Noorwegen overweegt EU-lidmaatschap, Grondwet moet dan wel positie van kleine landen waarborgen (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Norwegians are eagerly watching developments in the EU as the country moves towards a new battle over EU membership.

Each Norweigian already contributes 233 euro per year to the EU's enlargement process - more per capita than any EU member.

The money pays for access to the enlarged internal market for Norwegian products. But enlargement may also pave the way for more flexible European co-operation, which could make Norwegian membership of the EU more likely.

Enlargement is set to change the architecture of the Union and it must become more flexible in order to function with 25 members, argued Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik during a visit to Brussels on Thursday (5 February).

If Norway were to apply for membership again, it would be a very different European Union from the one Norwegians turned down in the last referendum in 1994, Mr Bondevik pointed out in Brussels.

There is still deep scepticism towards deeper European integration in Norway, and more flexible European co-operation would be a step in the right direction, according to the prime minister.

Two referenda turned membership down

Norway has already held two referenda on EU membership, in 1972 and 1994. Both ended with victory for the no side.

Mr Bondevik was opposed to EU membership in the latest referendum, ten years ago but is now ducking questions on his position.

The current Norwegian coalition government is made up of the Conservative Party, the Christian Democratic Party and the Liberal Left. These three parties disagree on EU membership but have agreed not to raise the issue during this Parliament.

It is however expected that the discussion over EU membership will heat up again in the run-up to the next election, which will be held in September 2005.

Constitution before Christmas

The shaping of a European Constitution was part of the dicussions between EU Commission President Romano Prodi and Mr Bondevik in Brussels.

Securing the small countries' position in the Constitution will be crucial for Oslo's decision on joining the EU.

"There will be a Constitution this side of Christmas. There is a lot of work done behind the scenes", said the Norwegian Premier to the EUobserver.

In Brussels Mr Bondevik also confirmed that the Norwegian government is preparing proposals to restrict access to labour from the new EU countries.

"Our intensions were to open the borders to citizens of the new member states, but now we see our neighbouring countries, lately also Sweden, announcing restrictions for a period", Mr Bondevik explained to journalists in Brussels.

Norway, which is not a member of the EU, is obliged to open its labour market in the same way as EU member states due to the European Economic Area (EEA) agreements.