@@SmulenifySo? Blame the energy suppliers, not the EU. Also, check the estimated gain to the Norwegian economy. As BREXIT clearly demonstrates, barriers with you closest trading partners are not a good idea.
as a Swiss I love that we can decide ourselves which laws we want and which we don‘t want, how much taxes we have to pay and how the government gets to spend that money.
As an Italian living in Switzerland, I feel that one of the biggest deals here is direct democracy/self determination: so far it seems like that has worked pretty well for the country and the people.
I think the swiss model is the best in the world. That's is what true democracy looks like not thos rubbish we have where the central government in partnership with big bussinesses control everything.
Norway already follows all the laws and regulations from the EU, except for fishery and agriculture. Norway isn't rich because of or lack of membership of the EU, it's because of the oil economy. Joining the EU wouldn't change anything with the oil industry, only fishing and agriculture.
The main hurdle for Switzerland is direct democracy. Cantonal and federal constitutions can be amended by the people with an initiative launched by the people. Laws can be challenged by the people with referenda launched by the people. However, EU law would always go unchallenged. This goes completely against the democratic core of Switzerland. I'm not saying that the EU is undemocratic, I love the EU, but swiss style democracy can't fit in the EU in its current form.
@@AndrewStamelakis This isnt about what the EU would actually force Switzerland to do, this is about incompatibility of the system. In Switzerland every major law must be approved by the people and any law can be challenged by the the people through a vote. It doesnt matter how "good" this law is, if the swiss people dont like it, it wont be implemented and if they like it, it will. This very different from other countries.
Another thing in common with all of the countries in question is that they're all quite wealthy, which makes them more capable to be independent. Less well-off countries seek financial stability in the EU.
If you want to know the truth you have to have the courage to ask the question WHY. Why are some countries richer than others? Why are some people more successful than others? It starts with responsibility. Those people who are prepared to assume responsibility over their own lives as in general more successful than those who expect that the "community" meaning all the others are responsible for them. The fundamental principle of communism. Calling it Socialism is nothing more than putting perfume on to a pig and telling you it's a butterfly.
Is it independence if you have to pay into the EU budget and accept EU laws that you don't vote on, as Norway does? I am always surprised at that. It doesn't strike me as "independance".
@@davidgreen6490 NO does pay, although it is not as much as a Member state obviously, and has to adopt a lot of EU laws, if NO is to be part of the European economic area. Almost 30% of all EU law has been adopted by NO, after it was debated. amended and passed by the EU, with no input from NO lawmakers. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norway%E2%80%93European_Union_relations
I don't think, only Germany profits from the EU, this is poor propaganda. There are good reasons for all the members to be in the EU. Britain, e.g., had to learn this with a lot of pain.
Norway is heading further from EU membership in terms of public opinion is my experience as a Norwegian. It generally doesn't benefit us, and put current agreement seems unfair to most. Being forced to follow EU policies and contribute significantly to the budget
@@CrispyMuffin2 Northern power grid in Norway is independent from EU, while south is tied to EU grid. Right now, northern part gets its electrictiy for about 4 times less than southern. In winter when the demand is higher, it is not rare that southern part must pay 10 times more than northern Norway.
But if Norway benefits from the EU without being directly in it, it seems only fair that they also help contribute, economically, to what makes the EU great in the first place. And regarding the rules, I guess I understand the arguement that nobody should follow rules that they aren't included in the process of making those rules, but that was Norway's choice: they are choosing to not be part of the decision making process. The current arrangement doesn't seem unfair to me.
@@Boomerrage32 didn't say it's unfair. But there's a few parts of it that seem a bit... Dumb. And yeah, Norway being one of the top contributors when not being that large itself is a bit dumb. For example having to give money from the Schengen area (Norway Iceland and Lichtenstein) 2.8 billion Euro from 2014-2021. Norway had to contribute 98% of this sum. That is all fine however the bigger issue Norwegians have with this is how it affects the Norwegian workforce. The Norwegian workforce used to have a lot of bargaining power. However with the deal every EU member citizen can apply for work in Norway. And a common thing is traveling to Norway for work, and sending the money home where it's much cheaper and traveling home ofren. Sure the worker doesn't get a lavish life in Norway, but does get one at home. And his family does too, however he can easily afford to outcompete Norwegians on Labour cost. Because he doesn't have the same living expenses a norwegian citizen has. As such the Norwegian labour market has suffered in terms of bargaining power and fair pay, on top a big increase in housing costs from foreign workers and students wanting to move here. This has lead to it being increasingly difficult for Norwegian youth to make it in the Norwegian market and they get forced into a paycheck to paycheck lifestyle reminiscent of the US. The argument is that "but it lets Norwegians work in other countries too!" Oh... Great we get to work, for lower pay in a lower cost country. Which gives you two options, live very poor in Norway or move out. Something most Norwegians don't want to do. So in effect it's a one way street. We give Europe access to the Norwegian labour market and except for in times of labour shortage we essentially just bring competition to our workers. Great for buisness. For welfare not so much. The transportation market is hit the hardest. a truck driver from Romania doesn't care if he's driving in Romania, or Norway. But he is willing to accept much lower pay. Hence 9/10 transport companies and workers in Norway aren't Norwegian. Not because Norwegians don't have enough of em, but because they keep going bankrupt having to pay Norwegian taxes, with Norwegian housing prices completing with European workers and companies paying far less Norwegian companies outsource logistics, and manufacture out of Norway. Because the deal lets them do it cheap, and they don't need to pay Norwegian prices for the workers. So it has some benefits. And it has some drawbacks. Over the years the benefits really start to become thin. Especially for the WORKING class Norwegians. Sure buisnesses love it and will always vote and lobby politicians to stay. But the people don't really benefit much. The benefits are free trade, free movement and right to work. As discussed right to work isn't really benefiting Norwegians, free trade benefits the market. But we trade with non free trade regions through trade agreements. So individual trade agreements with the different nations might just be better. Gives Norway more leverage over its resources. Oh and yeah energy companies. Fuck energy companies. Norway is a big producer of energy. So whenever energy costs are Higher in Europe than Norway. Which is quite common they SELL OUT TO EUROPE raising the energy costs of NORWEGIANS simply because they can profit more from selling to Europe even when Norwegian demand isn't satisfied yet. So dumb. We have to follow European road rules and regulations, which aren't really that good. And make no sense for a country of our climate. We would prefer to have our own rules instead. And so on so on. Benefits are really starting lot not feel all that great. The drawbacks are all there tho, and honestly they keep growing. So yeah. There's a movement to pull out of the deal because when Ukraine got invaded, and energy crisis emerged. The EU tried to force Norway to sell its power to Europe CHEAP because we are part of the free trade. Blah blah blah which would not only skyrocket the price Norwegians pay even more than it already had it would also remove a lot of our profits off the power. TLDR: many want something closer to how Switzerland does it. With individual trade agreements because the Norwegian market is affected by EU companies outcompeting Norwegian companies on price because they pay less labour costs.
