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No one should be in any doubt that Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap) is a supporter of cooperation in Europe. Our Prime Minister makes no secret of the fact that he would like to see Norway become a member of the EU, and he is loyal to Norway’s obligations towards our European partners. As it should be.
Now a space is opening up for a new discussion about Norway’s accession to the EU. The war in Ukraine has set forces in motion which means that the issue is being discussed far into the Swedish Socialist Party, traditionally a stronghold for No to the EU. The MDGs turned from no to yes earlier this year.
In the Conservative Party, former foreign minister Ine Eriksen Søreide has advocated for a new debate. The Center Party, Støre’s partner in government, has set up a separate EU committee which will prepare the organization for a new EU fight. Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum declared last week that The EU debate is underway.
But Støre says no. He does not want a new EU debate – the next six years.
It is not difficult to understand him. The cooperation between the two parties that govern the country together will probably not survive an EU debate. The Center Party is the very No party in Norwegian politics. The Labor Party is also divided, but the leaders of the parties are uniformly EU-friendly.
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We have seen how EU-related issues such as the endorsement of ACER tear and struggle in the Labor Party. Now Fellesforbundet, the largest and most important union in the private sector, has clearly said no to ACER and has opened up to consider the EEA agreement. Then it is probably tactically wise for Støre to avoid further division by opening up an EU debate.
There is still something defensive about the play. Something a little “sturgeon”, we might say. Like most people, Jonas Gahr Støre has strengths and weaknesses as a political leader. One of his strengths is the willingness to think big and occasionally airy.
In this case, Støre puts himself and his visions aside in favor of domestic peace in the government and the Labor Party. It probably makes sense. And at the same time a bit cowardly.
It is almost 30 years since the last time the people had their say on Norwegian EU membership. This means that soon no one under 50 has had their voice heard in the question. It is time to do something about it. Contrary to the Prime Minister, we welcome a new debate on the EU.
[ Dagsavisen mener: Det er ikke greit å føre velgerne bak lyset, Høyre ]
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2023-11-03 21:12:17
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