Minister of Foreign Affairs Thorbjørn Jagland

Opening Statement at Seminar on the EU-enlargement

Oslo, 31 May 2000

(Translation from Norwegian text)

Ladies and gentlemen,

Welcome to this seminar on the important topic of EU enlargement.

The enlargement of the EU will dramatically change the map of Europe. It will also enhance security and stability. At the same time, it will create new challenges that Norway must respond to and new opportunities that we must try to make use of.

This opportunity for an informal and open exchange of views on various aspects of the enlargement process is therefore very welcome.

I am particularly pleased that a number of prominent experts from Norway and abroad have taken the time to join us today and share their experience with us.

The immediate reason why this seminar is being held today is that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has asked the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs to analyse the foreign policy impact of enlargement on Norway. The Institute’s report is being published today, and we are looking forward to hearing Director Sverre Lodgaard describe its conclusions.

I would like to start by describing the main lines of the Government’s Europe policy and then briefly mention some important issues that are connected with the EU enlargement.

One of the most important elements of this Government’s foreign policy is a more active Europe policy, which focuses on the opportunities ahead and on Norway’s share of the responsibility for developments on our continent.

The EU is the driving force behind European cooperation. Thus, the development of our relations with the EU and EU member states is the main thrust of our own policy.

In addition to an emphasis on Norway’s neighbouring areas, our relations with the EU are the area where this government’s policies differ most clearly from those of the previous government.

The new government inherited a Europe policy based on passive adaptation to the EU. We now wish to pursue a more proactive policy and to be seen as a constructive partner. We must take our share of the responsibility even though we are not part of the EU.

If we do not, we risk being more or less permanently sidelined in European politics. We must ensure that Norway’s voice is heard. Regardless of party loyalties and political views, we must acknowledge that Norway is and always will be part of Europe.

My goal is for Norway to be seen as such a valuable external resource that it is in the EU’s own interests to make sure that we are involved in a number of very specific areas.

My goal is for Norway to be regarded as an important and central participant in the efforts to ensure peace and stability in Europe.

My goal is for Norway to set its stamp on future developments in Europe.

The result of the referendum must of course be respected, and the EEA Agreement will continue to play a central role in our relations with Europe. But Europe in the year 2000 is quite different from the Europe of 1994. The many processes of change are radically altering the framework for European cooperation. And at the same time, cooperation within the EU is being both deepened and widened.

To see this, we need only look at some of the most important of these processes. The development of the European Security and Defence Policy, ESDP, will influence our security policy framework. The Economic and Monetary Union, EMU, will affect our economic situation. And last but not least, there is the enlargement of the EU towards the east and south-east, with the objective of eliminating the former divide between east and west in Europe.

It is therefore an important task for this Government - and I hope for all the Norwegian political parties that are not part of the government - to ensure that Norway retains its freedom of action as regards its form of association with the EU.

It is also important to encourage a broad-based debate in Norway on our relations with Europe. The Government therefore wishes to provide the Storting with a comprehensive review of these relations and the challenges and opportunities involved, and will submit a white paper on these matters next autumn.

We are dealing with a changing Europe, and the integration process is involving a larger and larger proportion of the continent. The EU is now negotiating with twelve candidates for membership, ten in Eastern Europe plus Cyprus and Malta. Enlargement will create a new European Union and a new Europe. The consequences for Norway will inevitably be far-reaching.

Security and economic and social stability in a larger area of Europe will also be of importance to Norway. The enlargement of the EU is intended to benefit the continent as a whole. The success of the enlargement process is just as important for Norway as for the EU and other European countries. EU membership and adaptation to the internal market will put great demands on Baltic and Central/Eastern?** European states. Norway must therefore assist the applicant countries in this process. We have therefore taken the initiative to identify a number of projects that will be part of an overall Norwegian strategy vis-à-vis the applicant countries. This strategy will be discussed in more detail in the white paper on Europe.

For Norway, the most direct and tangible consequences of the enlargement process will be related to the EEA Agreement, since new member states of the EU will become parties to the agreement, in accordance with Article 128. Enlargement of the internal market will have positive effects for Norway too. It will result in closer cooperation between Norway and the new member states in all areas covered by the EEA Agreement.

However, the enlargement process will also affect Norway and Norwegian interests in many other ways, and will involve new challenges and opportunities. This is a historical process, and if Norway is to play a credible role, it cannot afford to remain outside.

It will be vital to base our actions on a comprehensive assessment of all the ways in which the enlargement process will affect Norway, and particularly how the enlargement of the internal market will influence our economic interests.

It will also be important to retain the advantages currently provided by our EFTA free trade agreements with the applicant countries. This applies especially to fish and fish products, which are not covered by the EEA Agreement.

Norway has started a review of the effects of this process on Norwegian interests. This involves cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all the other ministries.

Sectors of special importance for Norwegian interests appear to be fisheries, agriculture, energy, the environment, transport (air transport), free movement of persons and related issues such as social security and public health.

It is also interesting to follow the debate now in progress in several European countries on the effect of enlargement on the deepening of EU cooperation.

Will enlargement mean that one group of member countries will continue the integration process to a greater extent and at a greater speed than the others?

This is not unlikely. And from the Norwegian point of view, this may be positive if it allows a little more variation in the form of affiliation.

I hope that during this seminar you will discuss this and other relevant issues relating to the enlargement process.

In a few years, the EU may include most of the countries of Europe. Norway must be part of this process. We must contribute in a serious and constructive way. We have specific interests to safeguard. We must take care to present a clearly-focused message about what our interests are and how we can contribute. We must play an active role in ensuring peace and stability on our continent.

Europe’s future is Norway’s future.

I would be happy to answer questions from the floor.