ISSN 0804-709X
www.norwaves.com
ANNOUNCEMENT: NORWAVES seeks a volunteer co-owner of the list who could be
responsible for subscriptions. The work includes helping e-mail users
with issues regarding subscription and keeping addresses in the
subscribers list updated. The work can be conducted from any e-mail address.
A volunteer with listowner experiences will be preferred. If you are interested,
please contact nwnews@nki.no
ATTN: PRESSE- OG KULTURKONTORET
THE ROYAL MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Press Division, Oslo
NORWAY DAILY NO. 103-107/94 OeW/KJ
DATE: 2 June 1994
DUST SETTLES IN EU SPAT (Aftenposten/Arbeiderbladet)
The altercation between Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland and
chairman Hallvard Bakke of the Social Democrats against the EU has
been smoothed out. Anti-accessionists in the Storting feel the
Prime Minister qualified her previous statements yesterday in her
reply to a question on the EU's economic and monetary union. The
PM took time to emphasize that Norway has not entered any
reservations with regard to the Maastricht Treaty because the
Government supports the aims of the Economic and Monetary Union.
"This could provide an added measure of stability to the European
economy similar to what we experienced in the 1950s and 1960s. The
national, commercial and the private facets of our economy will be
better off with this sort of stability," the Prime Minister
confirmed. "The PM confirmed that neither Germany nor the
Netherlands has adopted a separate protocol in respect of the
third phase, which bears out my assertion. She has clarified the
point that was at issue," said Mr. Bakke.
READY TO HAND OUT BILLIONS (Arbeiderbladet)
Minister of Trade and Shipping Grete Knudsen and the Government
are prepared to spend several billion kroner to cushion the food
and farming industries against the price shock if and when Norway
joins the Union. The Report to the Storting on Norway and the EU
outlines a programme of readjustment in the food industry. The
industry has warned of the disastrous effects of a switchover to
EU prices in Norway from the first day of membership if Norway
joins the union. "We have been working closely with industry
representatives to prepare for a transition. A detailed plan will
be submitted to the Storting later this summer," said the Minister
of Trade and Shipping.
HECTIC HORSE TRADING ON EXPLORATORY DRILLING (Aftenposten)
It was hard for Labour to swallow a total rejection of the
Government proposal on exploratory drilling in the Skagerrak.
Therefore, Labour was willing to make substantial concessions to
the Conservatives on other sections of the petroleum report if the
Conservatives would go along with postponement of drilling in the
Skagerrak for a limited period only. In specific terms, the
Conservatives have offered to bar drilling in the Skagerrak only
until thorough impact statements have been completed, after which
exploration will be permitted. This would entail a two to three
year delay. In return, the Conservatives expect more lenient
application of the sliding scale provision. The Conservatives
believe greater government moderation in the use of the sliding
scale will make it profitable to continue extraction from old
wells for longer periods. Discussions will continue today.
THORVALD STOLTENBERG NEW NATO CHIEF? (Dagbladet)
Thorvald Stoltenberg appears to be one of the leading candidates
to succeed Manfred Woerner as NATO Secretary General. "Mr.
Stoltenberg is a very strong candidate. He has a broad range of
political experience and he is well-acquainted with NATO from his
terms as Norwegian Minister of Defence and Minister of Foreign
Affairs," said one NATO source. Mr. Stoltenberg sees no reason to
speculate as to who are likely candidates to succeed Mr. Woerner.
"In my work as a peace intermediary, we have worked very well
together. I hope he comes back," said Mr. Stoltenberg.
WORTH NOTING:
- Norway's 200 biggest enterprises showed aggregate profits of NOK
63.5 billion last year, almost twice as much as in 1992.
- Moody's, the international credit rating firm, has rated Norway
Aa1 for long-term currency loans. The reasons given are Norway's
stable social and political structure, a high per capita gross
national product and good liquidity.
- A number of banks might create their own fraud registers if the
Data Inspectorate grants the Postal Bank permission to establish
such a register. The large banks in particular feel a need to
register attempts at fraud.
- Sea Shepherd leader Paul Watson should be sentenced to six
months in prison for serious vandalism of the whaling vessel
"Nybraenna", in the view of the public prosecutor.
- Officers' organizations sharply criticize the Defence Ministry
proposal to use Norwegian forces abroad.
- Airline chaos was averted when the aircraft technicians and
their employers reached agreement shortly after 0230 this morning.
