God I'm sick of this look to Norway business.
Norway has a really unique position that made sense for us not to join in 94.
We simply have a very different type of economy than the rest of EU, and would have very little power to protect our advantages. We export mainly oil, gas and fish, raw products. Like a third world country almost! Since we are the main suppliers of these goods to Europe, it also gives us a unique bargaining power, relative to what we would ask in return. We are rich, near-monopolists. We do not have high-tech industry or financial services on the scale of Sweden and Denmark, as well as a very slow and expensive infrastructure. Tucked in a mountainous, dark, cold corner like we are. Historically, Norway is what Sweden and Denmark wouldn't bother to own. Look at the map, all the flat green areas are on the Swedish side.
So thus, joining EU would especially for us, make us prey to competition in exploiting our natural resources, gaining very little from the high tech and services potential upside. Besides, EU regulations are frequently inspired by the scandinavian, more rational way of doing things, and we have an extremely well functioning society and democracy already.
Politicians anyway joined EEC, by some judged to be like high treason, and Schengen ofc. In almost every practical, visible aspect we are part of the EU. We also have no Say at all. Of 6000 eu regulations we have made only 55 exceptions.
Britain, on the other hand, is flat, well connected to Europe, has a language everyone speaks, replaced their old industry with services and tech, in other words, a perfect EU country. There is no fundamental difference in economy compared to France or Belgium.
Pls stop this ridiculous comparison. No, Britain will not become a second Norway. And I personally think this is the beginning of the end for GREAT britain.