@@PropellPelikan Selfish thinking heretics. That's what you are. And to think that your country is considered one of the most privileged on Terra just like all European countries. Precisely because you have the ability to be part of this collective that has HUGE potential for Mankind. Non-European countries would do ANYTHING to swap locations with your country so that they could be within the glorious and prosperous European continent and as such have the possibility of joining. But no, like selfish pr1cks you cherry pick the things that benefit you without assuming full responsibility and be a proud member of the European Imperium. You lot in fact remind me of Turkey. A Middle Eastern dictatorship, that basically tries to get the same pros out of the EU without joining while at the same time, badmouthing us. Disgusting. And your situation is even more disgusting since Norway could join the EU WAY easily compared to Turkey, which is unwanted btw for obvious reasons. But aight, enjoy your freedom and independence for as long as it lasts. Just don't come crying when things get dire for your country for whatever reason in the future.
As an Italian, I sure as hell don't trust neither italian people nor italian politicians to make good decisions for my country, so I like that there's someone keeping them in check. These nations are successfull and functional as they are, so good for them!
@@drinkyourtea In Italy we say: Don't let Italians rule Italy, just because all our problems are made by the politicians (Italians) and the people who vote (also Italians). And a lot of Italians says that our problems are made by EU or USA 😂
Another large part as to why Norway doesn't wish to join is its agriculture. For reasons that should seem obvious, agriculture isn't as easy in Norway as it is in for example France. If the country were to join, most farmers would go out of business, for it would be simply cheaper to import.
Today's world depends on some imports no matter where, but to allow dependence on other's always ends up with 'hurt feelings'. Always. We are not one big happy family, but we do have a lot to share with each other culturally - shame the internet tossed us all into the same room too soon.
To maintain a degree of national self-sufficiency in critical areas such as this is pretty important for nations. Disparities regarding this emerging in the EU common market have always been a problem to balance.
@@terrylandess6072 Thats not how it can work. Every country are asked to produce MORE food,not less. And yes,some items one cant produce ,often due to short growing time. But one need to keep import at a minimum. It hurt climate to import everything . It should be obvious...
The same, more or less, happened in Greece. Agriculture used to be a huge export business back when we had our own currency and no EU-wide agriculture policies. Now we can barely cover the domestic demand, with olive oil being the sole exception.
Yes and in Norway there are very few large scale farmers as in the flat countries in Europe. The farmers here have zero possibilities for that type of farming. Still, Norwegian farmers struggle. One of the farmers I know said that he wouldnt want his worst enemy to go through what hes gone through as a farmer.
In Norway there are most definitely people trying to force a membership by hook or by crook. Those people are the industries and entities that would benefit financially and have no scruples about how their gain hurts the other parts of the Norwegian society and economy. Since the vote was clearly no to joining the EU(and public opinion remains so) we are now living a death by a million papercuts with legislation, rules and other things hidden in agreements quietly moving us into a sort of unspoken EU membership with no vote.
Switzerland has been sanctioned by the EU because we do not want to fulfil all the conditions set by the European Union (unemployment benefit for EU citizens from day one, arbitration court only with EU judges and without Swiss judges). EU is forcing us.
For Norway, another reason I often hear cited is also the widespread belief, whether true or not, that joining the EU would bring with it a requirement (if not an immediate legal requirement, then being subject to pressure over time) to open up our offshore oil reserves for private foreign enterprise (which would be easily argued as breaking our constitution which declares the natural resources of Norway belong to its people), whereas currently the oil is a state affair that makes all its proceeds function as public money, though it is mostly invested, with only a limited quantity being spent in each budget, so as to avoid escalating inflation.
The difference is FOREGIN investment, Norway as a state, or, rather, Norwegians as a people and ethnic group, retains control, that is key. Same reason you dont see many foreginers outside the major cities, the divide is real deep these days@@amparogonzalezalvarez2295
A major aspect of ICELAND not joining EU is the Financial Crisis and the bankrupt of banks which refused to repay funds to EU investors, that would have desdtroyed the state budget
Either you are a member of the EU or you have direct democracy. For the Swiss, it is out of the question that they surrender their political rights to EU functionaries whom they are not allowed to elect and, even worse, not allowed to vote out of office.
Ah yes, you mean they couldn't vote out the representatives they voted in with something like a Parlamentary election? There are Institutions for direct democracy e.g. the Citicen Assembly, as well as political parties in support of them. I am a big fan of the democracy in Switzerland and think the EU could do better, but some of you people are just making stuff up at this point.😅
Iceland, Norway and Switzerland are strong allies already and everybody is, for the most part, happy with the situation. As a EU citizen, the moment I find a good job, none of these countries will forbid me to stay there. On the other hand, each of those countries has sectors it wishes to safeguard, which wouldn't be possible if they were to join. I see no good reason for things to change.
As a Norwegian I can inform you gentlemen that staying out of EU has little to do with "safeguarding sectors". Most of our politicians actually wants us to join and we are practically already a member through the EEA. The opposition comes from the people who fear to lose sovereignity. After occupation from Denmark and more recently Nazi-Germany, the people are very hesitant to give away any part of its sovereignity. The reason is emotional, not economic.
@@juanantoniogomezdelpulgarg2273 drink up your milk and go to bed kid! EU would never even excist if it wasent for people watching out for their own interest, you think its a charity project or something? it excist solely becouse someone, somewhere are winning on it, in other words, self intrest!
As a Norwegian, I think this video was very good. Joining the EU is not on the table, however our politicians have snuck us closer and closer to the EU over time. Making us more or less de-facto EU members. I wish we had real democracy like Switzerland, but alas, we are stuck with "representative democracy", as the opposition to EU is larger in the population than amongst the politicians.
