Polish Dane interviews Vemund Bergli on Norway and the EU

Polish Dane, a Polish-Danish YouTuber and ambassador of our movement, interviewed Norwegian politician Vemund Bergli from European Youth Norway and the Young Conservatives about rising support for EU membership.

Norway is already deeply integrated into the EU through the EEA and Schengen. It participates in the single market and implements much EU legislation, but has no formal representation or voting rights in EU institutions. In 2025, the Eurosceptic Centre Party even left the government over the implementation of three EU energy directives.

Bergli argues that Norway should join because major issues such as defence and energy are increasingly decided at European level. Membership would finally give Norway a vote on rules it often already follows. He is not a federalist, however, believing Europe is too diverse for federalisation in the short term.

Norway has rejected EU membership twice, largely over sovereignty and fishing rights. Its enormous oil and gas wealth has also reduced the economic pressure to join.

But attitudes are changing, especially among younger Norwegians who want greater democratic representation. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, tensions on Finland’s border and, since Trump’s return in 2025, concerns over US reliability and rhetoric towards Greenland have strengthened arguments for closer European cooperation.

Norway is already protected by NATO, but EU membership would also bring Article 42.7, the EU mutual-assistance clause. With its wealthy, stable and advanced economy, Norway would also be a major asset to the Union.

Support for membership is still a minority position, but it is much stronger among young people. From our perspective, the question is not if Norway will join the EU, but when. Crises increasingly push Europeans closer together—and make the Union stronger and larger.