Parliamentary scrutiny of the EU: lessons from the Norwegian Storting
Whether the UK votes to leave or remain in the European Union on 23 June, the UK and EU will continue to have some kind of relationship and the UK Parliament will have a role in scrutinising that relationship. That is the premise of a new Institute for Government report published last week. Louise Borjes explores what the Norwegian model of parliamentary scrutiny tells us about how Westminster might choose to engage in EU issues in the content of a different UK–EU relationship.
Norway shows us that even the parliaments of nations who are not members of the European Union need to think carefully about how they engage with EU issues, in order to promote their country’s interests and scrutinise the way their government pursues those interests.
As a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), Norway has to adopt the bulk of EU law but has limited influence over its development – having no representatives in the European Parliament or the Council. If Norway wants to secure influence over EU legislation it must engage at the earliest stages of its development within the Commission and later in parliamentary committees. Because it lacks formal opportunities to influence EU policymaking, the Norwegian Storting (Parliament) has invested time and resources in developing informal sources of information and channels of influence within EU institutions.
Early information from government
Concern about the lack of opportunities to influence EU legislation before it is incorporated into Norwegian law has led the Storting to push for earlier and more comprehensive information from ministers about EU proposals. In 2007, the Storting secured greater information rights to receive EU documents from the Norwegian government. It has also secured opportunities for parliamentary subject committees to be involved in scrutinising EU proposals, in order to identify their impact on domestic policy; and it has secured agreement that ministers should appear before the Storting in plenary twice a year to give a full update on the latest EU developments.
National Parliament Office
The Storting has sought to exert earlier influence not only through ministers but also directly on EU institutions. In 2010 the Storting established its own National Parliament Office in Brussels: in 2013, this office moved into the European Parliament building. This beefed-up presence has given the Storting greater access to information and networks in the EU institutions so it knows how, when and where to influence.
Visits to Brussels
Norwegian MPs are encouraged to visit the EU institutions to meet with both commissioners and MEPs, and to attend inter-parliamentary meetings with parliamentarians from EU member states. They use these contacts to get information about how to influence EU issues themselves, but also to inform their colleagues in the EU about Norwegian interests.
At present, the UK Parliament has a role in scrutinising EU legislative proposals and assessing their impact on the UK (see infographic). The role of parliament has not been a key issue in the debate surrounding the upcoming referendum on EU membership. But whatever the outcome of the referendum – whether it remains a full member, retains access to the Single Market only or moves to a bilateral trading relationship – the UK Parliament is likely to continue having an important role in scrutinising the UK’s relationship with the EU. In the short term, if the UK remains in the EU, Parliament will have a role in implementing the sovereignty part of the deal Cameron has secured – the new red card system for highlighting subsidiarity concerns. If we vote leave, Parliament’s role will be to scrutinise exit negotiations.
