Thread by @jonashelseth

A #NewYearsEve #thread

On 🇪🇺 & 🇬🇧 & 🇳🇴 & 🦄🦄🦄

May 2019 bring much 🎂 to have & eat!

Due thanks @SebDance for inspiration
#HappyNewYear2019

Some clever 🇬🇧 spin doctors have added a ➕ to 🇳🇴

'#NorwayPlus'
assumedly to make it more alluring?

@USverdrup, Director at Norwegian Institute of International Affairs @NUPInytt noted to the 🇳🇴 @Aftenposten daily:
“If you stand at the edge
you no longer seek the best solution”

Please consider this:

Did any Central & Eastern European country joining 🇪🇺 2004
1st knock @EFTAsecretariat's door
as their preferred ‘solution’ for #SingleMarket access?

#EFTA & the #EEA Agreement it administers
= a barren 🏜️ for #democracy

A truly grey Brussels #bureaucracy.

Which is why such an 'option' makes no sense for 🇬🇧
#Brexit was alleged to yield more democracy
less bureaucracy, right?

🇬🇧 joining #EEA = unattractive for #Norway 🇳🇴

The ‘#EFTA’ side 🇳🇴🇮🇸🇱🇮 normally unanimously adopts #SingleMarket regulation 1-2 years after it’s agreed by 🇪🇺

With #Iceland 🇮🇸 #Liechtenstein 🇱🇮 as minor partners
#EEA unanimity has seldom been a matter of concern for 🇳🇴

🇳🇴 has indeed itself at times questioned and even delayed incoming 🇪🇺 laws

but it has never refused.

The consequences are deemed too dire for its #SingleMarket access

A refusal to align with 🇪🇺 #SingleMarket legislation would trigger retaliation measures
e.g. against 🇳🇴 #salmon/#fishfarms 🐟

The same would be true should 🇳🇴🇮🇸🇱🇮 use the so-called #EEA ‘security clause’
placing #FreeMovement of persons on hold

In short: No deviations please ⚠️

#EEA works for 🇪🇺 & #EFTA
as it avoids #democratic processes & related hiccups

As the Americans 🇺🇲 say:
If it ain’t broke,
don’t fix it

With #Brexit #Britain 🇬🇧 crashing in the grey door of EFTA #bureaucracy
drunk on defiance

the EEA Agreement would no doubt swiftly be 'broke'

'Fixing' it would require real debate about its stunning #democratic deficit

Adopting #laws ⚖️ with no say

but as #Brexit shows
it would also jeopardise critical #trade relations

🇳🇴 politicians know
alternatives = twofold only:
into 🇪🇺
or crashing out

Sounds familiar? #NoDeal

🇳🇴 MP Lunde (@VamPus) recently said
🇬🇧 not welcome in #EFTA

Regardless:
Does 🇬🇧 truly wish to be at 🇳🇴 mercy in its most important #trade relationship?

‘#NorwayPlus’ – is that now the ambition of 🇬🇧
...begging entry to a #bureaucratic place
where nobody makes real decisions? 🤔

My generation 🇳🇴 never had a 🇪🇺 vote

As I explained @Independent:
independent.co.uk/voices/brexit-…
‘Our’ 1994 🇪🇺 #referendum has entailed 1/4 century of democratic silence

Silence on how a vast number of our laws are shaped

#Britain voted to be splendid not in isolation
but in illusion

🇪🇺 = far more than grey bureaucracy

It's a political arena

Where decisions are made
Our future defined

Young Brits now realise they’re lied to
How #Brexit takes their future out of their hands

It’s not too late!
Don’t allow your country to slide into apathy
Break the illusion

With #MayDeal vs #NoDeal offered @UKParliament

Have your say!
Help the 🦄🦄 toward extinction
Demand a #PeoplesVote

Here's to the heroes @PeoplesVote_UK/@PeoplesVote_HQ 🥂🍾
#HappyNewYear!

& if you didn't have enough 🎂
read my 2016 @EurActiv piece too:
euractiv.com/section/uk-eur…

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