Vote for conservatives. When joining - you will be trading your resource-rich and culture-rich country for nothing but donations to the poorest EU states. (I'm from Luxembourg and though my country doesn't contribute as much, but from what I observe - the neighbours pay dearly for their membership)
@@kut9682 - The EU / Anti-EU stance is widely spread out on the political spectrum in Norway. But the historic two main parties (left/right) are both pro-EU. But EU is not a hot topic in Norway, because the politicians know bringing it up is a sure-fire way to tank on the opinion-polls. So they get votes on other topics, turn around a tie us closer to EU between the elections.
@@kut9682 If Luxembourg was to leave the EU, it would lose its valuable position as a tax haven within the EU, attracting EU business to set up their headquarters in Lux. Not so sure whether that's in the interest of the Luxembourgeois people.
Building wealth involves developing good habits like regularly putting money away in intervals for solid investments. Financial management is a crucial topic that most tend to shy away from, and ends up haunting them in the near future.., I pray that anyone who reads this will be successful in life!!
Starting early is simply the best way of getting ahead to build wealth , investing remains a priority . I learnt from my last year's experience , I am able to build a suitable life beause I invested early ahead this time .
It’s precisely at times like these that investors need to be on guard against the next certainty. You don’t have to act on every forecast, hence i will suggest you get yourself a financial-advisor that can provide you with entry and exit points on the shares/ETF you focus on.
You also jave the best System in the world. The canton system makes every democracy in the world look like a scam or at best a bad joke. People are usually ignorant to how good of a example you guys are, unfortunately.
@@lucasbispodossantos5074the canton system.is in many regards silly😂😂😂 as swiss its always funny how people think shit works here and also think the grass is more green in this side if yhe fence when in reality its not
@@kind2rethinkoh is it not? Only a swiss would completely disregard Switzerland’s system. You have no clue of how good you have it. Coming from someone that lived elsewhere in Europe and resides now in Switzerland.
Even if I'm in favor of EU expansion and further integration, I think that's a good thing to have neutral non-EU counties around. Even if they're western countries, not being completely inside the EU sphere of influence allows them to be good intermediaries for international disputes and agreements, allowing for easier international cooperation
And also giving us a perspective of what it is to be outside (for the good and for the bad). So that our EU politicians don't get lazy and have to improve the EU as we could see these three countries being better outside. And as the video says, they are already on our side and somehow very integrated. Priorities are others.
@@warrenschrader7481 What do you mean useless? They might have not broken a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, but when they will do that they'll do it in a neutral country. Not to mention previous deals pushed by neutral countries in history, like how Finland worked as an in between the USSR and the European Wrest after WWI, or how they harbored things like the Geneva Convention. The fact that they aren't on one side allows them to be seen as a neutral ground, they don't necessarily succeed or even have the best interest for peace, but they have a place in international politics
@@soldatox3019 I think he meant "neutral" countries within the EU like Austria, that initially blocked the EU's aid to Ukraine based on their neutrality and wanted to enforce it upon all of the EU. And since EU needs an unanimous decision for that - the haul was put for quite some time
@@oculusvision558 Neutral countries can use their neutrality to behave like vultures, taking all opportunities to enrich themselves over the misery of others, but that's more of a reason to keep them out of the EU. In addition, not all neutral countries use their neutrality that way: before joining NATO Sweden used its neutrality to be the moral conscience of Europe by arguing for Palestinian nationality, in favor of Kurdish independence after they fought against ISIS, and against intervention in Vietnam, just to name a few; they used their neutrality to bring on the international stage the voices of those who couldn't. Switzerland used to be more like Austra in the past, using their neutrality for profit, but they have tried to become clearer and they too condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine. What I'm saying is neutral countries aren't useless, even if they can use their neutrality for greed, they can also be a much needed space for international politics
The poor and hopeless. When governments grow too corrupt and people lose hope in them, a faceless institution like the EU starts to look like the better option. I can tell you that's 100% the case in Spain.
No, we Swiss shall continue to vote against it. They just want our money! We're already too much meddled in foreign affairs that isn't any of our business nor obligation rather then to stay neutral and had to given up bank secrecy which was also a blow to the economy. Switzerland is already overpopulated due to Dublin-Schengen regulations which made also criminal tourism much easier.
Jesus, your banks sucked up dirty and bloody money from all over the world, whitewashed the worst possible crime that happened in the world and financed your development with it, and you still have the audacity to complain about others. I hope karma finds you eventually.
As a Swiss, absolutely NO! I don’t like EU and I’m glad than we’re neutral. Our direct democracy is perfect, we don’t need the help of the EU, this is my idea. Sorry for bad English
@@prehistoriccreature1800 look you jealous living in a 3rd World Country jealousy is such a beautiful thing you can see it the Swiss living in your head rent free.
European countries need close economic ties, but not a political union like the EU. Each European country is capable of self-rule under democratic principles, while in the EU a big part of decisions for each country is taken outside of that country by the EU institutions, which is against democracy.
Due to the oil, Norways economy is larger per capita than most EU-countries. Even though the Norwegian state tries to keep most of the profit for future expenses, lots of money is in circulation which has triggered the price and cost levels. If not subsidized by the oil the rest of the economy (maby except for the fish) would have big difficulties to survive without preventing competing cheaper products from coming in from abroad. That would not be possible if Norway would be a EU-member. Especially the agricultural sector would be very vulnerable.
Norwegian here, it's not just fishing, it's also farming and and suporting the Norwegian work force. We suport local grown food for environmental resons as well as being able to provide example farmers with sustainable jobs. There is allready a influx of imprted good that our government are regulate in order to minigate the risk to the Norwegian work force. We also have to pay tax if we are buying from other countries. Our agreement with EØS maks transactions, import and export with the EU posible, but joining them could greatly effect our work force and effect the our workers organisations like LO.
if you joined the EU, you'd see free labour force movement and people coming in and willing to work for lower wages than your nationals. Wage dumping has been going on in the richer EU countries for years, and no one is adressing it. Wages staying low like that literally affects your ability to buy property and start a family. It's house-made problems, and the braindrain to the countries the cheap workforce came from (Romania, Croatia, Greece, etc) is sth the priviledged in Brussels never want to even think about, let alone adress or tackle. Brussels doesn't care about the wellbeing of the population. The wage dumping in e.g. Germany has led to the weird situation where they have millions of unemployed but also millions of vacant jobs. But since the offered salaries of those jobs is too low, no one is apllying. So they import people from outside the EU! It's crazy. It has happened to my previous job that I left because I was getting only 1600€ net here in Austria, and they replaced me with an Indian, a Greek, and a Chinese.😅
@@tustak what do you mean by spoiled, because idk, we voted not to join so we could protect our fishing industries, and so that no one could take our oil, plus, we are part of the EEA, and Schengen, so we have our ties to the EU, but not directly.
