Norway and the EU

Norway is not a member state of the European Union (EU), but is closely associated with the Union through its membership in the European Economic Area (EEA), in the context of being a European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member.

Few years back, while assisting to a business conference in Estonia, I have met 2 nice Norwegians, Carmel and Anders. And during one of the side conversations I go asking, why Norway is not stepping into the European Union? They both smiled and Anders answers me: “Norway does not need the EU, we have oil and salmon, we can take care of ourselves”.

And such an answer was enough to show everyone how proud Norwegians are, which made the other friends, Finnish and Swedish sitting with us in the same circle, look at each other.

After the shocking news of what happened in Oslo and in Utoya, my thoughts and prayers are with my Norwegian friends, the victims and their families.