Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Labour) advises the British against copying the EEA model if they believe Brussels has too much say. His reasoning: in practice, Norway adopts most of the EU’s decisions and implements them.
This admission came in an interview with Politico’s Tim Ross in Oslo, published on Monday.
Støre explains that British friends got in touch after Brexit and wanted to hear about the Norwegian solution. The answer was blunt.
– “If you left the EU because there was too much Brussels, don’t take the Norwegian version. Because here, you know,we basically we are taking most of their decisions, we implement them,” Støre told Politico.
The warning is directed at UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham. He is travelling to Brussels for a summit with the EU on 20 November, where he intends to forge closer ties between the UK and the Union. According to Daily Mail, Burnham has not ruled out full re-entry.
Burnham and Støre met at Labour’s party conference in September.
Speaking to the Sunday Mirror, Burnham said that the deal he is presenting in Brussels need not be the end of the road for his ambitions. The statement sparked sharp criticism from Brexit supporters.
Norway is a member of the EEA alongside Iceland and Liechtenstein. The agreement grants access to the EU’s single market, but obliges the countries to adopt EU rules in a wide range of areas, without the right to vote when the rules are adopted.
EU regulations have already brought down Støre’s own government. In January 2025, the Centre Party left the coalition following a dispute over the EU’s energy directives.
In London, Støre’s remarks were welcomed with open arms by the right.
“Excellent advice from our Norwegian friends,” said Alex Burghart, deputy leader of the Conservatives, according to the Daily Mail.