A country with 5.4 million people like Norway will have nothing to say and no sway in the EU. The EU is essentially run by Germany and France with populations of 70 - 80 million people. Norway will have no power in any debates. You also have to take into account that Norway was under other coutries rule for 100's of years, including Sweden, Denmark and Nazi Germany. Our independence is fairly new.
In fairness Denmark did not Rule Norway, the king of Denmark and Norway, ruled Denmark and Norway, until the british and swedes fucked that up and made your flag look DISGUSTING, EW! But still, its not like we are all that different as people, I still vibe with plenty of Norwegians due to our shared language and culture. Also its not like Danish independence really did jack shit, Denmark-Norway just got kicked around. Unless Peter Wessel was involved, in which case everyone else got kicked around.... :D
Norway - if you were broke the EU would not want you. That alone tells you why you are a prime target. Not for your beauty but for your fish and other natural resources. Brussels is greedy for a lot of politicians to be fed. Wouldn't it be nice for Norwegian to know that they are paying Macron, Schultz, a nice lady Ursula von der Leyen - a stooge that got put into her position by Angela Merkel personally - the communist broad who sold out Germany to Putin - her personal friend with whom she studied communist governing in works shops in East Germany under the STASI- Putin lived 5 years in Eastern Germany and she speaks Russian and he German. Yes - the dream team.
@@Elenrai If you are a Dane and that is what is thought in your school, your leaders are liars. "Our shared language", are you insane?, no it is Danish Language that was forced upon Norway.
@@Kali-Yuga-Peace-Corp That moment a Norwegian has to deal with Norwegian nobility goin Dano-Norwegian because it was beneficial to them....hue hue hue cope :D
If Switzerland were to join, it would destabilize both, Switzerland and the EU. Because it would just be a matter of time until the Swiss would reject implementing an EU regulation in a direct democratic referendum. Then either, there would have to be a Swexit or the Swiss would again resort to a special status. In both scenarios, both, the EU and Switzerland would face a host of turbulences along with economic and geopolitical losses, possibly worse than Brexit. Meanwhile, the upside for both sides is negligible, as Switzerland already autonomously adapts the vast majority of EU regulations under current legal frameworks.
As a Norwegian, under the current EU setup i don't see any points i joining the EU, they have to do alot of changes for that to be happening. There is to much vital control we will be losing over alot of different things that we are not interested in losing control over. And one of the biggest problems are that the power prices would go sky high....even more than what it currently is doing. So joining a body who is currently in minus power generation is definitely not gonna happen. And EU is currently in to of a unrefined condition to be worth joining. It needs to be refined a good amount more and be better thought out on expanding and adding new countries and to improve current existing once.
Interesting standpoint. Would you elaborate a bit more on how power prices would go higher with EU member ship, when Norway is already an EAA member? Maybe there's an aspect I'm overlooking.
@@terkkraft8057 we still dont have all the tariffs or taxes that the eu got on power production. so we still have cheaper power then the main land. would be dirt cheap if we wasn't a member of eea but that's for another argument.
They will never enter as long as EFTA exists, if these agreements were to fail, these nations would be faced with a precise choice: either they are completely in or they are completely out.
Then i hope we go out. We have enough things that the EU are in dire need of so its not a big issue. Fish and energy in particular. Hope we never enter the 4th reich!
@@slavianalbanovich9025 That's because organicperoxide is a Norwegian hard-line "Nei til EU" person. I myself am ambivalent and somewhat undecided on the EU question, so I understand your frustration over his very, very hardened stance. But, remember: In some milieus here in Norway, EU is still now viewed as the equivalent to the biblical Satan, or even worse. That's their perogative, I suppose, but I am not quite there, to put it mildly. Personally, I see both pro's and cons, and find the question a bit too complex to have a hard and fast opinion on.
An EU debate would be more accepted in norway, but. As it currently stands, the EU from what I understand is in a lawsuit of sorts for efta violations because of norway banning staffinf agencies in certain regions. As well as the ongoing mackerel quota dispute going on. From what most norwegian sees it, joining the EU would give most of the nations sovereignty over to Germany. Seeing as Norway although not a EU member, is suffering from inflation and the previous power prices which are mostly thought to be imported from the EU. Im not for nor against as it currently stands, but both sides have good arguments.
The biggest issue for me as a Swiss, is the centralised governance of the EU. This governance is corrupt, disfunctional and biased. Lastly, the EU government is appointed ..... this is very UNDEMOCRATIC. The EU was designed as a free trade area and this is what it should remain. THe day it became political, it ushered in a new dictatorship to Europe which is akin to the Chinese and Soviet style of governance.
Now yall know how Americans feel abt the feds lmfao. It sucks cus the idea is that states would be as autonomous as countries, but Democrats seem hellbent on federalizing everything to such an extreme level. Even shit like healthcare. Something that should be implemented at a state level, ends up being forced down everyone at the federal level. Its such a simple concept that only republicans for some reason understand. I dont know why either. Like the whole point of an electoral college, is the fact that the feds should act like the EU. Its not supposed to be passing laws that should be passed on a state level. I dont know why people in New York feel that someone in rural Texas shouldnt be represented in an government thats by design, supposed to act more like a "glue" between each state. Its all very goofy, and I blame the education system for it. They lower standards, to the point basic history, geography, and civics, become an elective rather than a mandatory class.
It is not centralised, if anything it's the exact opposite (look at the reaction to Isarel-Palestine war). The EU was originally designed to reconcile France and Germany at the start, free trade came later.
@@pio4362 Oh come on !! It is centralised in Brussels and the entire EU has to do as Brussels says or else face sanctions ...... how is this not centralised governace ??
As a Norwegian we see now that saying no twice has saved us look at our neighbor Sweden whos society has fallen apart in just a few years and will if nothing is done be an Islamic State within 2 generation's....😢
@@eidanchris yeah spot on!! Very big mistake to allow mess migration! Very different culture " Sweden 🇸🇪 is paying very high for Their Stupidity !! Nothing more to add !!
That word - refuse - is never a problem to those who use the word UNITED as a cover-up for being on the take. Letting others work for them and accusing others of not doing what they are supposed to do. Never forget - the EU was supposed to be an Economic Union - but it did not take long until Angela Merkel and the likes turned it into a Control Center for the food supply of Western Europe. The one who controls such an essential element in human life is the ultimate ruler.
