The Russian Embassy told about Norway's push to join the EU

A powerful lobby has developed in Norway, which uses the contradictions between the United States and the EU to promote the idea of Oslo's membership in the European Union, the Russian Embassy in Norway told Izvestia.

"The powerful pro—EU lobby in Norway is trying to use the escalating trade war between Washington and Brussels to its advantage, purposefully whipping up panic through the media and offering a solution — to formalize the country's membership in the EU as soon as possible," they said.

The next parliamentary elections will be held in September, the outcome of which will largely determine the fate of a possible referendum on the country's membership in the European Union.

"However, the majority of Norwegians still oppose joining the EU. In this regard, the leaders of the country's two leading political forces — the ruling Workers' Party and the right—wing conservative Heire — have already announced that they will not raise the issue of holding a new referendum on Norway's European integration, not only during the election campaign, but also during the next parliamentary period, so as not to exacerbate the polarization of society on this topic," they stressed. at the embassy.

Earlier, Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Maria Varteressian said that holding a new referendum on the country's accession to the EU is "realistic", but not in the coming years, but in 10 years. There is a growing understanding and support for closer cooperation with the EU in the country, the politician noted.

Read more in the exclusive Izvestia article:

It's time to enter: Norway is being pushed to join the European Union