Which one of the following countries had in 1994 voted against joining the European Union ?

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Q: 77 (IAS/1995)
Which one of the following countries had in 1994 voted against joining the European Union ?

question_subject: 

Current Affairs

question_exam: 

IAS

stats: 

0,26,48,26,12,14,22

keywords: 

{'european union': [0, 2, 2, 3], 'finland': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'norway': [8, 1, 6, 3], 'sweden': [7, 1, 6, 4], 'austria': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'countries': [1, 0, 2, 6]}

The correct answer is Option 1: Norway.

In 1994, Norway voted against joining the European Union (EU) through a referendum. The referendum took place on November 28, 1994, and the Norwegian people rejected the idea of joining the EU by a narrow margin. This was not the first time Norway had rejected EU membership. The country had previously voted against joining the European Economic Community (EEC), the predecessor of the EU, in a referendum held in 1972.

There were several factors that contributed to Norway`s decision to reject EU membership in 1994. One of the main concerns was sovereignty. Many Norwegians were worried that joining the EU would erode their national independence and decision-making power. They feared that EU membership would require Norway to adopt EU laws and regulations without having a say in their formation.

Another significant factor was the issue of fishing rights. Norway has a large and prosperous fishing industry, and Norwegians were concerned that joining the EU would lead to restrictions on their fishing activities. The EU`s Common Fisheries Policy, which governs fishing activities within the union, was seen as potentially detrimental to Norway`s fishing industry.

Additionally, there were concerns about the economic implications of EU membership. Norway had already established a prosperous economy outside of the EU, thanks to its abundant natural resources, particularly oil and gas. Some believed that joining the EU would not bring significant economic benefits and could even lead to negative consequences, such as increased competition and loss of control over economic policies.

It is worth noting that despite not being a member of the EU, Norway has maintained close ties with the union through various agreements. The country is a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the European Economic Area (EEA), which allows for the free movement of goods, services, capital, and people between Norway and the EU member states.

In summary, Norway voted against joining the European Union in 1994 due to concerns about sovereignty, fishing rights, and the perceived economic implications. The rejection of EU membership in the referendum affirmed Norway`s commitment to maintaining its independence while still engaging in close economic cooperation with the EU.