What is the most effective way to deliver my mail?

[KukriKhan]

We're not a member of either the EU nor do we use the Euro, so I can't see what effect our tax level have on anyone else...

So, what is your concern with EU postal regulations? They can't tell you what to do anymore than they can tell me, right?

[HoreTore]

So, what is your concern with EU postal regulations? They can't tell you what to do anymore than they can tell me, right?

They can, due to us being a member of the EEA.

Actually, they can't force us, we can veto things. But, since our politicians are dying to enter the EU, and they're the same kind of market fanatics, we adhere to everything.

[Louis VI the Fat]

So, what is your concern with EU postal regulations? They can't tell you what to do anymore than they can tell me, right?

Sure we can tell Norway what to do. Norway follows EU regulation to the letter. Yet it has no control on this regulation (nearly) whatsoever.

This is what you get when a population is too insular and nationalistic to join the EU, yet the political and other elites are too aware of the benefits of EU regulation to esschew the EU. To join would be political suicide, whereas to not follow EU regulation would mean bankruptcy.

Fine with me. We'll keep bossing our colony Norway around until they'll insist on 'no legislation without representation!'

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Sure we can tell Norway what to do. Norway follows EU regulation to the letter. Yet it has no control on this regulation (nearly) whatsoever.

This is what you get when a population is too insular and nationalistic to join the EU, yet the political and other elites are too aware of the benefits of EU regulation to esschew the EU. To join would be political suicide, whereas to not follow EU regulation would mean bankruptcy.

Fine with me. We'll keep bossing our colony Norway around until they'll insist on 'no legislation without representation!'

I might be wrong here, cher Louis, but I suspect that the Norwegians are likely to counter that they're adopting those ideas they deem fit and useful while reserving the right to cordially request that the EU travel to the theological place of eternal punishment.

[Dîn-Heru]

I might be wrong here, cher Louis, but I suspect that the Norwegians are likely to counter that they're adopting those ideas they deem fit and useful while reserving the right to cordially request that the EU travel to the theological place of eternal punishment.

In theory this is true, in reality we have yet to veto a directive in the EEA-treaty.

(In fact I think I have heard that we are quicker to introduce them than some EU countries. But, I don't remember the source, so it might have been populistic rhetoric from one or more of the political parties that oppose the EEA and the EU.)

[Louis VI the Fat]

I might be wrong here, cher Louis, but I suspect that the Norwegians are likely to counter that they're adopting those ideas they deem fit and useful while reserving the right to cordially request that the EU travel to the theological place of eternal punishment.

No, I am afraid it really works the way I described it. Norway follows EU regulation to the letter. EU directives are simply faxed to Oslo, which then implements it. As Din-Heru says: in reality we have yet to veto a directive in the EEA-treaty.

This is most unfair of course, and I am very frustrated by Norway's and Iceland's free ride in this manner. They receive all the benefits of EU legislation and government efforts, without contributing to the costs of it. It is time they started coughing up. (To be fair, they do contribute financially to some common services)

My sole consolation is that we can boss them around at will like this. As a non-member, Norway has no direct influence over the legislative processes. We decide for them. Without them having any say in the process whatsoever. A bit like we used to treat our mandate territories, like Syria or Cameroon.