The EU.....

[R1Geezer]

Why has Norway not joined?

[jake-the-peg]

They had a referendum in 1994 and voted narrowly not to 52% to 48%

although interestingly they are signatories of the Schengen-Agreement,

[naomi24]

Because they're very sensible. ;o)

[DTCwordfan]

Because their economy and finances are so heavily laden with oil and gas - and they would end up being significant contributors to Brussels.

[Invictas]

They had a first referendum on the subject in 1972,which was defeated
53.5% voted No
and
46.5% voted yes.
As jake says they had another in 1994.
According to the sites on the net Norway does not look likely to try again!

[R1Geezer]

does that remind you of anyone else DTcrosswordfan?

[tiggerblue10]

Maybe it's because they don't agree with the EU's policy on whaling.

http://www.europarl.e...tent/20100623IPR76489

[jake-the-peg]

It's probably because of a number of factors - you need to find a Norwegian to ask.

However I've often thought it's a much harder call for smaller countries. They have smaller populations and much less clout in the EU.

We are one of the largest, indeed in a few years may be the largest country in the EU.
about 10% of all MEPs are British compared to about 2 percent for a country like Sweden or 1% for Ireland.

[chakka35]

They don't need to. Norway (like Switzerland) is a highly successful and prosperous country which has 100% acccess to the Single Market.
Thus they share in the only useful thing about the EU without the colossal expense, surrender of parliamentary sovereignty and general nause of having to belong to that undemocratic and corrupt organisation. We could do the same.

[David H]

Because the majority isn't always right. Human nature naturally forms groups, but the desire can be stronger than the discrimination required in choosing those groups. They are secondarily affected by peer and group pressure and again this easily overrides many aspects of logic and commonsense, until after the event when many people look back on their decision and regret it bitterly. Norway are the example of where the sense has remained greater than the outside pressure and as a result few if any of the associated problems we are suffering as net contributors, let alone incredibly restricting rules will affect them while proving you can still enjoy all the supposed benefits from the outside. Not that anyone in our own government would dare to admit it.