Why Is Norway Not In The Eu?

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24049876
I think we know! Why is it so rare for most of the economies of the world to run in the black?

[bazwillrun]

They are quite happy running their own country and making their own laws.
They dont need to get swallowed up by the eussr to benefit said organisation at no benefit to themselves.

Oh and they arent mugs like the UK

[LazyGun]

Whats a story about a sovereign wealth fund got to do with membership of the EU?

[Old_Geezer]

Probably weren't conned by their government lying to them and saying it was just a economic market.

[sandyRoe]

It is a member of the European Economic Area. So they are regulated by EU rules but don't have any say in the drafting of them.

[ToraToraTora]

oh dear LG!

[ToraToraTora]

snap sandy!

[LazyGun]

Sorry for being so dim, 3T. Explain again in words of one syllable why a story about a sovereign wealth fund has anything to do with EU membership?

[ToraToraTora]

What state would they be in if they did join the EU? hence, by reference to this, why would anyone join? Over to you....

[LazyGun]

That is one of the most tenuous links I have ever seen -so tenuous in fact, as to be non-existent.

If you want to create a debate about why Norway declines to join the Euro, thats fine, but using this story as some sort of relevant link is just absurd. How about finding a story that actually illustrates the questions over benefits or otherwise of EU membership?

And, for the record - Are you attempting to claim that the reason that the UK does not have a sovereign wealth fund is somehow connected to our membership of the EU?

[ToraToraTora]

I suppose I'm going to have to spell it out. If you could join a club and be skint or not join a club and have a few quid in the bin, which would you do?

[ToraToraTora]

Ie Norway are doing well despite/because of not being in the EU

[KARL]

I am sympathetic to LG's point. Also, or perhaps on the other hand, the story would be more relevantly highlighted in connection with Scotland's prospects on leaving the UK - irrespective of subsequent EU membership.

[LazyGun]

To attempt to suggest that the only reason that Norway have a sovereign wealth fund is entirely down to the fact that they are not a member of the EU is utterly facile,even for you, 3T.

I ask you again - are you trying to claim that the existence of a sovereign wealth fund is purely down to their lack of EU membership, or the fact that the UK does not have one purely down to their membership fee? Ludicrous...

[jake-the-peg]

Nice try at a somewhat dubious connection

More to do with having only 5 million people a load of oil and electricity almost entirely powered by hydro

[ToraToraTora]

No, I'm saying that prosperity inside the EU is nigh on impossible and Norway is an example of a nation that does well despite the "we must join or die" brigade.

[jake-the-peg]

And that's what we're saying is nonsense

Norway has huge natural advantages - although not getting involved in dodgy banking deals by the red braces brigade has doubtlessly helped them too

Iceland'd not in the EU and their bankers seem to have stuffed them right up!

They're applying to join but are wavering right now on fishing rights

If it's such a no brainer as you suggest - I can't see why so many people want to join

Either the world is full of soverign sates wanting to cut their own throats or your wrong in your assessment

[Bazile]

How are their citizens benefiting from this enormous wealth - do they all enjoy a good standard of living ?

[Gromit]

When North Sea oil was at its peak production we wasted the reveune paying 5.5 million to be unemployed - Norway didn't squander its bonanza and so doesn't need the EU.

[New Judge]

"More to do with having only 5 million people..."

But Jake, you keep telling us that the only way for the UK to prosper is to import more and more people (the only way to provide labour for vital services and industries, the only way to fund pensions, etc. - I'm sure you must remember). I don't understand. If Norway is prospering because it has so few people, how is the key to our prosperity to have an ever increasing population?

[Gromit]

You are being rather disingenuous there NJ.

The call for more young workers (often foreign) is nothing to do with prosperity. It is to do with getting enough young taxpayers to foot the bill for our pensions burden.