Briefing - EU-Norway relations - 17-11-2025
Although Norway decided not to join the EU following negative national referendums held in 1972 and 1994, the country has maintained close economic, political, and sectoral relations with the EU for decades, primarily through the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement, and an increasing number of other, mostly bilateral, agreements. The EEA Agreement, in force since 1994, brings together EU Member States and Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein in the single market, and provides for the free movement of people, services, goods and capital. The agreement also covers competition and State aid regulations, horizontal policies such as consumer protection, energy, environment and social policy, as well as flanking policies such as research, education, culture, public health and entrepreneurship. The EU and Norway have developed extensive trade ties. In 2024, Norway was the sixth largest EU trade partner in goods. Norway is one of the EU's key suppliers of oil, gas and electricity and its largest supplier of fish. The EU and Norway also maintain close and robust political relations. They are aligned on the main foreign policy issues and hold foreign policy dialogues. Cooperating under North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) auspices and beyond, they are equally close partners on security and defence. Moreover, although the EEA Agreement excludes justice and home affairs, Norway participates in key aspects of EU cooperation in this area, primarily through the Schengen Agreement. The European Parliament is closely involved in nurturing EU-Norway relations. It sends a delegation to the EEA Joint Parliamentary Committee, holds an annual bilateral interparliamentary meeting with Norway, and meets its Norwegian counterparts in other forums.
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP
