The Norwegian government has
indicated strong interest to participate in the Brexit negotiation once Article
50 is triggered and formal exit processes are put on motion.
“We would like to have the
possibility to be included in EU-UK arrangements concerning the internal
market, permanent as well as transitional," the Norwegian EEA and EU
minister, Frank Bakke-Jensen, said in a speech to EU ambassadors in Oslo.
"I am pleased with the
willingness to consult closely with us on coming negotiations about the
internal market," he said, adding that Norway was also conducting a
bilateral political dialogue with London.
"We are ready to discuss our
future co-operation in specific terms as soon as the situation permits,"
he said.
Norway is one country that is not
in the EU, but then pays for access to the European common market via the
European Economic Area (EEA) agreement. Also the country contributes to the EU
budget, and is a signatory to the Schengen agreement.
An EEA deal would allow Britain
to maintain membership of the single market, in return for continued payment
into the EU budget.
Decisively, conversely, an EEA
deal means he acceptance of freedom of movement, which the British PM has repeatedly
said would be a deal breaker for her government.
Critics of the EEA agreement also
say it means Britain has no say about the laws and regulations it must accept
for access to the single market.
Opinion in the UK is divided over
what form of Brexit the country should take - either a “hard” Brexit where it
severs all ties with the bloc or follows a “soft” and, like Norway, keeps close
ties with the EU whilst still remaining outside of it.
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