On Friday morning the High Court chose to block a legal case that sought to make triggering Article 127 of the European Economic Area (EEA) Treaty subject to parliamentary authorisation. Yes, there are Remainers who wish to see the whole Article 50 debate re-run when the government begins the process of leaving the EEA, but its proponents are deeply misguided in wanting to keep Britain in it...
Dear Britain, don't make the same mistake Norway did – you don't want to be inside the EEA
Helle Hagenau, Head of International and former Secretary General of No to EU in Norway. Her new paper, The EEA: A Warning from Norway, is launched today at The Red Cell - Welcome
3 February 2017
The Telegraph
106 Comments
High Court judges have rejected the call for MPs to be given a vote on leaving the European Economic Area. Credit: Peter Payne/Peter Payne
On Friday morning the High Court chose to block a legal case that sought to make triggering Article 127 of the European Economic Area (EEA) Treaty subject to parliamentary authorisation. Yes, there are Remainers who wish to see the whole Article 50 debate re-run when the government begins the process of leaving the EEA, but its proponents are deeply misguided in wanting to keep Britain in it.
Peter Wilding, Chairman of British influence, and lobbyist Adrian Yalland brought forward the latest legal challenge to Theresa May's Brexit plans Credit: DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images /DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images
On January 17, Prime Minister Theresa May gave a speech setting out how she foresaw Britain developing once it has the left the European Union.
In her own words:
When Norway entered the EEA agreement in 1993, we were told it would not affect workers’ rights, regional policy, equal opportunities, ownership restrictions in the financial sector, or a host of other issues. Nevertheless, it did. The EEA agreement is not as cosy as the Single Market. In fact, it has turned out to be a lesson in the implementation of the four freedoms – capital, services, labour, goods – and beyond.
Just before Christmas, the Supreme Court in Norway ruled that the “right of establishment” supersedes workers’ rights to a collective agreement and collective bargaining.
In other words, for the EU/EEA it is more important that a company is allowed to operate in Norwegian harbours, than for decades of agreements, negotiations and acquired rights to be upheld.
Norway does have its own agricultural and fisheries policies outside the EU and within the EEA, but more often than not, we face EU directives and regulations that have to be implemented into Norwegian law because of the EEA.
We are not as independent as we sometimes claim and Britain won't be either if it stays in the EEA. For example, it would still have to obey rulings from the European Court of Justice because the EEA/EFTA Court mirrors its judgements.
On June 23rd of last year, the majority of British people voted to leave the European Union. I think it was a very wise and good decision. According to Lord Ashcroft’s poll and the many people I met during the referendum campaign, the biggest single reason for wanting to leave the EU was “the principle that decisions about the UK should be taken in the UK”.
The only way to honour that is by freeing Britain from all of the ties of Brussels, whether in the shape of EU membership or as part of the EEA agreement.
Theresa May also said that “we will pursue a bold and ambitious free trade agreement with the European Union.” In my view, this is the only way forward for Britain; a bilateral agreement where both sides have an equal say.
The EEA agreement is one-sided because it is only the EU which can introduce new legislation; EEA states only have a right of reservation with regard to new legislation they cannot propose new rules.
I would love for Norway to follow Britain and get a trade agreement with the EU instead of being tied by the EEA agreement. I want, as much as you do, to live in a truly independent and democratic country. May we join you, Prime Minister?
Dear Britain, don't make the same mistake Norway did
Dear Britain, don't make the same mistake Norway did – you don't want to be inside the EEA
Helle Hagenau, Head of International and former Secretary General of No to EU in Norway. Her new paper, The EEA: A Warning from Norway, is launched today at The Red Cell - Welcome
3 February 2017
The Telegraph
106 Comments
High Court judges have rejected the call for MPs to be given a vote on leaving the European Economic Area. Credit: Peter Payne/Peter Payne
On Friday morning the High Court chose to block a legal case that sought to make triggering Article 127 of the European Economic Area (EEA) Treaty subject to parliamentary authorisation. Yes, there are Remainers who wish to see the whole Article 50 debate re-run when the government begins the process of leaving the EEA, but its proponents are deeply misguided in wanting to keep Britain in it.
Peter Wilding, Chairman of British influence, and lobbyist Adrian Yalland brought forward the latest legal challenge to Theresa May's Brexit plans Credit: DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images /DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images
On January 17, Prime Minister Theresa May gave a speech setting out how she foresaw Britain developing once it has the left the European Union.
In her own words:
“We seek a new and equal partnership – between an independent, self-governing, global Britain and our friends and allies in the EU. Not partial membership of the European Union, associate membership of the European Union, or anything that leaves us half-in, half-out. We do not seek to adopt a model already enjoyed by other countries. We do not seek to hold on to bits of membership as we leave.”
This rules out transitioning to the European Economic Area (EEA) as an option, or the 'Norway option' as it was dubbed during the referendum campaign. And trust me, this is right. We Norwegians have lived with the agreement for 25 years and it has not been an easy ride.
When Norway entered the EEA agreement in 1993, we were told it would not affect workers’ rights, regional policy, equal opportunities, ownership restrictions in the financial sector, or a host of other issues. Nevertheless, it did. The EEA agreement is not as cosy as the Single Market. In fact, it has turned out to be a lesson in the implementation of the four freedoms – capital, services, labour, goods – and beyond.
Just before Christmas, the Supreme Court in Norway ruled that the “right of establishment” supersedes workers’ rights to a collective agreement and collective bargaining.
In other words, for the EU/EEA it is more important that a company is allowed to operate in Norwegian harbours, than for decades of agreements, negotiations and acquired rights to be upheld.
Norway does have its own agricultural and fisheries policies outside the EU and within the EEA, but more often than not, we face EU directives and regulations that have to be implemented into Norwegian law because of the EEA.
We are not as independent as we sometimes claim and Britain won't be either if it stays in the EEA. For example, it would still have to obey rulings from the European Court of Justice because the EEA/EFTA Court mirrors its judgements.
On June 23rd of last year, the majority of British people voted to leave the European Union. I think it was a very wise and good decision. According to Lord Ashcroft’s poll and the many people I met during the referendum campaign, the biggest single reason for wanting to leave the EU was “the principle that decisions about the UK should be taken in the UK”.
The only way to honour that is by freeing Britain from all of the ties of Brussels, whether in the shape of EU membership or as part of the EEA agreement.
Theresa May also said that “we will pursue a bold and ambitious free trade agreement with the European Union.” In my view, this is the only way forward for Britain; a bilateral agreement where both sides have an equal say.
The EEA agreement is one-sided because it is only the EU which can introduce new legislation; EEA states only have a right of reservation with regard to new legislation they cannot propose new rules.
I would love for Norway to follow Britain and get a trade agreement with the EU instead of being tied by the EEA agreement. I want, as much as you do, to live in a truly independent and democratic country. May we join you, Prime Minister?
Dear Britain, don't make the same mistake Norway did