Norway 'lacks influence in EU decisions', says its PM

[frigidmagi]

bbc

Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg has told the BBC she would like her country to be part of the EU because it lacks influence over important decision making.

"We are integrating the laws they are making for the single market…but basically we have left part of our democracy to Europe," she said.

Ms Solberg told the BBC's Ben Wright she wanted the UK to stay in the EU.

Asked if she thought Britain could retain access to the single market without being subject to free movement of people, she said: "To believe you'll get everything you want without giving something back does not happen in any political body."

Video at the link.

[Norseman]

Let me give the same answer that I gave on other forums: The reason the politicos want to be in the EU is partly political ideology, and partly that it would surely be much more fun to be able to play around in Brussels than in Oslo.

Simply put a population of slightly under five million people is not going to get a lot of influence in a confederation with five HUNDRED million people. Unless we would be willing to offer financial remuneration for reconsidering political views (*cough*) we would have the same negligable influence, but now we'd also be on the hook for funding Greece and other failing European institutions. Not only that but unlike now, when we have to pass 2/3 of the EU regulations, we would have to pass ALL of them if we were full members.

But right now the no side is massively more influential, so nothing will come out of it.

[frigidmagi]

At this point, I almost want to try negotiating the unification of all the Anglo countries. It would be worth it just to see the look on everyone's face.

Still it's a good point that even in the EU Norway wouldn't have much pull. I mean if y'all somehow joined the US you would have more influence then in the EU but you would have about 7 reps and 2 senators. Giving you 9 votes in the electoral college. Not terrible but not alot of pull there. The EU isn't as well set up to work as a federation bluntly.