We implement Brussels rules faster than anyone, Norway warns UK Eurosceptics who want to copy Scandinavians outside EU
- Børge Brende warns Norway is not ‘around the table’ to have a say on laws
- Admits that there is 'no real difference between Norway and the EU'
- Warns that Britain can have more influence inside the EU than outside
Britain would be forced to implement every rule from Brussels even if it leaves the European Union, Norway’s foreign minister warned today.
Børge Brende said his country was one of the fastest to apply EU directives without being ‘around the table’ to have a say in new rules and regulations.
Eurosceptics have argued Britain could adopt a looser Norwegian-style relationship with the EU, but Mr Brende said there ‘is no real difference’ between his country and those inside the 28-nation bloc.
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Norwegian foreign minister Børge Brende said his country was one of the fastest to apply EU directives without being ‘around the table’ to have a say in new rules and regulations.
David Cameron has promised to renegotiate Britain’s membership of the EU before holding an in-out referendum before the end of 2017.
The Prime Minister wants to curb access to benefits for EU migrants, end the concept of ‘ever closer union’ and give national governments power to veto Brussels diktats.
However, many Eurosceptics including some in the Tory party have pointed to Norway’s relationship with the EU as proof the UK could prosper if voters back an exit.
In two referendums Norway has voted to stay outside the EU, but as a member of the wider European Economic Area (EEA) it implements rules from Brussels to gain access to the trade market.
Mr Brende today insisted ‘Britain can have more influence inside the EU than outside’.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘On the directives from the EU, we implement those in Norway.
‘We are one of the countries in Europe that are the fastest ones in doing so because the single market is so important for us.
‘Our arrangement being part of the European Economic Area is that we have to implement all the EU directives.
‘We are not around the table when these are discussed in Brussels.’
David Cameron's hopes of reforming the EU received a major boost on Friday as Angela Merkel said she wanted to help Britain secure change.
He stressed that being outside the EU means Norway can have a ‘different situation’ on foreign and security policy.
But he added: ‘The whole comparison between Norway and UK in this respect is also kind of constructed because Europe without Britain I don’t think is as strong a Europe as with Britain inside it.
‘The wealth and the welfare system in Norway is built on strong integration with Europe. Almost 80 per cent of our export goes to the EU.
‘And if the EU does well, Norway does well. So there is no real difference between Norway and the EU.’
He said Britain could be a ‘no nonsense’ voice in Brussels on cutting red tape and regulation.
Mr Cameron's hopes of reforming the EU received a major boost on Friday as Angela Merkel said she wanted to help Britain secure change.
The German chancellor said altering European treaties was ‘not impossible’ and indicated she understood the UK’s concerns about migrants’ access to benefits.
On the prospects of reaching a compromise with Mr Cameron, she declared that ‘where there’s a will there’s a way’.
She added that Germany wanted to be a ‘constructive partner’ for Britain and ‘work very closely together’ on renegotiation.
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