ABSTRACT
Norway has been invited to become a member of the European Community/European Union twice, but both times a bare majority turned down the proposal in national referenda. The voters are deeply divided on the question of European integration, and the governing Labour Party is split in half on the issue. In spite of the political conflict on European issues, during the last decade the Norwegian government has made major efforts to adapt the organization and orientation of the Norwegian political system toward increased European integration. New organizations have been established and new procedures for securing sufficient coordination and control have been developed. Cross-border contacts between domestic Norwegian institutions and institutions at the European level have increased in scope and importance. European contacts and regulations are considered as important within most national policy fields, even in the fields traditionally totally dominated by domestic considerations. Furthermore, increased attention, time and energy have been devoted to European issues, and Norway has developed shared decision-making institutions with the EU.
