Despite of the fierce opposition from the minority parties in Government (the Socialist Left (SV) and the Centre Party (SP)), Jens Stoltenberg (prime minister and leader of the Labour Party) today forced through a vote to adopt the disputed Services Directive. The Labour Party, with its ten ministers, outvoted the minority parties’ nine ministers, thus finishing the longest and hardest dispute of the current government.

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A recent Norwegian study argues that the EEA agreement has ‘made Norway a de facto EU member’, implementing most of the rules without a say in the decision-making. This is a very interesting paper that deserves much more attention than it so far has received . Sadly, no Norwegian media seem to have picked up on it, as the debate regarding the Norwegian democratic deficit (or fax democracy as it is also called) in our relation to the EU seem to be a non-issue in the Norwegian political debate. Read the full study here.

Member states of the EEA agreement

The EU-debate in the former euro-sceptic fishing nation Iceland is heating up, as banks, business interests and labour unions are all calling for EU-membership and adoption of the Euro. An Icelandic membership may also trigger a new debate on Norwegian membership to the EU.

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Yes, it might become a reality next year. Eva Joly, a Norwegian-born woman with both a French and Norwegian passport, have been suggested to top the French Green’s list for the European Parliament elections next year, according to several media reports.

Joly, who became famous in France for her anti-corruption work as a judge, is currently working for the Norwegian government as a special advisor on economic corruption. I find two things especially interesting in relation to this. 

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This recent article from the Norwegian Mission to the EU gives a good overview of Norwegian bloggers on EU-affairs. Composed by their skill-full information officer Frode Dal Fjeldavli, the article contains a non-exhaustive list of the most up-dated blogs. 

This is the first overview of its kind, as far as I know, and I hope it can inspire more people in Norway to blog about the EU. The issue is receiving far too little attention considering how important the EU is to Norway. 

Some of my favourite blogs of Bente Kalsnes and Jon Worth receives extensive coverage. A new pro-European blog did not reach the list, but its probably because he just started blogging, but have a look at Trygve’s blog as well.

Have a look and get inspired!