I was not aware that any country on the planet had anything close to the type of democracy system I desire. To make a public vote per topic at hand, good job Switzerland!
@@TheGamingSyndrom I would strongly disagree. First raising hands is done just in two very small cantons or in local communities and only done for their local issues. It works for them so it is fine and far away from stupid. Raise your hand and in 80% of the cases you don't have to count. It is a simple yes or no answer. 2. Which system is more stupid. A system where you can have a direct influence of what happens hand how you want to live or a 4/ 8 year kingdom like the USA? In my view that is exactly what it is in a "Presidential" "democracy". You choose your king/queen for the next x years. This king does plus minus whatever he/she likes. After his/her period another king/queen has the power and maybe changes everything the former holder of the power did. THAT IS A STUPID SYSTEM.
Finland was in EFTA before EU which was forgotten in this doc. One consideration is that these three countries pay practically as much as members in order to be inside EU market without having any votes for any decision, and to be in they have to comply with the regulations and rules. Switzerland's banking sector has always been so shady that there's no way they would join and the voting system is ideal for populists which sometimes prevents making radical decisions. As long as Norway has oil reserved they do not join the union. Iceland is so small that it doesn't get much attention anyway.
@mksnz Imagine this, from Norway, past Iceland on to Danish owned Greenland, the north Atlantic would belong to Brussels, and if you count that French Island off the coast of Canada, they'd lay claim to it all, and as the various Commissioners are only accountable to the joke parliament which is run by the bureaucrats, I shudder to think what could happen.
Populists? You mean as opposed to ELITES. I find it extraordinary that someone could talk about a democratically popular and accountable government as if it were a bad thing.
By staying out of the EU, Norway and Iceland become rule takers rather than rule makers. How? Norway and Iceland participate in the EU single market, engage in various programs such as Erasmus, and contribute to the EU budget. The EU budget and laws governing the single market, programs, and budget are established by the EU Parliament and Council of the EU. EU citizens vote for MEPs to represent them in Parliament and national governments to send Ministers to the Council. However, citizens of Norway and Iceland are not part of the EU, so they lack the right to vote for these representatives. Consequently, they end up as rule takers rather than rule makers.
Success is not built on success. It's built on failure, It's built on fraustration, it's built on fear that you have to overcome. I pray that anyone who reads this will be successful in life
We are making sure our son will inherit our home, but however the government is taking steps to stop people from leaving their children their homes, it's heartbreaking to see they are trying to make it illegal not to leave your children your home.
You're absolutely right, I think your proposal has much to comment on. Because when you invest, you're buying a day you don't have to work. @@craigpotter1262
Another reason Norway is reluctant is a perceived notion that the EU just don't seem to 'get it' with what is important to Norway. There are many regulations and clauses in EU law that came about to protect what each member country is really good at. One version of this is stuff like food designations. In the EU, you can't call just any old salty aged crumbly cheese parmesan, Italy is the only one that can do that. Norway would need similar assurances for fishing and energy, as these are really vital parts of the norwegian economy both in exports and domestic consumption. Some background info: One of norway's biggest competitive advantages in industry and just economics in general is a really robust electrical grid with cheap electricity. This is used in a lot of draining chemical engineering and processing industries that aren't often talked about but collectively add up to an enormous part of norways economy. It has also shaped norways consumer practices, with most homes being heated electrically and gas heating being basically non existant. In recent years, to try and promote cooperation with the EU as well as stabilize ourselves against price shocks, we have started linking our power grids with the EU. This backfired spectacularly during the gas/electricity crisis of 2021/2022, with our electricity prices increasing on average about 1000%, with peaks closer to 6000%. This was an imported problem. We had surplus production, but due to those cables and the agreements around them our grid was hemorrhaging. This meant that there were many months where the average norwegian home could easily spend 20-30% of their net income just on electricity, and this is after doing all they could to reduce spending. Despite numerous appeals by both the norwegian people and the norwegian government to focus on alleviating such things, the EU effectively told them in more kind words to get bent, while calling us war profiteerers for selling our gas at market rate and essentially whinging that we wouldn't give away the gas for free when the EU was already bleeding our people dry. The EU nations didn't care about electricity prices much since they could just turn off their lights and reduce the cost to basically zero. A 1000% increase on a 10 euro bill wouldn't really bankrupt the average household after all, so they even closed down nuclear plants mid crisis, just spending their way through it. So they instead complained constantly about gas prices which in Norways interest would be kept high as we export it all and use essentially none of it ourselves. Norways citizens basically got to see in real time that the EU didn't care that we were facing a 1000% increase in heating costs, while complaining themselves to the point of hysteria about their own 200% heating cost increase. Prior to 2021 most opposition to EU membership in Norway had little merit, essentially just fear mongering about sovereignty and the like with no real tangible examples to point to. That's not the case anymore. It's been thoroughly ingrained in the Norwegian psyche that we care about very different things, and even with voting rights, we wouldn't have a big enough voice to ensure our interests aren't overruled by these other nations.
same sentiment in my circles, even the ones that was milk toast are now hardliners. all they want is out money,fish and oil, and they will fuck us on the price if they can.
"while calling us war profiteerers for selling our gas at market rate" If Norway was to suddenly stop exporting oil and gas, they would just be more mad
Yep true words. The EU is nothing more than an olicharchy. And if it collapses you'd better hope your country isn't a part of it, because there will be hell to pay for the members who have a good economy if that ever happens.
5:23 But the agricultural sectior plays a big role as well. Swiss farmers are heavily subsidized which wouldn't be allowed if Switzerland was part of the EU. Swiss people, especially in rural parts of the country, see farmers as an essential part of Swiss identity and want to protect them even if they couldn't compete with imported goods.
Very good video. As a Swiss, I see most of the core issues addressed. We rule ourselfs with direct democracy, no other options are accepted, certainly not a central government in Brussels. I'll could accept free trade, but nothing more, certainly not the blackmailing attempts the EU is doning now. And I see it more than proven, that our system of direct democracy, federalism and considerably lower regulation is working very well.
Hope you all can keep it that way , as an American living in the state I do , I am sick of being told what to do by a handful of people in the northeastern part of this country.
