Norway says no to Britain joining its trading bloc
OSLO has poured cold water on a proposal from Tory MPS to adopt a Norway-style trading relationship with the EU to break the deadlock over Brexit and the Irish border.
At a press conference in Oslo, Erna Solberg, the Norwegian prime minister, said allowing Britain to become a member of the European Economic AREA/EFTA trading bloc, which has a very close relationship with the EU, would be difficult to accept.
“If you asked us if we would welcome Britain, we would welcome any good co-operation with Britain,” she said.
“But I don’t think it’s easy to think that you should – I know the British discussion – to enter into an organisation you are preparing to leave at the same time is also a little bit difficult for the rest of us.”
The so-called “Norway for Now” option was raised by Conservative MP Nick Boles and would keep the UK in
‘To enter an organisation you are preparing to leave at the same time is a little bit difficult for the rest of us’
the single market as well as a customs union with the EU.
Supporters of such an approach, which has gained cross-party support in Westminster, argue it would remove the need for a hard border in Ireland.
In return, the UK would be expected to follow EU rules and send payments to Brussels for a fixed period, and then switch to a more sophisticated trade agreement.
The Daily Telegraph understands that behind the scenes Norway is deeply sceptical about Britain becoming an EEA/EFTA member.
It came as Theresa May, while addressing EU leaders at the same press conference at the Nordic Summit in Oslo, insisted that she was not preparing for a general election.
“It wouldn’t be in the national interest,” she said.
The Prime Minister had been asked the question after Philip Hammond, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, delivered a Budget full of giveaways which prompted speculation that the Tories could be preparing to take the nation to the polls again.
The focus of the summit was on cooperation between Nordic governments, but with Mrs May in attendance, Brexit was a prominent issue for discussion.
The Prime Minister held bilateral talks with several Nordic and Baltic states, in the hope of gaining their support for a compromise over the Brexit deal.
The UK and EU remain in a state of deadlock over the Irish border issue, which has become the largest obstacle standing in the way of finalising a divorce deal.