ABSTRACT
While Norway has increasingly adapted itself to the new realities of the European Union (ElJ), it stands alone among western European states in its rejection of formal integration. Norway has applied for European Community (EC, later EU) membership four limes. First in 1962, when the application was set aside after President de Gaulle said 'no' to British membership, then again in 1967, and for a third time in 1970. The latter application led to the negotiation of a treaty between Norway and the EC, which was put to a referendum in 1972. After an intense and harsh campaign the treaty was rejected by a majority of 53.5 per cent of the voters. More than 20 years would pass before Norway, together with Finland and Sweden. applied again. In the 1994 referendum, history repeated itself, and the proportion of citizens rejecting the subsequently negotiated membership treaty was almost identical to that in 1972 - 52.2 per cent. Hence, where Austria. Finland and Sweden joined the EU on I January 1995, Norway stayed within (he European Free Trade Association (EFfA), 5.ticking with the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement.