By staying out of the EU, Norway and Iceland become rule takers rather than rule makers. How? Norway and Iceland participate in the EU single market, engage in various programs such as Erasmus, and contribute to the EU budget. The EU budget and laws governing the single market, programs, and budget are established by the EU Parliament and Council of the EU. EU citizens vote for MEPs to represent them in Parliament and national governments to send Ministers to the Council. However, citizens of Norway and Iceland are not part of the EU, so they lack the right to vote for these representatives. Consequently, they end up as rule takers rather than rule makers.
There may be different reasons why to join a union with other countries or to avoid doing so. There was a time wheb Norway was still the largest kindom of Europe, prior to joining Denmark for what later is regarded to the 400- Year Night, which regarded with Norwegian eyes is a dark period. Who knows, it mightn't be by coincidence that Norway and Iceland (which also was former a part of the Kingdom of Norway), same as the case is for the now self-governing archipelago The Faroe Island (now under Denmark) have chosen to remain non-EU-members. Although the Faro Islands isn't independent (yet) it could be mentioned if talking about that Iceland and Norway are outside of the EU. During the centiries of being united with Denmark (or Denmark and Sweden), Norway lost much of its territory and got cut short in size as well as much of the natural resources escaping. The union with Denmark is referred to as the 400-årsnatten (meaning The 400-Year Night) which says a great deal about how it's looked upon. The five years of German occupation in the 1940s and what happened then just adds to story from the centries prior to this where Norway started out as an equal part of constellations with neighbouring countries who reduced us to a weaker part. Why would Norway want to enter the EU? Aren't we managing when we can arrange things our own way? What do you have to offer that we lack? Or is it the other way around that we have something to offer that you want to get hold of that we can't give you of our free will without being consumed? Such as fish, oil, minerals, woods. As an example, Norway has the worlds largest deposits of certain crucial minerals that is used for computers, phones, fertilizer etc that's sufficient to serve the entire world for the next 100 years. It's okay to co-operate with other nations, that we also should do, but there's no reason to let the history repeat itself all over again. Because we don't need to get even closer tied to Europe or any other country than we alruare to survive than we already are. We have as implemented a whole range of directives like the EU-members have. In addition of being a Nato member, we're a member of EEA and EFTA, which all together should be plenty enough and it doesn't differ that much really, but at least we can limit the greed of other nations to some extent when it comes to the wish of helping themselves to our resources on their own... Because there are conflicts and it proves why an EU application will not be sent from Norway any time soon, simply because EU is not what we need.
Respect to these countries for seeking to secure their economic rights without secluding themselves from any conversations! Europe as an entity is very important; as important are free voices, not an established right amongst all countries of Europe, nor will it ever be. We must remain flexible 'organised' independency will help regulate the stability of the umbrella!
Stop falling for the crap of "Europe as an entity". Unless you understand what that means. EU is an entity that enters "mutually binding agreements" with its member countries - in which individual countries subordinate their national laws to those of the EU directives. Now - they are controlled totally by bureaucrats in Brussels. Don't like it? Be happy that you are now a member of the EU. The EU is happy too. You pay, you do, you obey, and you shut up.
Ukraine was invaded because it is not a NATO member country. If Putin invades a NATO member country then he is at war with all of NATO and he knows he can't win in that situation.@@istvanmakai280
Great video! I was also delighted to be served up an ad featuring former MEP Nigel Farage shilling his "Fortune & Freedom" newsletter after the video finished! 🤣
@@EUMadeSimple Is it possible you can cover the new Franco-German report presenting proposals for "Reforming and Enlarging the EU for the 21st century"? www.auswaertiges-amt.de/blob/2617322/4d0e0010ffcd8c0079e21329bbbb3332/230919-rfaa-deu-fra-bericht-data.pdf
Immigration is also an issue for Switzerland. Although there is currently a free movement of labor into Switzerland for EU citizens, the Swiss have difficultly agreeing to abandon any possibility to restrict immigration. Actually Switzerland had probably a bigger immigration from the EU than most other EU countries since 2002, when the free movement of labor was introduced. This creates economic benefits, but poses also a great strain on infrastructure. There is limited land for more construction for more housing for the increasing population. It is also difficult to build new rail tracks, new roads, etc. I believe that most EU countries would be reluctant to have this level of immigration.
We could solve it by adding Vorarlberg and Baden-Würtemberg to Switzerland... The Austrians wouldn't realise it because the Arlberg is in the way and the Germans could finally focus on building up the economy in the former East-Germany... jk
@@WaechterDerNacht and while we are at it, why don’t we also add Valtelina, Haute-Savoie and Franche-Comté. I am sure that the French and the Italians are also quite busy with their own problems and wouldn’t really object 😃.
Рік тому+2
The interesting thing that never gets talked about and that most people don't realize is that in the current situation, it is a quite a good thing for us swiss people that we have so many immigrants comming to switzerland. While this creates some problems right now, in the future and long run, it will help to ease some quite catastroiphic problems that can't really be solved. Meanwhile, short term problems are solvable. One thing as an example is population. We are only able to almost sustain our population thanks to the current immigration. If we would be able to completely stop it, our birth rates will drop dead like South Koreas or Chinas, booth countries which will loose about 50 to 60% of their population until the end of the century. Not loosing population obviously has a huge economic benefit and considering that we failed to test new revisions of our retirement provision and a unconditional basic income so far, booth things which are basically required in some way for a stable and sustainable future, the current immegration "crysis" will buy us some time in the long run.
@ In my opinion you have it exactly the wrong way around. Immigration to help out with demographics is the short term solution. Whereas the problems caused by it, especially in a country as small as switzerland, are anything but short term. Immigration at the moment is the easy, lazy and ultimately unsustainable "solution" that's going to come at a huge cost in the medium to long term. A cost payed in an overall reduction in the quality of life. (overpopulation, destruction of the environment, increasing food dependence, loss of social cohesion, increasing scarcity of limitied resources such as water and land, increasing crime, etc.)
Рік тому+1
@@Jansi05 That is not correct. Overpopulation is not a problem, underpopulation is. Destruction of the environment is a problem uncoupled from imigration. Loss of social cohesion is neither an effect of that, especially considering this is more or less an "old people" problem. Ressources, food and water are not problkems because opf immegration. Neiteher are most a problem right now. Limited land is simply a factor of planning. You are focussing on short term problems. None of your points are influenced in the long run by immegration in a negativge way.
