I think there are several ‘main’ issues.

1. Norway is a very young country. Only just over 100 years old. And even during that time, we were occupied by German forces. So folk are PROUD of their country and don’t want to lose control.

This is the biggest reason, I think.

2. Norway is a socialist country. Within itself. Folk in more populated areas basicall subsidise those in more rural areas (even down to a carton of milk costing roughly the same, despite transport costs being far higher to more remote areas)

3a. Norwegians expect high quality stuff. A recent article in Aftenposten was about one of the main store (Rema 1000) starting to stock ‘cheaper’ meats, which are pumped with water & salt to increase the weight, in exchange for a cheaper price. Folk were *strongly* against it.

3b. Norwegians don’t want cheaper INFERIOR stuff in their shops. Yes, they complain about prices (ironically, I find it cheaper here for stuff with wage comparrisons than the UK), but they want quality. And they can and will pay for it.

4. We just don’t NEED the EU. The EU needs Norway (they see all the cash we have saved away for the future and want to get their grubby hands on it)

Norway’s relationship to the EU is like the Bokmål/Nynorsk question: It’s very complicated and takes much time to explain! 🙂 EU membership has been one of the most dividing issues in Norwegian politics, and EEA could be viewed upon as a national compromise in the matter. Complicated? You bet! A future post is absolutely in order! Lykke til med den, David! 🙂

Great question and yes, definitely the topic of a future post! They are in the EEA but outside the EU, hence have to abide by many EU regs (and the reason I was able to move over here very easily!)