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Rødt has asked the Storting’s investigative section to find out how Norway can denounce the controversial EEA directives. – We want this to be clear and in the drawer as soon as the elections are over, says Rødt’s party leader Bjørnar Moxnes.
Rødt’s leader, Bjørnar Moxnes, wants Norway to get out of the controversial EEA directives. Photo: Berit Roald
The EEA agreement was introduced in 1994 and has given Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein access to the EU internal market with equal conditions of competition and equal rules.
This means that several thousand EU directives have been implemented in Norwegian law. Several directives are politically controversial. This applies, among other things, to the directives dealing with the connection with the EU energy market and the common rail policy.
The EEA Agreement does not contain any clause on the right of withdrawal, nor is there any precedent for members of the EEA Agreement to deviate from the directives to which they have already adhered.
– At the same time, there is nothing in the agreement that says it is not possible. Rødt has therefore asked for a report on how a government should concretely proceed if the Storting decides that Norway should deviate from one or more directives, says Rødt leader Bjørnar Moxnes.
Opponents and critics of the EEA deal expect a greater impact after the parliamentary elections on September 13.
Opinion polls show the progress of the colorful coalition formed by Red, SV, Sp and Frp. The Conservatives and the Labor Party have had a majority in every year since the EEA agreement came into force in 1994. But you can smoke in the next period.
Moxnes says “we are in a completely new situation” and that there may be a critical EEA majority in the Storting this fall.
– The balance of power has changed dramatically between the parties. No big moves are required for a new majority to emerge in the approach to the EU and EEA. If we come in with a record SP, a big SV and Rødt over the edge of the barrier with seven to eight reps, it won’t be business as usual, says Moxnes.
– The opposition is strong, especially against individual managers. So we think it’s important to find out what leeway we have to finish and withdraw from the directives, Moxnes says.
How big is the room for maneuver?
He notes that the LO leader and the Labor leader have said respectively that “the room for maneuver is unlimited” and “much larger than we think, and open to exploitation.”
– So let’s find out, says Moxnes.
An EU directive is often followed by packages in which the EU, according to Moxnes, “tightens the screw.”
– This applies to both the rail and energy markets. If it has been sent to the EU Rail Agency (Era) or Acer first, you need to join the trip. Red means: Stop. Take a step back. We want to get out of this, says Moxnes.
This is the question the Storting is investigating for Rødt:
“If the majority of the parties in the Storting are in favor of a directive or a package of amendments and additions (eg an energy market package) being removed from the EEA agreement or no longer applicable to Norway How is it going? So did you have to proceed formally to implement such a decision from the Storting? “
The EEA Agreement gives Norway a veto or reservation right against the new directives of the EEA Agreement. Now Rødt wants to find out if this right can be used to reverse or reverse a decision.
– With this report, we take concrete steps to prepare for the withdrawal of controversial individual directives. He is targeting a critical EEA majority in the Storting this fall. So we need to know what kind of leeway Norway has.
– Until now, it has been a one-way process, apparently without the opportunity to turn around. This is not how we can have it, says Moxnes.
– Demanding to achieve
Ulf Sverdrup, director of the Norwegian Institute for Foreign Policy and former head of the European Commission secretariat, doubts Rødt’s impact.
– I think it will be very demanding to say that we have assumed some obligations, but that we will no longer fulfill them. I think it is contrary to the main objectives and it is not easy to achieve. If you say A, then you almost have to say B, says Sverdrup.
He says that Norway today has three possibilities:
- Norway can reserve against new directives (the right of veto) and expansion of cooperation.
- The agreement allows Norway to temporarily suspend parts of the regulations under special conditions and following additional procedures.
- A majority in the Storting can terminate the EEA agreement.
– We have not been in a situation where we will no longer comply with obligations. Norway has adopted these legal acts and is part of the agreement. If we want to repeal the directives, we no longer have a uniform set of rules and there may be countermeasures, he says.
Until now, according to Sverdrup, Norway has been a driving force under various governments to expand rather than limit cooperation with the EU. And Brexit has shown that the EU believes there should be a balance between duties and rights.
– You can participate in parts of the internal market, but you must also assume the obligations that it entails. The EU is very concerned about protecting the whole and does not want any free passengers, says Sverdrup.
Rødt leader Bjørnar Moxnes (left) and SV leader Audun Lysbakken warn of tougher opposition to EU directives in the coming period. Photo: Torstein Bøe / NTB