TODAY'S COMMENT:
Reports of approaching decline in the petroleum sector should come
as a surprise to no one. It has long been known that oil
production in the fields developed to date would top out in this
decade. In stepping up the rate of development to offset
unemployment, the Government has seen to it that activity both
onshore and offshore has reached a level that cannot be sustained
without new discoveries. Exploratory drilling has yielded meagre
results, and many oil companies will therefore have to reduce
their work forces. We cannot expect to maintain the regional
concentration of labour brought about by the petroleum industry.
Therefore, it is essential that we stimulate other industrial
segments now so that they will be prepared to absorb the labour
that will soon be on the market. (Dagbladet)
DATE: 3 June 1994
SOLUTION TO KVAERNER PROBLEM IN SIGHT (NTB)
Defence Minister Joergen Kosmo believes the Navy will be able to
find a solution to the conflict with Kvaerner. "I am confident
that we will obtain a result which will enable us to complete the
necessary testing of the technical standard of the minesweepers
before the Navy takes possession," said Mr. Kosmo after new
discussions between Kvaerner and the Navy on delivery of the new
mine clearance vessels. Kvaerner representatives met the
Storting's Defence Committee to present the Group's view of the
disagreement on delivery of the new mine clearance vessels.
AGRICULTURE SOLUTIONS STILL UP IN THE AIR (Aftenposten)
The Government will present the comprehensive report on Norwegian
membership of the EU today. There are few answers in store for
farming and related industries, however, as important negotiations
with the European Commission still remain. According to
Aftenposten's sources, these will not be concluded before
September. The Minister of Trade and Shipping and the Minister of
Agriculture both promised that the results of these negotiations
will be on the table "in plenty of time before the referendum" on
28 November.
SAVINGS OF SEVERAL THOUSAND KRONER (Arbeiderbladet)
Minister of Agriculture Gunhild Oeyangen believes a four-person
household will be able to save NOK 10,000 per year on its food
budget if Norway joins the European Union. This is an essential
part of the calculation when evaluating the costs and benefits of
EU membership. Ms. Oeyangen acknowledges that the Norwegian state
will have heavy payments to meet, especially in the first year of
membership, if Norway joins. She anticipates that membership of
the EU will gradually impart benefits through greater efficiency
and cost-consciousness, however.
NO CHOICE ON POISONS (Dagens Naeringsliv)
Norway may be compelled to accept a number of pesticides that can
leave toxic residues in groundwater if we join the EU. The
Directive on Toxic Substances in Pesticides is an agricultural
directive, and thereby not affected by the environmental
safeguard. This has been confirmed by Danish environmental law
expert Peter Pagh. He says that the Commission must approve the
grounds submitted by a country that invokes the environmental safeguard.
BOYCOTT THREAT AGAINST OIL COMPANIES (NTB/Nationen)
Oil companies that drill for oil in the Skagerrak stand to lose
customers at the petrol pump. This boycott threat is a desperate
attempt by the Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature to
halt drilling in this popular but highly vulnerable part of the
sea. "The only way to stop oil activity in the Skagerrak is to get
the oil companies to pull out. A joint Nordic petrol boycott would
make exploration in the Skagerrak less attractive, in the view of
the Society's head of technical staff, Fredrik Theisen.
SURVEILLANCE OF FAITHLESS STATOIL EMPLOYEES (Aftenposten)
Statoil was granted permission yesterday to create a "snoop
register" of its own employees as well as others involved in
industrial espionage. The company has suspicions that a certain
amount of espionage activity is going on, and has formed an
undercover group to investigate. The new register will contain
information on suspected offences and breaches of company guidelines.
WORTH NOTING:
- All is in readiness for the conversion of Norwegian Telecom to a
corporation on 1 November this year.
-The Ministry of Justice proposes to raise the liability of
parents of criminal children to NOK 5,000. Liability is currently
limited to NOK 1,000.
- The Oslo Policemen's Union would like former LOOC president
Gerhard Heiberg to be the next chief of police in Oslo. "A police
department needs a professional administrator, not a lawyer."
- Statoil's emissions of harmful greenhouse gasses have dropped
substantially even as the rate of extraction of oil and gas on the
North Sea has been stepped up.
- Archives of some of the most secret operations of World War II
were opened in London yesterday. For the first time, the
Scandinavian parts of the war archives of the secret British
sabotage organization SOE (Special Operations Executive) will be
accessible for study.
