In this interview, Bjørn Tore Godal, former Norwegian Minister for Trade and Merchant Shipping, recalls the debate in Norway concerning the creation of the European Economic Area (EEA). He describes, in particular, the difference in opinion on the country’s accession to the European Communities, between the Norwegian fishing industry and Norwegian fishermen.

In this interview, Bjørn Tore Godal, former Norwegian Foreign Minister, sets out the issues that arose during the negotiations on Norway’s accession to the European Union. In particular, he notes the significance of the interests of the Norwegian fishing industry throughout these negotiations.

In this interview, Bjørn Tore Godal, former Norwegian Foreign Minister, analyses the reasons behind the second rejection by the Norwegians, in a referendum held on 28 November 1994, of their country’s accession to the European Union. He also discusses the reaction of the governments of the European Union’s Member States following the rejection.