Norway’s prime minister has suggested that EEA membership could be an option for the UK.
Speaking to the Financial Times, Erna Solberg, went back on previous hints that Norway would block British membership of the EEA.
“I think we will cope very well if the Brits come in. It will give bargaining power on our side too. And it would ease Norway’s access to the UK,” she said in an interview.
This was contrary to her comments following the EU referendum, where Solberg said it was “not certain that it would be a good idea to let a big country into this organisation” because the move could “shift the balance” against “Norway’s interests”.
Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein are the countries that participate in the EEA through their membership of the European Free Trade Association.
EEA membership requires free movement with EU states. Theresa May has effectively denied a Norway-approach to Brexit with hopes to end free movement and the single market.
Despite criticism from Tory Brexiteers, May has insisted she has the “determination to deliver Brexit”.
The prime minister wrote in The Sun on Sunday last week that she had the “absolute determination to make a success of Brexit, by leaving the single market and customs union and building a new relationship with EU partners that take back control of our borders, our laws and our money”.
The EEA was not a popular choice among pro-Brexit MPs due to the free movement required.
The former Conservative minister Stephen Hammond denied the guaranteed free movement with EEA membership and said: “If you look at the EEA terms of reference, it is clear there is more leeway to impose restrictions on freedom of movement.”