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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 001814 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD EU MARR MOPS NO PREL
SUBJECT: NORWAY'S EMBRACING THE EU 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  In several separate conversations with 
Emboffs, Norwegian diplomats posted to and visiting Brussels 
have described extensive Norwegian integration into EU 
structures as a status quo most Norwegians are comfortable 
with and unlikely to want to change in the near future.  The 
close ties include the posting of 65 Norwegians in European 
Commission directorates general, the adherence by Norway to a 
range of EU standards, and regular consideration of Norway's 
positions in the development of EU policies.  The lines are 
drawn around management of Norway's gas and oil reserves and 
fisheries, but the integration extends to a Norwegian 
agreement with the EU on participation in two European 
security battle groups, with a potential for Norwegian 
deployment on European military missions.  The Norwegian 
diplomats tell us that there is no public support for actual 
membership, and that the status quo provides Norway with many 
benefits and few negatives.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Norway's close ties to the EU are evident in the 
presence of Norwegian diplomats in Brussels, not just in 
Norway's Permanent Representation (which occupies a large 
building--currently under renovation--immediately adjacent to 
the European Commission) but in the number of Norwegian 
bureaucrats working in the Commission as part of agreements 
signed between Norway and the EU in the wake of the vote 
against EU membership in the 1994 referendum.  Our Norwegian 
colleagues have provided some insight into the extent of 
Norway's integration into the EU.  According to one diplomat, 
under various instruments, including membership in the 
European Economic Area, the Schengen Agreement, and several 
more, Norway must adhere to a number of EU regulatory 
requirements, especially in economic areas, even though it 
has no vote on the creation of these rules.  However, it 
draws fine lines to protect its key interests.  For example, 
Norway does not participate in policy on the management of 
fisheries, but does adhere to regulations dealing with the 
export of fish and fish products.  There is a similar line 
between agricultural policies and the treatment of 
agricultural export products.  Norway participates on 
standards related to energy use, but not to management of 
natural resources, which would touch its gas and oil 
resources. 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  As part of the agreements, Norway pays for 65 
Norwegian officials who work alongside EU colleagues in 
nearly every European Commission department--with the notable 
exception of External Relations (RELEX) and 
Competition--areas which both sides see as inappropriate. 
Norway contributes some 240 million euro annually to the EU 
budget, but receives no distributions. 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  Norway has also signed an agreement with the 
European Defense Agency (EDA) as a way to effect closer 
cooperation with the European Security and Defense Policy 
(ESDP).  The Norwegian diplomat, expressing the frustration 
we share over roadblocks to NATO-ESDP cooperation, said 
Norway has agreed to provide troops to two EU battlegroups. 
While no Norwegian troops have yet participated directly in 
European missions, the door is open to direct Norwegian 
contributions to such mission.  (The diplomat at the same 
time reaffirmed Norway's commitment to NATO and pointed out 
its robust contribution to the NATO Afghanistan mission.) 
 
¶5.  (SBU) We have been impressed by Norway's interest in the 
EU's Rule of Law Mission to Kosovo (EULEX Kosovo).  At recent 
meetings at the EULEX Committee of Contributors (attended by 
EU member states and others, including us, who contribute to 
EULEX), Norwegian Representative to the EU Oda Sletnes has 
regularly provided the most thoughtful, studied, and detailed 
remarks on EULEX of any delegation present.  Also, on the 
EU-NATO security architecture front, the Norwegian Mission in 
Brussels has been collaborating with its Finnish counterpart, 
and more broadly with the other Scandinavian missions, on a 
study of NATO-EU relations.  The latest revision of their 
paper that we have seen runs strongly in the direction of 
enhanced EU-NATO cooperation across many consultative and 
operational activities. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) One recent area of concern for Norway, according to 
the diplomat, has been over the ability of EU citizens to 
freely travel to Norway, which some see as having led to an 
increase in public begging, especially by Roma from Romania. 
During a recent briefing for select non-EU countries on the 
proposed Eastern Partnership (septel), the Norwegian 
representative pointed out that Norway would have a direct 
interest in proposals to seek visa free travel to the EU by 
Eastern Partnership citizens, and expressed hope that the EU 
would consult Norway on such plans. 
 
 
BRUSSELS 00001814  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Our diplomatic colleagues see no chance that Norway 
will seek membership in the EU again in the near future. 
Several diplomats provided us nearly identical assessments on 
separate occasions.  A visiting MFA official said that even 
though Norwegians must live by rules they cannot vote on, and 
contribute to the EU budget without receiving distributions, 
most Norwegians think the deal is not a bad one. 
Furthermore, many Norwegians remain jealous of Norway's 
sovereignty.  Anything with the name "union" reminds them of 
Norway's historic subordination to Sweden prior to 
independence.  The DCM at the Norwegian Permanent 
Representation expressed similar sentiments.  He noted that, 
while many Norwegian diplomats themselves might support the 
idea of membership, the Norwegian people are far more 
inclined toward self-reliance and do not want to cede 
sovereignty to a collective entity based somewhere else. 
Nonetheless, it appears Norway will continue to work toward 
closer relations, even without membership. 
.