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Industritopper believes Norway should re-discuss EU membership
Aker CEO Øyvind Eriksen believes, among other things, that the pandemic may have made people more positive about Norway's EU membership.
Referendum
A lot has happened in recent years - pandemic, war, Europe and the beginning of the trade war as a result of a huge tax package to reduce inflation in the US - the "Inflation Reduction Act" (IRA). Not to mention how much has happened since the last referendum on Norway's membership of the EU in 1994.
This sparked new debates about Norwegian membership in the EU. The Høyre Party wants to hold a referendum, and the Center Party and the Social Democratic Party Norway Party they firmly say no.
EU with Norway at the table
Hydro chiefs Hilde Merete Aasheim, Aker Øyvind Eriksen and Yara Svein Tore Holsether believe that the debate is needed - and that more active participation in the EU would be beneficial.
- The question is whether we want to sit at the table when the future of the EU is being defined. And as a rule, it is better to be present than to stand in the corridor, says Eriksen.
Read our next article: Will Norway become a member of the European Union?
- Totally decisive The heads of the concerns indicate that Norway is already closely linked to the EU through the EEA agreement and participation in the EU internal market. “For Hydro, which is Europe's largest aluminum producer and exports 99% of what we produce in Norway, market access is absolutely critical. We see how the EU is affecting us without sitting at the table, says Aasheim, and agrees with Eriksen that it is time to reconsider being part of the EU.
. To sum up:
The topic of possible Norwegian membership in the EU causes controversy and provokes a debate among politicians and industry leaders. According to some, including representatives from Hydro, Aker and Yara, Norway should consider EU membership due to its close links with the EU market and the need to participate in the process of defining Europe's future. At the same time, according to recent public opinion polls, the majority of Norwegians still oppose EU membership. The younger generation is more hesitant, but generally opposition to Norway's possible entry into the EU prevails. However, due to the changing realities of the pandemic, the climate crisis and the crisis in Ukraine, there are indications that public opinion may evolve and the topic of Norwegian EU membership may return to the discussion.