As a Norwegian one fear that keeps coming up in regards to joining the EU is the chance that our sovereign oil wealth fund could be compromised in one of several ways. Currently it is being invested in a wide portfolio of stocks that have to pass a long list of criteria to be eligible. This has led to a bunch of companies changing their policies to apply for an investment from our oil fund, thus allowing Norway to indirectly wield geo-political power above our "weight class". If we joined the EU there isn't much we could do if it was democratically elected that "nations with sovereign wealth funds need to do x, y, z".
@@TheRedPeril sweedens madness was a realy good wake-up call to manny norwegians, before the massive uncontrolled flood in to europe, norway was actualy more in favor of helping out immigrants legal and illegal, but after the shit show, manny finaly woke up to the fact, that you cant house others, if your own house is on fire
It's artificial wealth that adds nothing tangible to Norway's economy. Why Norway has the worst economy in Europe. It's almost like Norwegians don't understand what an economy is and assume it's just about accumulating artificial wealth. Only superstitious folk lost on the periphery of civilisation could be so economically illiterate. Thinking otherwise just confirms Norway is backward-looking and isolated on the periphery of civilistion, geographically, climatically and culturally.
You understand it is possible to negotiate for exemptions from these kinds of rules to ever apply to you when joining, right? And that 100% of the countries in the EU (including yourself) would be needed to change such an exemption? For example, all countries are required to eventually abolish their national currency for the Euro, except for Denmark (and the UK before Brexit) since they have an exemption. This exemption will never change. Although speaking of Scandinavia, even though Sweden is legally required to eventually adopt the Euro, they are currently abusing a loophole in the rules to indefinitely avoid having to do it, so I guess that is also an option, lol. If Norway joined the EU they would easily be able to negotiate exemptions for more or less all of their main concerns since they are otherwise a perfect candidate member. So your concerns don't really apply.
Basically Norway would have FAR more sway over their own affairs as part of a Scandinavian voting block in the EU than they currently do. Since they would be able to get exemptions for any major concerns (sovereign funds, fishing rights, oil rights, whatever), so those could never be threatened. But it would get to have an actual voice in rules that they are currently being forced to obey without question (i.e., EU single market). And a united Scandinavian or Nordic voting block in the EU would be big enough to have a real tangible effect on any EU votes.
@@preciousmousseBoth. All of these countries rank pretty high on pretty much every metric, except maybe raw GDP. Their GDP per capita however is among the best in the world. So yeah, they're doing pretty well.
Interesting, but a major oversight of this presentation is currency integrity. The Swiss Franc, the Norwegian Krone - their national banks set monetary policy for their countries. This should have been mentioned.
The EURO is the biggest fraud ever. Nobody is in charge of the EURO. The currency is under the government of a Group of Politicians who have no decision-making powers The Euro regulations and agreements are "Recommendations" that none of the countries ever met. The only reason 70% of the Euro countries would be bankrupt if they would grant each other increasing amounts of "loans" against no guarantees or financial back-up other than "smiling politicians shaking hands and declaring each other credit-worthy partners. If Banks were managed like the Euro is - bankers would be in prison.
I'm a Norwegian. There is no support for joing EU among the Norwegian population. Even if the political parties would want a membership it will be voted down in a referendum where the citizens of Norway have their say. There are a majority in the parliament, but no majority in the population. The video brought forward the conserns of the Norwegian people in a fair manner.
Video pretty much hits the nail on the head for Norway. Fish is the original and primary reason why we are not a member and it is reflected in the districts with the highest opposition to EF/EU (oil production in Norway began in 1971). Norway's continued approach to the union has been to integrate as much as needed to gain access to the internal market and keep travel/trade restrictions to a minimum, while maintaining sovereignty over our natural resources. There are other important positives with regards to regulatory powers and having own monetary policy, but jobs in the fisheries (+farming to a smaller extent) was the major reason. Despite strong numbers from the fisheries, the number of people fishing has halved since the 80s so it has less of a grass roots political impact nowadays (which is important in Norway). I predict a fair chance we will join the union when the black gold in the North Sea isn't making us money anymore (when the crash of '08 and, hopefully, the war in Ukraine is a fading memory).
Yes. Black oil in Norway, banks be collapsed or bought from third countries in Switzerland (like Credit Suisse) and when Iceland humanitarian catrastrophe happend like earthuquake, large storm and mass lack of recources, they would all became members of EU.
En annen nordmann, her. Brilliant kommentar! Spesielt enig i konklusjonen. EU-medlemskap er ikke umulig, og kan absolutt skje i fremtiden. Det er en fin tanke, spør du meg:)
Then you are a heretic. Unless you can transport your country to another continent or planet, you don't have a choice in the matter. Only a FULLY united European continent, will make Humanity better.
@@Wisteria__Lane Well too bad for you, wether in one, two or a thousand decades or even centuries, you WILL join the collective the easy way or the hard way. Be it the EU or a wider Imperium of Man, your independence will end to benefit Mankind as a whole, you selfish pr1cks. The nerve of not being as one with your fellow Europeans. Buttloads of countries around the globe would do ANYTHING to be on the glorious European continent and as such, be able to join. But it's alright. Your "neutrality" and "independence" will falter in the end. And it will be for the better for your own country. You just don't realize it yet. But all in due time. Enjoy your "freedom" as long as it lasts. Because one day all of Europe will be under one democratic Imperial banner, firmly and TRULY united against the dangers of the East and carving a name for itself and Humanity at large. Europe must be fully united so that the rest of Mankind can follow suit afterwards. Only after the entire planet unites, will Humanity reach magnificent heights. But for that, we need to remove this selfish thinking from people like you. But like I said, all in due time.
Is is more and more apparent that decision not to join was wise. Twenty years ago, 90 percent of people of Czech republic agreed to join EU. Now it is barely 30 percent who are happy with membership.
@@d.d.6045 how so... did Brussels invade you when you publicly positioned yourseves against the EU, like the soviets did some years ago? Are your borders closed?
Not as fun anymore when you start to be a net contributor is it? Having other countries leech of your taxes while voting in governments you despise. Having dictator wannabees like Orban act all tough but who would be nothing if they were not part of the EU (again with your tax money). I'll bet you will see more of this in the future, especially if you have to start bailing out the south of Europe who would love the to acquire common debt so they can leech some more of your tax money to buy their voters favor.
