It’s been 15 years today since the Norwegian public turned down an EU membership in the 1994 referendum, held on Monday 28 November. After a long and heated debate the nay-sayers drew the longest straw, winning 52.2 percent of the votes, on an 88.6 percent turnout.

As an (extremely) active member of the European [...]]]>

It’s been 15 years today since the Norwegian public turned down an EU membership in the 1994 referendum, held on Monday 28 November. After a long and heated debate the nay-sayers drew the longest straw, winning 52.2 percent of the votes, on an 88.6 percent turnout.

As an (extremely) active member of the European Movement at the time, I would be lying if I declared myself unaffected by the outcome, like the rest of the remaining 47,8 percent yes voters. The European Movement held a party in central Oslo that night that I attended, alongside other EU activists. Spurred by the Swedes’, the Finns’ and the Austrians’ loud and clear yes during their respective referendums that autumn, we expected nothing short of a landslide in favour of an EU membership.

The Norwegian EU polls at some point during Monday 28 November 1994.

Which made our defeat all the harder to accept, of course. I saw hardened politicians crying in corridors and hallways – or sitting face-in-hands on steps. Personally I found no comfort in the whopping 76 percent victory (the exact figure has escaped me over the years) in my own township, Oslo’s Nordstrand, at the time, where I personally set up a local European Movement chapter. For weeks on end I spent my days in silent apathy, until, being father of two little boys, Christmas brutally jerked me out of it.

So you see, today I just want to remain silent, even though I’m not entirely convinced that we deserve being accepted into the EU.

See also: A bitter-sweet celebration

This upcoming Monday marks a milestone in Europe’s recent history; the fall of the Berlin wall on 9 November 1989 and the subsequent reunion of a war-struck Germany – taking both WW2 and the following cold war into account.

British pre-war PM Neville Chamberlain had a point, you know, in claiming peace in our [...]]]>

This upcoming Monday marks a milestone in Europe’s recent history; the fall of the Berlin wall on 9 November 1989 and the subsequent reunion of a war-struck Germany – taking both WW2 and the following cold war into account.

British pre-war PM Neville Chamberlain had a point, you know, in claiming peace in our time – depending on how you define our time. As luck has it, France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg signed the European coal and steel union treaty, the European Union’s predecessor, on just 9 November 1951. Unfortunately, the date coincides with that of Germany’s 1938 Kristallnacht – which, in a sense, only goes to show what’s at risk, if it hadn’t been for the European Union.

The coal and steel union and the resulting European Union both have proved to materialise in the biggest international peace project in our time. The European continent, with its vast number of nations and conflicting interests, has experienced no era of such lasting peace as just the one brought about by the EU.

In claiming an outside, bitter-sweet look at that, I’m merely acknowledging the fact that my own country, in its infinite wisdom, has decided – not once, but twice – to exclude itself from that project (and the beneficial consequences thereof), by turning down the union’s gracious offer to join.

Living in a supposedly peace-loving country, I won’t deny having certain difficulties stomaching that attitude.

Our reiterated No to a European Union membership is based on sheer selfishness, clad as gravely mistaken socialism, branding the peace project a result of the market forces’ attempt to control the continent and its resources.

The thing is, though, if it hadn’t been for Norway’s vast oil and petroleum resources, we’d be begging on our knees to join. That’s right, good people, that’s the kind of people we are, paying heed to no-one’s interests but our own. Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen didn’t make up Troll, to thyself be – enough, based on nothing, you know.

Which makes our decision not to partake all the more discouraging – and the esteem in which we ought to hold ourselves all the lower. Not so, I’m afraid. On the contrary, we see ourselves as knights in shining armour, yet devoid of an actual will to contribute.

So you see, dear fellow Europeans, it is with much grief and humility I humbly ask your forgiveness, and permission to partake in what to me seems a bitter-sweet celebration – however unworthy. I remain, nonetheless, very happy for you.

Many happy returns on the 20th anniversary – as well as the 58th!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhS55x8J7pw

The Norwegian population said no to EU membership, not once, but twice; in the 1972 and the 1994 referendums. Why? Only years before the 1972 referendum it became clear that Norway’s economy was in for a major boost, facilitating unprescedented wealth for one of Europe’s up until then poorest nations. A wealth which definitely [...]]]>

The Norwegian population said no to EU membership, not once, but twice; in the 1972 and the 1994 referendums. Why? Only years before the 1972 referendum it became clear that Norway’s economy was in for a major boost, facilitating unprescedented wealth for one of Europe’s up until then poorest nations. A wealth which definitely had taken effect by 1994, at which point we turned down membership once more.

Even though we were stinking rich at the time, the debate revolved around this single issue: What’s in it for us? Of course it ought to be “How can we contribute for the European greater good,” but no. What we need to remember, is: This is Norway, strikingly characterised by playwright Henrik Ibsen in this very descriptive Peer Gynt quote:

Man, be thyself. Troll, to thyself be – enough.

There’s wide consensus that this statement in fact describes a very typical Norwegian trait: Egoism, which Ibsen himself criticised – by way of trolls. A trait very much alive even today, manifesting itself in our no to the European Union.

Now you turn us down

Keeping to yourself – and, by all means, keeping your wealth to yourself – is all just fine and dandy when things are going your way, but that just may not last for ever, which is what some have come to realise. We see it in Iceland, who, by the way, turned an EU membership down, too, is beginning to feel the credit crunch’s effect, only days after the nationalisation of its leading bank, Glitnir. According to Norwegian online daily VG Nett Icelandic trade unions have started talking of an EU membership as a means of support to Icelandic banks.

This in turn has lead the Norwegian European Movement to deem a renewed Norwegian application inevitable.

If so, please remember that we turned you down twice when you needed us. I suggest you do the same when we need you, which inevitably we will, once our oil and gas resources are out.

Serves us right.