I AM dismayed beyond belief that Scotland is even considering the “Norway” option. Both in 1972 and again in 1994, the Norwegian people voted NOT to join the EEC/EU.
Against the wishes of its own population, the Norwegian Government signed Norway up to the EEA in 1992, in force from January 1994, with a referendum in November 1994 designed to simply “rubber-stamp” this illegitimate action. This was two years AFTER Norway had undemocratically been forced into the EEA on orders from the USA, which largely controls Norway and its oil revenues – and also wants to control Scotland and Scotland’s oil, if it doesn’t already.
The Norwegian people in November 1994, despite huge amounts of pressure and vast sums of EU money being spent on the Yes campaign deliberately intended to “influence” the vote, once again voted No to membership of the EU and of the EEA. While Switzerland did withdraw its EEA membership after a No vote in Switzerland, Norway did not, creating an almost farcical situation that no-one is really happy with.
After living in Norway for 10 years, and speaking Norwegian fluently, I think the only person in Norway currently satisfied with this ridiculous arrangement is Jens Stoltenberg, a former Prime Minister and the US/Nato’s “right-hand man”, who is far more interested in cavorting with the European and US elite than listening to his own people. No-one in Norway dares to re-open the “EU debate” as any third referendum will most likely show an even higher No vote than previously, as Norwegians are not at all happy about having being totally ignored for the past 24 years.
Is this really what Scotland is contemplating? How can anyone continue with this farce? And Norway did negotiate several “opt-outs”, including its fishing waters and deciding itself where its “contributions” are spent, so this sounds like yet another lie to erase any Scottish/UK expectation that these opt-outs are, in fact, perfectly possible.
I expect Lesley Riddoch (EEA ‘likely to welcome’ an independent Scotland, The National, March 20) to at least think about the wishes of the Norwegian people. Or will Scots be forced into accepting something they don’t want, just as the Norwegians have been?
Fewer than 50 per cent of the Scottish electorate actually voted for EU membership, with about one-third not voting at all. These cannot just be taken as being Yes voters. The idea that Norway is number one on the Economist Intelligence Unit’s “democracy” register is absolutely nonsensical. Norway is recognised amongst Nordic countries as being the most corrupt country amongst them, and I have 20 years of harrowing experiences with Norwegian authorities and Norwegian prejudices, leading to a loss of over £200,000 over 20 years (which I am still paying for 10 years after leaving Norway) to prove that Norway is NOT the democratic paradise that many think it is. Far from it!
Sarah Hale
Jedburgh
OK, so 48 per cent would now vote for independence and 62 per cent wanted to stay in Europe with the UK. Could we split the difference, ie six per cent, by going for an independent Scotland in the EEA? I believe the tide is turning our way as people realise the total capitulation of Westminster to Brussels, which could give us at least 55 per cent for an independent Scotland in the EEA. Also take into account “the backstop” of Northern Ireland in the single market and customs union. So why not Scotland and Wales also?
If a General Election comes before Brexit, we need to put our cards in full sight on the table.
Gordon Robertson
via thenational.scot
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