The European Green Deal – a good deal for non-member states?

Reaching the world’s climate goals requires a transition of a nature, scale and tempo never witnessed before. The European Green Deal underlines the EU’s aspirations for how the EU can achieve ambitious environmental and climate goals for 2050. It has started a 'regulatory tsunami' with changes to most directives and regulations as well as the publication of new and revised strategies and action plans. These changes also affect non-member states. Norway is non-member state, which is tightly integrated with the EU via the European Economic Area. The country has also chosen to cooperate closely with the EU on climate policies; hence, Norway faces the climate challenge through ever closer cooperation with the EU. Focusing on climate and energy policy, it is therefore interesting to understand: What characterizes and explains Norway’s path of cooperating closer with the EU? What characterizes the EU-Norway relationship? What are the implications for Norway’s autonomy in the field of climate and energy? Drawing on qualitative analyses, we seek to assess whether the European Green Deal is a good deal for non-member states. We also include insights into whether and how Brexit complicates Norway’s ability to deliver on the European Green Deal.