Labor leader Jonas Gahr Støre must prepare for the debate on alternatives to the EEA.
Fellesforbundet has requested a comprehensive report in which both the trade agreement with the EU and full membership are presented as alternatives. The Labor leader is pleased to admit to considering Norway's room for maneuver within the EEA.
"Labor doesn't need to investigate EEA alternatives, but we've never been against more knowledge," said Støre Dagbladet. What the leader of the Labor Party included in the term "more knowledge" remains to be seen. For now, it appears that Støre cannot accept the will of SV and the Center Party to analyze the trade agreement as an alternative to the EEA.
Read our article: Norway VS EU
If this is the case, it will send a clear signal to the Labor-led government after the next elections.
But the corona pandemic led to the LO congress, which should have been held in May 2021, one year earlier. Jonas Gahr Støre admits pay and conditions work in Norway have come under pressure, but he blames it on the government.
Relations with the EEA and the EU could be a problem. If it proves necessary to form a red-green government with three parties after next year's elections. The leader of the Labor Party previously rejected the idea of talking about alternatives to the EEA, pointing out that it would be like telling his wife to look at an alternative to marriage.
. The alternative to the EEA is a trade agreement or full agreement membership in the EU.
The British left the EU, not yet knowing what it would end with. Norway must definitely avoid falling into the Brexit trap.
It can therefore be argued that examining alternatives to the EEA would raise doubts as to the validity of the agreement. This turns things upside down. A report on the various consequences can provide the basis for a better thought out and at least structured debate. More constructive facts that no one should be afraid of. Jonas Gahr Støre has good cards in his hand. Labor should therefore seize this opportunity, the sooner the better