TODAY'S COMMENT:
Kvaerner Group CEO Erik Toenseth has taken a lot of flak since he
made the statement a couple of weeks ago that Kvaerner would have
to consider moving its headquarters out of the country if Norway
rejects EU membership in the referendum. The primary industries
and anti-accessionists are not the only ones entitled to make
their views known. The danger that Norwegian industry may be left
out of the most dynamic industrial developments will increase
substantially if the majority vote against EU membership in
November. It would undoubtedly be best for Norwegian industry if
Norway joined the Union. It is important that industrial
executives make this clear, both to their employees and to the
general public. Mr. Toenseth has set a good example. To ensure a
majority vote in favour of accession, others had better see their
responsibility and speak out, too. (Arbeiderbladet)
DATE: 6 June 1994
EU NORWAY'S BEST SOCIAL WELFARE GUARANTEE (Aftenposten, Saturday
edition)
Friday's presentation of the Government's EU report revealed that
the Government now strongly emphasizes arguments closely concerned
with everyday life, such as health, care, social security and
jobs. Peace and security aspects were only mentioned in a single
sentence when the report was presented. The need for supranational
solutions was also toned down. The EU report is over 400 pages
long. In addition to being a reference document on the results of
the negotiations and the structure of the EU, it is also the
Government's most important catalogue of premises and arguments in
the runup to the big referendum campaign. "The Government views
membership as the best guarantee for continued development of our
social welfare schemes and efforts to safeguard the basic needs of
the individual." This was the keynote of Ms. Knudsen's
presentation of the report yesterday. The Government is extremely
cautious about quantifying any of the benefits that may be
expected of membership of the EU. What is certain, though, is that
the bottom line next year will be in the red. Norway's gross
contribution to the EU treasury will be NOK 7.9 billion, and will
climb further as the "introductory discounts" disappear. Payments
Norway stands to receive from the EU in 1995 for various purposes
are estimated at NOK 5.3 billion. Finance Minister Sigbjoern
Johnsen reckons that the difference, NOK 2.6 billion, will be
added to the ordinary budget deficit next year. The Government
anticipates economic growth that will more than offset Norway's
net contribution. This growth is expected because more enterprises
exposed to international competition are expected to establish
activities in Norway. The Government also believes investments
will go up as a result of lower interest rates and more stable
exchange rates. This will prompt growth in production and yields.
WE CAN PULL OUT ANY TIME (Aftenposten)
The Government has toned down the significance of the Maastricht
Treaty substantially in its EU report. The Government also states
that Norway can withdraw from the EU. "It is reasonable to view
the creation of an economic and monetary union, with a single
currency, as a further step in the development of the single
market and the gradual alignment of the economic policies of the
member states. These have been goals of the EEC since the Treaty
of Rome was signed in 1957." This quote from the Report to the
Storting on Membership of the EU will probably not come as a
surprise to most people, but it is certain to provoke reactions.
It illustrates how the Government views the Union Treaty.
"NORWEGIANS TOO PASSIVE" (Dagens Naeringsliv, Saturday edition)
Raphael Brender, Israel's commercial attache in Norway, Sweden and
Finland, has criticized Norwegian companies for their lack of
interest in exporting their goods and services. The Israeli
authorities would like to work more closely with Norway on
research and development of new products. "Since the Oslo
agreement, Norway has enjoyed an enormous amount of goodwill in
Israel. Yet not a single delegation of Norwegian export companies
has visited our country recently," says Mr. Brender. He pointed
out that Swedish export companies, in contrast, have been very
active. Companies like Skandia and Volvo now dominate sectors of
the heavy equipment market in Israel. Mr. Brender believes trade
between Norway and Israel has achieved only a fraction of its
potential. He criticized Norwegian companies for being too
conventional in their export strategies.
STORTING INADEQUATELY INFORMED ON GAS SALES (Aftenposten, Saturday
edition)
The seven oil companies that comprise the Gas Supply Committee
feel the Government has given the Storting an insufficient basis
for taking a stand on the new contracts for sales of natural gas.
