- EEA Agreement becomes more important – Dagsavisen

Also the political Norway got a cold shower when they woke up to the news that the British agreed to “Brexit.” Although the biggest question is how this affects the European Union and Britain, it is allowed to be a bit short-sighted when Union Jack makes as Norway and stands outside the EU.

Centre Party leader Trygve Slagsvold Vedum believes Norway should see what options “Brexit” gives us.

– Can we now get a better deal, which creates a better balance? There is no majority to terminate the EEA Agreement, but we should all look for the possibility of finding the best possible agreements. Here the government must be proactive, says Vedum.

EEA never been more important

LO deputy Hans Christian Gabrielsen believes, however, “Brexit” shows that the EEA Agreement is more important than ever.

– in the tumultuous situation we enter, so there it probably more important than ever, he says and elaborates:

– the agreement has proven to be robust. It is dynamic in nature, and of course different now than when we entered it for over 20 years ago. What is certain is that it is our main anchor to Europe in a very uncertain time. It is important that Norwegian trade and Norwegian jobs still ensured through the EEA Agreement, says Gabrielsen Dagsavisen.

– Getting pull queue number

He is completely in line with Norway’s EU and EEA -minister Elisabeth Aspaker (H).

– the important thing for us now is to keep the EEA agreement. It is our mainstay in trade with the EU, and I think the Norwegian business sector is now grateful that we have it still. It gives us security and predictability into a turbulent political situation, says Aspaker Dagsavisen.

– Is EEA important than ever for Norway?

– Yes. In a world that is a little unpredictable now is to have a fixed point as EEA priority number one for the government. It ensures our market while being dynamic, says the Minister.

She emphasizes that this, after all, is about a British referendum and not a matter of the EEA Agreement.

– It should not be renegotiated, and I ask myself doubt that the EU will now premiere UK with a better deal, even if all parties course is served with a good solution, says Aspaker.

She believes we need to consider the long term if the Brits get a deal with the EU which we join, or whether it is appropriate for us to negotiate a bilateral agreement with Europe’s second largest economy.

– It’s just pulling a queue number early and work to secure a good deal.

– What will be important for Norway in such a negotiation?

– We export a lot of gas and fish to the UK. Exports from mainland Norway is under 10 percent. If we include oil and gas, it is 22 percent. So this is a significant trading portfolio, says EU Minister.