Can Britain join Norway in the EEA?

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Series Details June 2016
Publication Date 16/06/2016
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Pro-European MPs signalled that they might try to force the UK to accept membership of the European Economic Area (EEA) – the ‘Norway option’ – if Britain voted to leave the EU. Charles Grant and John Springford debate whether this was likely.

After the EU referendum vote on the 23 June 2016 a number of Norwegian voices expressed concerns concerning the possibility of the UK attempting to maintain membership of the EEA by rejoining the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

For example, Norwegian European Affairs Minister Elisabeth Vik Aspaker told the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten on the 9 August 2016 'It's not certain that it would be a good idea to let a big country into this organisation ... It would shift the balance, which is not necessarily in Norway's interests'.

The Norwegian government set up an inter-ministerial working group to assess the consequences of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.cer.org.uk/insights/can-britain-join-norway-eea
Related Links
ESO: Background information: Rock-paper-scissors in the EU referendum http://www.europeansources.info/record/rock-paper-scissors-in-the-eu-referendum/
ESO: Background information: The UK and the EU: Are there Alternatives to EU Membership? http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-uk-and-the-eu-are-there-alternatives-to-eu-membership/
ESO: Background information: Norwegian model for the UK: oh really? http://www.europeansources.info/record/norwegian-model-for-the-uk-oh-really/
ESO: Background information: What Comes After the British EU Referendum? http://www.europeansources.info/record/what-comes-after-the-british-eu-referendum/
EUObserver, 01.07.16: Brexit may alter Norway’s relationship with the EU https://euobserver.com/nordic/134134
ESO: Background information: European Economic Area http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-economic-area-eea/
The Independent, 28.06.16: Brexit: Iceland president says UK can join 'triangle' of non-EU countries http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-uk-eu-referendum-latest-iceland-norway-greenland-faroe-islands-a7105641.html
The Independent, 01.07.16: Norway model not right for Britain post-Brexit, says Norwegian minister http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/norway-model-not-right-brexit-eu-referendum-uk-single-market-passporting-eea-a7113101.html
The Local.no, 28.06.16: Norway won't commit to UK joining EFTA http://www.thelocal.no/20160628/norway-pm-wont-commit-to-uk-joining-efta
ECFR: Commentary, 21.06.16: Lessons from the Norway-EU relationship http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_lessons_from_the_norway_eu_relationship_7046
The Guardian, 09.08.16: Norway may block UK return to European Free Trade Association https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/09/norway-may-block-uk-return-to-european-free-trade-association
The Local.no, 09.08.16: Norway cool on idea of Britain returning to EFTA http://www.thelocal.no/20160809/norway-cool-on-idea-of-britain-returning-to-efta
ESO: Background information: European Free Trade Association http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-free-trade-association/
ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/
Blog: Open Europe, 10.08.16: Norway has little to lose from having the UK in EFTA http://openeurope.org.uk/today/blog/norway-has-little-to-lose-from-having-the-uk-in-efta/
EUObserver, 10.08.16: Norway could complicate UK's internal market access https://euobserver.com/uk-referendum/134612

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