Four Norwegian parties, Høyre, Venstre, Senterpartiet, and Rødt, clash in a debate on EU membership.
It has been 31 years since the Norwegian people said no to EU membership in 1994. This means that no one born after 1976 has had the opportunity to vote on this issue. Is it time to let the people decide again?
Venstre thinks so and promises a referendum in the next parliamentary term if they get their way. Høyre also dreams of Norwegian EU membership but won’t risk a referendum until they see consistent majority support.
Senterpartiet and Rødt are doing everything they can to prevent Norwegian EU membership and want Norway to withdraw from the EEA agreement.
Much has changed since 1994. Russia has gone to war with a European country, climate challenges are more evident, and the U.S. has an unpredictable president. Høyre and Venstre believe we are best equipped to face these and other challenges as full EU members. Senterpartiet and Rødt believe we are best prepared for the future as a sovereign nation with full control over our agriculture, natural resources, and labor market.
So which path should we take on the EU question over the next four years? We’ll take the debate to the University Library.
The participating politicians from each party will be announced later.
Associate Professor of Political Science, Svein Erik Tuastad, will open with a short lecture on Norwegians’ relationship with the EU.
