I’m not going to tell you what to do, but not being part of the EU is a bit strange to me. You follow about 80% of our EU rules without any real say about them. You pay into the EU budget. You’re almost members already, so I feel full membership would just confirm what you already have. It’s pretty good for us other nordics, so I believe you’d be just fine. But again, that’s up to you.
Smaller countries have a bigger say than they should, to prevent the bigger nations from steamrolling them. That said it would take a few, which is why the UK leaving was a bit sad. They were usually on our side.
But right now Norway has NO say, and follow almost everything we decide. How is that better? What sovereignty are you afraid of losing? Don’t you think banding together with the other nordics and perhaps the baltics would give you more of a say? And as the UK is finding out as we speak, it’s very, very, hard and expensive, to decouple from your closest neighbour and trading partner. Canada is also in a similar situating, but for a different reason.
Oh no, membership costs, especially for rich countries, but a rising tide lifts all ships, so it’s not a bad deal. But as an example, at the time of joining, Poland had the same GDP as Ukraine and now Poland has 5 times the GDP of Ukraine. Numbers taken before the invasion.
We can have a nordic union within the EU. Norway would absolutely strengthen the north. I’d welcome you, as well as Iceland and I’d also take the UK back, in time.