Norwegians have urged Britain to reject the ‘Norway option’ as the country begins to debate its future relationship with the EU following Brexit.
Jan Erik Grindheim, a Norwegian legal expert at Civitas, said Brexiteers would never accept his country’s model because Brussels forces, on average, five rulings a day on the country.
Mr Grindheim voiced his disappointment and concern in his own country’s agreement with the EU, claiming that the deal has seen his country “give away everything”.
Brexit talks have officially moved past Phase 1 of negotiations and now discussions between the UK and the EU will centre on Britain’s future relationship with the bloc.
Norway has its own trade agreement with the EU, which some in the Brexit process have claimed could serve as a blueprint for future EU-UK trade.
However, Mr Grindheim, a prominent legal voice in Norway, has urged Britain to turn this down.
Norway is outside of the EU’s customs union and is free to strike its own trade deals around the world – but this comes at a cost.
Speaking to German broadcaster DW, Mr Grindheim said: “We have on average five new EU directives handed to us every day and we have to enforce them without discussion.
“There have been more than 10,000 directives from Brussels over the years. I would like my Prime Minister or my Government officials to be involved in these discussions.
“But, we cannot decide our own future, we have given it away.”
Norway also pays £344million a year to Brussels as part of the trade agreement, a figure close to the £350million Britain currently pays the EU for membership.