Espen Barth Eide, Norway's foreign minister, has warned that the UK should look at the downside of leaving the EU and the loss of influence it would bring.
“I would just say a country that is a member, that is considering alternative options, they should also look at the potential downsides of the absence of political access”, he said. As the UK contemplates its future in the EU, members of the governing Conservative Party are looking to the Norwegian model as a way of leaving the bloc but remaining close to it. “I can confirm there is an interest from several environments in Britain in order to find out what is the Norwegian model”, said Mr Eide.
He said while Norway had access to the EU’s internal market, there were downsides to staying outside. “What we do not get is the same level of political influence we would have had as a member. It is good in that it gives you access to a market but it is problematic from a democratic perspective.” He also said Norway was not “80 per cent but 100 per cent” a member of the internal market which included regulation of financial services. Since this issue was of concern to the UK, it should be aware of how Norway adopts such regulations.
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