Norway Has A Message For Britain About Life Outside The EU

A Norwegian international affairs Director has expressed his opinions on the UK's decision to leave the European Union.

Jonas Helseth, a Director of Bellona Europa, the EU policy office of the Bellona Foundation, writes in The Independent: 'I had the doubtful pleasure to witness a similar political farce in my own country Norway, which led us into the blissful denial in which we still remain.

Thanks to vast petroleum resources we suffered no recession, but we did give up our democratic control in the name of "sovereignty". I've already explained in this newspaper why no EU leader will give the UK a 'better deal', and why a Norway-style Brexit cannot be a real option for Britain. That remains no less true if the Scots go their own way and remain in the EU - it would only be even more humiliating. The painful reality is that there's no better deal to be had now.'

Helseth was a teenager when Norway held its own referendum, and he details the parallels of the two.

Image: Getty

'I was 12, turning 13,' Helseth continues. 'But remember Norway's 1994 EU referendum all too well. The surge of nationalism, fueled further by the successful Lillehammer Olympics, and an irrational antagonism toward our European allies and neighbours. I was still too young to vote, and never got a chance since. I dare hope better for Britain's young.

'For a while, I led the European movement in my hometown Trondheim, and received anonymous letters with threats and accusations of me "trying to give away what the Germans failed to keep in 1945" when writing op-eds in the regional newspaper.

'I've spent two decades watching my country's denial of our de facto membership without a say. Yet through my current job at the Norwegian NGO Bellona, which established itself in Brussels when Norway did not, I got the chance to influence that which my country refused. So too can young Brits who wish Europe (and their country, for it remains in Europe regardless of the EU membership) well, and I hope they still will. Europe and Britain needs them now more than ever.'

What do you think? Is the country going OTT with the Referendum result, or is there a rhyme and reason to Helseth's piece?

Featured image: Getty

Topics: brexit

Josh Teal

Josh Teal is a journalist at LADbible. He has contributed to the 'Knowing Me, Knowing EU' and 'UOKM8?' campaigns interviewing everyone from student drug dealers to climate change activists.

@tealioni