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| No to the EU | |
|---|---|
| Name | No to the EU |
| Native name | Nei til EU |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Headquarters | Oslo, Tromsø |
| Country | Norway |
| Ideology | Euroscepticism, Norwegian nationalism, Social democracy (broad spectrum) |
| Position | Centre-left politics, Centre-right politics (coalition of currents) |
| European | None |
No to the EU is a Norwegian cross-party campaign and organization opposed to Norwegian membership in the European Union and to deeper integration within the European Economic Area. Formed from a coalition of activists, trade unionists, intellectuals and politicians, the group has engaged with actors across the spectrum including figures associated with Labour Party (Norway), Conservative Party (Norway), Centre Party (Norway), and Socialist Left Party (Norway). It operates within the context of Norway's referendums and negotiations involving treaties such as the EEC membership referendum, 1972 and the Norwegian EU membership referendum, 1994.
No to the EU emerged from postwar debates that involved stakeholders linked to Labour Party (Norway), Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions, Centre Party (Norway), and rural movements shaped by events like the Cod Wars and negotiations with the European Free Trade Association. Roots extend to earlier organisations influenced by campaigns around the EEC membership referendum, 1972 and activism surrounding the European Communities debates in the 1970s and 1980s. Key formative moments include mobilisations during the negotiation of the European Economic Area and the lead-up to the Norwegian EU membership referendum, 1994, which crystallised a cross-party alliance drawing from figures in trade unionism, fisheries unions, and cultural institutions such as the Norwegian Authors' Union.
The organisation articulates a platform blending Norwegian nationalism with protectionist stances on fisheries policy and welfare-state safeguards associated with the Nordic model. It draws intellectual support from scholars and commentators linked to institutions such as the University of Oslo, Norwegian School of Economics, and the Institute for Social Research (ISF). Policy positions reference legal frameworks like the Treaty on European Union and the Agreement on the European Economic Area while arguing for national sovereignty in areas contested by European Court of Justice jurisprudence and EU law harmonisation. Its rhetoric intersects with actors from across parties including the Christian Democratic Party (Norway), Progress Party (Norway), and civil society groups like Nature and Youth (Norway) when addressing environmental regulation and resource management.
No to the EU has primarily functioned as a campaign organisation rather than an electoral party, coordinating referendum campaigns and public information drives that collaborated with parliamentary actors such as Kjell Magne Bondevik-era coalitions and opposition figures like Gro Harlem Brundtland and Kåre Willoch at different moments. Its most consequential campaign was during the Norwegian EU membership referendum, 1994, where alliances with the Centre Party (Norway), Socialist Left Party (Norway), and elements of the Labour Party (Norway) contributed to the "no" outcome. The organisation has influenced municipal and parliamentary debates through endorsements and coalitions involving representatives from Stortinget and local councils in regions such as Troms og Finnmark, Nordland, and Vestland.
The group maintains a national board, regional chapters across counties like Oslo, Rogaland, and Nord-Trøndelag, and affiliated networks that include trade unionists from the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions, academics from the University of Bergen, and cultural figures from the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. Notable public figures associated at various times include former MPs and activists who have had affiliations with Centre Party (Norway), Labour Party (Norway), Socialist Left Party (Norway), and journalists from outlets such as Aftenposten, Dagbladet, and Dagens Næringsliv. Organizational practices reflect campaigning models similar to those used by European counterpart movements like campaigns surrounding the United Kingdom European Communities membership referendum, 1975 and the Brexit referendum.
Public reception has ranged from broad grassroots support in rural and fishing communities to critique from pro-EU elements in urban centres and business sectors represented by organisations such as Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise and Innovation Norway. Controversies have included disputes over funding and messaging that drew commentary from major newspapers including Aftenposten, VG, and Klassekampen, and scrutiny from legal scholars referencing the Norwegian Constitution and debates on international commitments like the Schengen Agreement. The organisation has occasionally faced accusations—made by critics in parties such as Labour Party (Norway) and Conservative Party (Norway)—of aligning with populist rhetoric similar to movements observed in France and United Kingdom Eurosceptic campaigns, which it denies while emphasising cross-party membership.
Policy positions emphasize sovereignty over fisheries policy, resource management of areas like the Barents Sea, preservation of social welfare arrangements associated with the Nordic welfare model, and scepticism toward legal primacy asserted by the European Court of Justice. The organisation has influenced Norway's external posture by reinforcing popular mandates against full membership, shaping government negotiating stances in talks with the European Union and bodies like the European Free Trade Association. Its impact is evident in sustained public scepticism reflected in opinion polling conducted by institutes such as the Norwegian Institute of Public Opinion (SSB) and policy choices by cabinets led by figures like Jens Stoltenberg and Erna Solberg.
Category:Political organisations based in Norway Category:Euroscepticism