU".
• Participation in an emerging political bloc: the EU is emerging as a counterbalance to the United States in foreign affairs, and Norwegian public opinion is usually not favorable to US foreign policy, in particular about the Middle East.
• Reduction in subsidies, cheaper food and alcohol: those opposed to Norway's heavy subsidies for farming (usually estimated at about 20,000 Norwegian krones per taxpayer) (Reference needed) point out that protectionism by import barriers in this sector has led to very high prices in food for consumers, and increased competition would lower them. Opening to the EU market may also require Norway to reduce its heavy taxes on alcohol, something many Norwegians would appreciate.
• Norway losing cash by staying out of EU: Norway annually loose out on €180 million by not being an EU member according to the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs. Fishermen especially would gain from membership as the cost of entering the EU market would disappear and they would be able to fish in all EU waters.

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Characteristics of the controversy

Because these positions to a great extent cut across ideological boundaries, various political parties have dealt with the issue in different ways. The Centre Party has maintained the most principled stand against membership, and though parties such as the Conservative party and the Labour Party support membership in their platform, they allow for a minority to oppose it. Most dramatically, the Liberal Party split over the issue in 1972 at the famed party conference in Røros and did not reunite until 1989. The Centre Party (Senterpartiet) is a Norwegian political party founded in 1920. ... The Conservative Party (Høyre, H, meaning right) is a Norwegian political party. ... The Norwegian Labour Party (Det norske Arbeiderpartiet, DNA or Arbeiderpartiet, AP) is a social democratic political party in Norway. ... Venstre (sometimes referred to as the Liberal Party of Norway in international context) is a liberal party in Norway, subscribing to social-liberalism. ... County Sør-Trøndelag District Municipality NO-1640 Administrative centre Røros Mayor (2003) John Helge Andersen (Ap) Official language form Neutral Area  - Total  - Land  - Percentage Ranked 32 1,956 km² 1,758 km² 0. ...

The EU membership crosses the traditional left-right axis in Norwegian politics. Since the Labour Party lost its dominance in Norwegian politics, all governments have been a coalition of several political parties. Because the EU membership issue almost certainly would break up any conceivable government coalition (except maybe a rainbow coalition of Labour and the Conservatives), no government has raised the subject and no opposition party has stated any desire to do so either.

Disagreements on this issue have been known to create divisiveness within families and local communities. Although there is a general pattern that urban communities favor membership and rural communities don't, there have been vocal minorities in every area of Norway.

Complicating the matter has been that a great variety of political and emotional factors have been raised in the debate. Radical socialists oppose membership because of an opposition to conservative economic and political forces that concern them within Europe; opponents on the right are concerned about an infringement on Norwegian culture; and others are opposed in principle to compromising Norwegian sovereignty. Some social democrats see membership as a way to participate in the global social democratic movement, whereas libertarians favor open markets for capital, services, and goods.

Many observers felt that the Centre Party misread the situation when they interpreted the narrow majority against membership in 1994 as an endorsement of the party's general platform. Party politics continue to be confounded by this issue, and most governments tend to avoid it.

References

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1 Referred to by the EU as the "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia".