1.5 million Norwegians have never cast an EU vote
34% of those eligible to vote have never had the chance to state their view on the EU. A new referendum is necessary for a democratic and legitimate decision on Norway's relationship with the EU — particularly when the government is advancing EU propaganda that goes unchallenged.
April 21, 2025
Image by AI/S&P
The public wants a referendum
Over the course of this spring it has become clear that both the opposition and the public want a new referendum on the EU. According to Opinion's poll of 7 April, 63% are in favour of a new vote and only 31% are against.
When Society and Politics was established on 5 March, the EU was a topic on account of the geopolitical situation, driven by statements from both Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store and Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg to the effect that it is important to stand together with the EU. This despite the fact that they simultaneously do not want the public to vote again by democratic means.
Society and Politics has taken a closer look at the scenario presented by the political establishment, one the Norwegian press has not subjected to critical questions, read more. The reason is that it is hard to see that the people have given them the authority to pursue the policy they are pursuing, given that the people have voted no to the EU in two referendums (the EEA was never put to a popular vote at all).
The government's narrative
The government has advanced claims that pave the way for it to fall into line with the EU. In earlier articles Society and Politics has noted that the government states Norway could be left outside an EU tariff wall; they have called it a triple squeeze. This appears to be strategic rhetoric, since Article 10 of the EEA Agreement states that tariffs between Norway and the EU are prohibited. Furthermore, no EU representative has ever said that there is any possibility of, or intention behind, the EU terminating the EEA Agreement should Norway assert its rights under that agreement. There is, on the other hand, an article in the EEA Agreement that allows for exceptions for particular goods — a provision that is reciprocal and can be invoked both ways.
One third have never been able to vote on the EU
Norway needs a new referendum, not only for the reasons above, but especially because a large share of the population has never cast a vote on the EU. The younger generations must be allowed to express their view; that is the natural thing in a democracy. According to Statistics Norway, 1,470,197 people were born in Norway in the period from 1977 to 2007, all of whom will now have the right to vote; on top of this come those who have immigrated.
It is striking that roughly 1.5 million eligible voters have never voted on the EU. In 2023 there were 4,356,600 eligible voters, which means that around 34% of the population has never cast an EU vote — and that is the part of the population that will take over Norway.
Udemokratisk å motarbeide EU-avstemming
Det er udemokratisk av vår statsminister å motarbeide en ny EU-avstemning. Dette kan føre til at han i høstens valg vil miste mange stemmer til partier som vil holde en folkeavstemning dersom dette blir en valgkampsak.
Ifølge Opinion er 73 % av Arbeiderpartiets medlemmer selv positive til en folkeavstemning, dermed går kritikken rett til Arbeiderpartiets ledelse.
SOURCES
Europalov
EEA Agreement Article 10Statistics Norway
Persons entitled to vote
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