Hydro, Saga, Shell, Conoco, Elf, Esso and Phillips sent a letter
to the Ministry of Industry and Energy on Thursday, asking the
Ministry to inform the Storting of the majority recommendation for
filling future gas supply contracts as well. They pointed out that
even if the Government recommends one of the two solutions, it is
strange that the Ministry should provide no information on the
alternative, particularly in light of the fact that the
alternative is what the majority had recommended. The comment of
Director General Tore Sandvold of the Ministry of Industry and
Energy is that the point of Friday's proposition was to propose a
solution that does not demand an investment decision on the Halten
Bank right now.
WORTH NOTING:
- Power is an extremely valuable export product from an
environmental point of view. Norwegian power exports can reduce
emissions of CO2 on the continent much more than Norway's own
total annual CO2 emissions and net NOK 15 billion in revenues into
the bargain. (Minister of the Environment)
- In the weekend, Arve Thorvik was elected leader of the
accessionist organization "From No to Yes". Like Thorvik, the
majority of the executive committee members have ties to the
Labour Party.
- Minister of Health Werner Christie may have problems obtaining a
majority in the Storting for his new biotechnology legislation.
The Conservative Party's increasing emphasis on its value profile
may be what tips the scales when the bill goes to the vote in the
Storting next week.
- Frogn Church burned to the ground Friday night. The police
presume that the fire was an act of arson.
- The Director General of the Central Office of Historic Monuments
wishes to install fire alarm and extinguishing equipment in 400
churches at a cost of NOK 160 to 200 million. Churches which date
from before 1850 or house objects of special value are targeted.
TODAY'S COMMENT:
Stripping away all the details, the Government is right in its
assessment of Norwegian membership of the EU as expressed in
Report No. 40 to the Storting, summing up the issues as follows:
"Due to the increasing interdependence of nations, the nation-
state needs a supplement in the form of actions taken in
cooperation with other countries. Politics cannot be national when
the challenges are international." Considering the fact that the
EU is the driving force in the shaping of the new Europe, the
logical conclusion is that Norway should take its place in the
fora in which the decisions are being made. Moreover, the EU has
granted us terms that far exceed what our Minister of Fisheries
and others had anticipated. The question that remains is whether
the Government and the Storting majority will succeed in
convincing the people that membership of the EU is essential if we
are to safeguard our national interests. (Aftenposten, Saturday edition)
As expected, the Government's Report to the Storting on Norwegian
Membership of the EU met with a storm of criticism from anti-
accessionists. The sharpest criticism is aimed at the purported
lack of specific figures on what membership will cost the country
and the individual. However, all experience with detailed economic
prognoses shows that they are not to be relied upon. They are
based on definite assumptions that are almost never borne out in
real life. (Dagbladet, Saturday edition)
DATE: 7 June 1994
QUOTA OF 301 WHALES - GREENPEACE GIVES WARNING (NTB/Aftenposten)
Norwegian whalers have been granted a quota of 301 minke whales
this year, five more than last year. The quota stipulated by the
Norwegian government covers both scientific whaling and commercial
whaling. Chairman Steinar Bastesen of the Norwegian Small-Species
Whalers' Association is glad whaling will be allowed, but he feels
the quota is too small. Greenpeace has issued a warning that it
will carry out actions against commercial whaling.
Norwegian whalers will be permitted to take 189 whales in addition
to the 112 minke whales comprising the scientific catch. Director
General Stein Owe of the Ministry of Fisheries said that the
Norwegian quota was set on the basis of the Revised Management
Procedure (RMP) drawn up by the Scientific Committee of the
International Whaling Commission (IWC). Inspectors are to be on
board all whaling vessels to monitor commercial whaling. Mr. Owe
says veterinarians will see to it that operations follow the
correct procedures. The whalers have received training in
effective killing methods to ensure that it is done as humanely as
possible.
SHARP CRITICISM OF STORTING (Arbeiderbladet)
"Spineless," was William Nygaard's remark about the Storting and
the authorities for their lack of sanctions against the terrorist
regime in Iran. This criticism was forthcoming when Mr. Nygaard
was awarded this year's national prize for courage in speaking out
(Norw. Fritt Ord). "I sat in the gallery when the Storting debated
the Iran issue. It was shocking to see how quickly opinion changed
- and at a time when we were witnessing what the exemplary action
of a country as small as Norway could achieve against the
apartheid regime in South Africa and toward peace in the Middle
East," said Mr. Nygaard. He demanded that the authorities should
now exact a guarantee from the Iranian embassy that no Norwegian
citizens involved in the Rushdie affair should have to fear for
their lives.
CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS OPPOSE VAT INCREASE ON FOOD (Aftenposten)
The Christian Democrats are now putting the pressure on Labour
over the budget: don't tamper with VAT compensation on food
products or you'll lose the net wealth tax. The temperature of the
budget debate in the Storting rose noticeably yesterday. The
compromise between Labour and the Christian Democrats over the
wealth tax hike is in danger if Labour does not retract its
proposal to cut VAT compensation on food products. Christian
Democratic finance policy spokesmen Odd Holten and Einar
Steensnaes made this point clear when they presented the Christian
Democrats' alternative revised national budget. The Centre Party,
too, will submit its own proposal today. The political poker game
over the national budget is becoming more intense. This is the
last major item of business to be handled by the Storting before
the summer recess.
NORDIC COUNTRIES WILL STICK TOGETHER WITHIN OR WITHOUT EU
(Dagbladet)
Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish voters wish to stick together
within or without the EU. If Finland and Sweden vote for
membership of the EU, 52 per cent in Norway will also vote to
join. A clear majority of Norwegian voters would prefer that all
three stayed out, however. This was revealed by a joint survey
conducted in all three countries by Norwegian MMI, Swedish SIFO
and Finnish Marketing Radar. The 2500 Nordic voters surveyed
confirm that Labour chairman Thorbjoern Jagland made the right
decision in pressing to have Norway run the last lap of the
referendum relay.
WORTH NOTING:
- The Norwegian Navy will now issue a definite ultimatum to the
Kvaerner Group in order to break the deadlock in the conflict over
the new mine-clearance vessels commissioned by the defence
authorities at a cost of over NOK 2 billion.
- The Headquarters Defence Command Norway is on a collision course
with all officer organizations in its support for the Defence
Ministry proposal to open for ordering of Norwegian personnel to
war duty abroad.
- The Government and a majority in the Storting are in opposition
to the people in deciding to open the Skagerrak and the waters off
the coast of central Norway and Nordland county for oil and gas
exploration.
- 8,900 Norwegians are currently studying abroad, according to
recent State Educational Loan Fund statistics.
- The Norwegian State Railway faces the biggest budget overrun
ever. Intense cold and an abundance of snow added an unforeseen
NOK 195 million to this year's operating costs.
- An unparalleled army of tourists is invading Oslo. 1993 was a
very good year for the tourist industry, but it looks like all
records will be broken this year.
TODAY'S COMMENT:
As we approach this year's summer season, the outcome of the
referenda on membership of the EU to be held in the Nordic
countries is more uncertain than ever. The conventional wisdom has
been based on a simple domino theory: Finland is sure to vote for
accession, Sweden will follow suit, and a slight majority in
Norway will tag along. The governments of these three countries
have thus ordered the voting sequence so as to assure a Yes vote
across the board. The anti-accessionists, for their part, have
fought for a single date for all referenda, which would be playing
blind man's buff with Nordic solidarity. The most recent opinion
polls from Sweden and Norway show a large majority against
accession, however, and this opposition seems to be on the
increase. At the moment, the governments of these two countries
seem to be helpless onlookers as the public opinion in their
countries goes its own way. In contrast, the domino theory stands
firm, as revealed by a recent survey of the Nordic countries.
Turning the anti-accession sentiment in Sweden and Norway into a
Yes vote will take quite a majority in the Finnish referendum.
Moreover, the bitter domestic debate currently taking place in
Finland right now is about to demolish the basis for the
accessionists' entire domino theory. The outcome of the Finnish
parliament's handling of the membership treaty is up in the air,
and the internal EU debate within the Centre Party is intertwined
with a personal power struggle of traditional Finnish format. The
EU issue may quite simply topple Esko Aho's government before the
summer recess, which would have an enormous impact on the
direction of public opinion. (Dagbladet)
DATE: 8 June 1994
SECURITY POLICE REMOVED PAPERS (Aftenposten)
In the spring and summer of 1993, the National Security Police
destroyed a number of documents that should not have been
destroyed, according to the Storting's supervisory committee for
security services. Destruction of documents took place until the
Ministry of Justice directed the Security Police to change their
procedures last year. A number of investigating commissions were
already examining the secret services at the time. Information on
the destruction of these papers is contained in the annual report
of the supervisory committee. The quantity of documents destroyed
by the Security Police is unknown, but the supervisory committee
concludes that "immediately prior to the change in the procedures,
documents were destroyed that should not have been destroyed". The
information submitted by the supervisory committee has aroused
vehement reactions in the Storting.
APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTOR TO BE INVESTIGATED (Verdens Gang/Aftenposten)
The Storting's Scrutiny Committee will go to the unusual step of
spending its summer recess getting to the bottom of the Brundtland
Government's appointment of the new director of the National
Hospital. "I expect the Committee will also meet several of the
parties involved in the matter in order to get all the facts on
the table," said committee chairman Petter Thomassen (Cons.) to
Verdens Gang. With the exception of Labour, all political parties
resolved yesterday to examine Mr. Christie's appointment of Petter
Faye-Lund as director of the new National Hospital. It has been
suggested that the incumbent director, Odd Arild Haugen, was
unfairly passed over.
LABOUR NEGOTIATING WITH CENTRE, CHR.DEM. AND SOCIALIST LEFT ON
REVISED BUDGET (NTB)
According to Karl Eirik Schjoett-Pedersen, Labour chairman of the
Finance Committee, Labour and the Christian Democrats are close to
agreement on the link between VAT compensation on food products
and the wealth tax baked into Labour's solidarity billion. This
has been considered one of the most difficult items in the
negotiations.
FOREIGN MINISTRY WILL NOT DEBATE WITH NYGAARD (Dagbladet)
"We do not desire to enter into a discussion with William Nygaard.
Our policy on Iran is firm," says Foreign Ministry press spokesman
Ingvard Havnen to Dagbladet, referring to Mr. Nygaard's criticism
of Norwegian politicians on Monday evening. The Foreign Ministry
was one of the targets of Mr. Nygaard's accusations of weakness.
Said Mr. Havnen, "We are deeply concerned. We have raised the
Rushdie issue in a number of international contexts, and we will
continue to do so. For example, we intend to raise the issue at
the autumn meeting of the World Bank. We also work very closely
with the Norwegian Rushdie Committee, the Norwegian Authors' Union
and the PEN Club in Norway to secure the widest possible base of
involvement.
BILLIONS IN THE MONEY BINS (Dagens Naeringsliv)
Norway's largest corporations are highly liquid, with a total of
NOK 322 billion to their collective account. Their reserves of
cash, bonds and equities have grown by NOK 45 million since last
year, an increase of around 15 per cent. This growth in liquid
assets indicates that Norwegian enterprises have become more
profitable and that many of the big companies are well able to buy
other corporations. On the average, liquid assets constitute
around 20 per cent of the companies' total capital.
WORTH NOTING:
- Norwegian exports are surging. Growth in exports to EFTA
countries is low in comparison with other areas, however.
- The Storting voted 100 to 42 yesterday to reorganize Norwegian
Telecom as a corporation, effective 1 November this year.
- There is a great need for change in the Norwegian health care
system. A research report characterizes it as ineffective,
inflexible and unresponsive to the needs of patients.
- The executive board of the Museum of Modern Art resigned in
protest yesterday in response to the reappointment on Friday of
Jan Brockmann to another six years in the director's chair.
TODAY'S COMMENT:
The political battle to get four new countries into the EU is more
turbulent than anyone may have anticipated. That Norwegians are
greater Euro-sceptics than others is no news to the rest of
Europe. Of greater surprise is the fact that it is an uphill slog
even for Austria, one of Europe's core countries. Finland is
fighting to stave off a government crisis, and general elections
are approaching in Sweden. This may put a new government in power,
which could reverse the Swedish anti-accessionist opinion. And in
the meantime, Norway is riding at anchor, waiting to see what the
others will do - in the name of autonomy! A bizarre state of
affairs, this. The tug-of-war going on in the four applicant
countries and in the EU reveals much about the Europe of today.
For one, the skirmishing in itself is the best proof that
democracy is the fundamental rule of the EU game: the choice lies
with the people. No applicant country dares join the EU without a
majority backing - without popular support, they are neither
welcome nor reliable partners. Second, EU cooperation already
affects so many real economic and political interests in present
and future member states that a political struggle is normal -
almost inevitable. Third, this enlargement round comes at a time
when the general EU sentiment in the member states is at a low.
Fluctuations of this type have been normal, but this time, the
feeling of finding oneself in the midst of major political and
economic upheavals has contributed to a wave of sentiment that has
spread to the four applicant countries as well. (Aftenposten)