LEAVE campaigners are repeating the myth that Norway has not had to negotiate a trade deal with the EU and does not pay for the privilege. Both claims are inaccurate.

Their trading arrangement with the EU is based on the treaty concluded in the 1980s, when the then members of the European Free Trade Area (EFTA) (Finland, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, Iceland and Norway) entered into negotiations for access to the single market.

Norway does not participate in decision-making in Brussels, but has to abide by Brussels’ decisions.

It has incorporated approximately three-quarters of all EU legislative acts into Norwegian legislation.

Norway is more closely integrated into many aspects of the EU than even some of the EU’s members as it allows the free movement of people, goods, services and capital and is a member of the Schengen area, It also complies with the EU’s product standards, financial regulations and employment regulations.

Between 2014-2021, Norway will pay 866 million euros annually to the EU programmes it is involved with.

These include the Erasmus and Galileo student exchange programmes and the INTERREG regional development fund.

Switzerland is also mentioned as having a trading relationship with the EU.

In order to do so it has an array of bilateral agreements – all of which had to be negotiated. It too contributes to EU programmes. Switzerland did contribute 1.3 billion euros to assist the EU enlargement into central and eastern Europe.

Therefore claims that trading with the EU is without cost and does not require lengthy negotiations are false.

HAZEL DAWE Oxfordshire Green Party