Why Norway is talking about EU membership again and what Trump and Putin have to do with it
Donald Trump’s plans to gain control over Greenland alarmed not only Denmark, as the US president could make similar claims regarding other territories.
Unexpectedly, Norway also found itself in the "risk zone", as it maintains control over the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard.
The country has now returned to discussions about the benefits EU membership could bring.
At the same time, the possibility of a "northern enlargement" is being seriously considered in Brussels.
Read more about whether there is public support for Norway joining the EU and what consequences it could have in the article by Iryna Kutelieva, a European Pravda journalist: Norway’s third attempt: how Oslo is talking about EU membership again and what it depends on.
Norwegians have twice rejected the prospect of EU membership in referendums – in 1972 and 1994.
The situation began to change after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, after which the gap between supporters and opponents of EU membership gradually narrowed.
Concerns about Norway’s current relations with the EU intensified further last November, when Brussels introduced protective measures on the import of certain ferroalloys, including against Norway, which is not part of the customs union.
Of course, additional unease for Norwegians came from Donald Trump’s interest in the Arctic and his trade tariffs, as well as actions by the Russian Federation, which has its own interests in Svalbard.
Currently, as Norwegians themselves note, there is no active debate about membership. For now, the discussion is limited to whether such a debate should even take place.
The ruling Labour Party is a proponent of joining the EU.
At least, this is stated in its programme, although it does not fully align with the current course of the government they formed.
Last year, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said he did not want new debates about Norway’s EU membership to avoid intensifying conflicts and divisions in society. He maintains that existing agreements with the EU provide sufficient predictability and that cooperation can continue even without membership.
By contrast, the most principled opponent of EU membership is the Centre Party. Its leader, Trygve Slagsvold Vedum, continues to warn that if Norway joins the EU, it will lose control over important resources, and its agriculture will suffer.
Norway’s Conservative Party consistently supports the idea of joining the EU.
Its leader, Ine Eriksen Søreide, argues that in times of war and growing threats worldwide, remote relations between Brussels and Oslo no longer meet the necessary objectives.
The idea of EU membership helps conservatives boost their ratings. If the Conservatives come to power, it is likely that the discussion about Norway’s EU membership will intensify.
However, there are factors that could make this issue urgent much sooner and it’s not only the unpredictable Donald Trump.
One such factor could be the results of a referendum in Iceland on 29 August. If the referendum ends with a victory for EU membership supporters, Norway faces the unpleasant prospect of being alone in the Arctic region.
Meanwhile, the EU itself does not hide its desire to see Norway among its ranks. In particular, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos notes that it is Norway’s personal choice, but membership could happen quickly. In her view, the most important argument in favour of Norway joining the EU is security.