The Atlantic Arch, UK, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Iceland! Swiss in the center of Europa, must Stay neutral and a kind of ECT, (European Capital Territory)! Swiss administrativo, etc is an example for E.U., how to work with respect and balance! Brussels is the capital of eurocrats! Swiss is the capital of the people's democracy!🇪🇺👍🏻🇨🇭
I salute Norway for not joining. and wishing the Danish people was as clever as the people from Norway on this point historically. That said there is a special case to be made with Norway that you did not bring in. Norway is a member of the Nordic union and as such any citizen of Norway can enter, work and live in Denmark, Sweden and Finland, with equal rights as the citizens of each of those countries. This is possible despite what EU says as it is an agreement that EU have no power over, from before EF.
I disagree. It's completely individualist and ignorant of Norweigians to not want to spend their oil-wealth money on making donations to building bridges in rural Slovakia or buying up French Riviera properties for corrupt Bulgarian politicians. You're portraying yourself as a socialist state for God's sake. Make contributions, don't just sit in the corner!
Ireland which is an EU members has a common travel area with the UK and Irish citizens have the right to live and work in the UK with UK citizens having the same rights in Ireland, the common travel area between Ireland and the UK predates the EU by 7 decades and the EU have no issue with this arrangement.
@@fitzstv8506 I never claimed EU have any problems with it. and this video wasn't about UK or Ireland just saying that I feel like there was missing information about Norway, that is related to the content of the video.
@@steffensegoviahelbo5065 Your opening comment was immediately critical of the EU by suggesting that Norway was wise not to join the EU like Denmark did. The EU is the most successful political and economic project the world has ever seen it has propelled tens of millions of Europeans out of abject poverty and helped maintain peace in western Europe for the last 7 or 8 decades. If your particular country is not happy in the EU then it can leave at any time.
@@fitzstv8506 yea I'm critical of EU. My country atm unfortunately have just enough people who do not agree with me. just addressing your comment. No EU is not the most successful political and economic project. the people that got out of poverty is not because of EU but despite of EU. the peace is again not maintained because of EU more like because of the bilateral cooperation countries between after WW2. just don't claim things that are wrong. EU is slowly moving towards a similar system as china. Democracy in EU is suffering because of EU. but hey people close their eyes because they don't want to see the problems and only focus on the perceived benefit for them selves personally. my issue with EU is that it has gone too far. it should in my opinion never had moved past the bilateral agreements. at some point in the future we will risk another big war because of it... and we can only look to the history of Yugoslavia and the Roman Empire and hope we don't repeat it... however time is endless and it will eventually come to pass. hopefully not for many centuries. the more we ignore our problems the more problems we create... I can see we don't agree and that is fine too. just don't push a false narrative... point to the few good things EU does rather than invent something that is at best doubtful and at worse pure fiction.
Thank you for putting “sovereignty” on the list. Switzerland is currently in negotiations with the EU, where the separate bilateral agreements should be bundled into a “Institutionelles Rahmenabkommen”. This comes with changes which are incompatible with direct democracy. Basically, the EU insists that Switzerland automatically applied the laws it decides without Switzerland having any representation and if Switzerland has a disagreement on this the court that judges it is going to be an EU court. No Swiss judges in their either. Its exactly that kind of shit why so many people hat the EU. Add-on: The best thing is that Brussels started to use extorsion. Kicking Switzerland out of Horizon for example. But at the same time insists that Switzerland has to still pay what was originally agreed. If Brussels really wanted Switzerland to join it royally f’ed up. The EU has never been more disliked here (which is a problem, because they can't get it in their head that they have to convince the Swiss people and not our politicians since we actually have a working democracy). I was originally pro union and cooperation. Guess what I’m going to vote now. Yes to union with our European sisters and brothers but not with those wannabe-autocrats in Brussels.
@@Sir_Bucket It's a classic. As an European, I wonder what's taking them so long to leave, in particular when most of the world allows EU citizens to travel visa free.
Switzerland has also higher standards in their laws for food and livestock farming than the EU. Making swiss people think the only ones benefiting from joining the EU would be companies while the quality of living would drop.
Why would the Quality of life for the Swiss decline if you would stop paying all the politicians in Bern and be so thankful that Ursula von der Leyen and the hordes of rogue bureaucrats in Bruessel would take of all the problems the kind people of Switzerland have? You would be treated like they treat everybody. Stupid peasants who should count their blessings to have the honor to work for them - the bureaucrats and the politicians who are using them to do their dirty work. United you would be in working for them.
@@mtk77621 What do you think the purpose of the EU is? It was created by whom? The idea of the EU is nothing else but a Marketing Concept. Instead of working for a National Government in their countries, they create together a "Legal Entity - EU" and sell the Governments of countries the idea of becoming members of a GROUP OF COUNTRIES with the benefits of "a bigger market for their products". But 9 to become a member they must sign "the Contract" in which it says that EU "Directives" will overrule National jurisdiction. TAKE IT OF LEAVE IT - and of course, in every country, some politicians take it - traveling to Brussels and getting a job in the EU government is "the carrot of the stick for the donkey - ahhhh the politicians.
@@BernhardSchwarz-xs8kp You should probably read comments you respond to before writing unhinged responses like this. I said "There's no reason why EU standards would overrule Swiss standards". If a country has lower standards then the EU standards, they will be overruled. If a country has higher standards, they won't be overruled.
I'm Swiss, so I don't want us to join the EU. As you said in the video, we're basically in a state where we have most of the benefits from it without the drawbacks
That’s not true, I know for sure that Switzerland and Norway applied formally to join the EU at one point. Switzerland retracted this application at one point officially. Of course there was never an obligation to join the EU. All member states joined the union on their own accord. This happened either by direct vote of the people or by a vote of parliament as the elected representatives of the people. Also there still is the option to leave the union. The British showed how that works. Unfortunately within the union the principles seem to shift. They tried to make it as hard as possible for Great Britain to leave the union and were even ready to seriously damage their own economy to punish Britain for leaving the union. For Switzerland I know that especially in Germany a lot of people try to insult the country as ‘Rosinenpicker’, implying that Switzerland is unjustly profiting from the European Union. These people seem to forget that all the accords between the union and Switzerland were only implemented when they were adapted by the EU and Switzerland. Such stupid comments that imply something else seem to me especially problematic in times when war is back on the European continent between Russia and Ukraine 😢
In short: - Switserland doesn't wanna lose it's economic safe heaven internationally - Norway has too much money from oil they don't wanna share - Iceland doesn't wanna give up fishing rights
@@alexandercoriolanus ''Norway has too much money from oil they don't wanna share'' We share, even when not members. Your reason is wrong. No other country on this PLANET shares more of their Gross National Income with others.
@@Ola_UteliggerShare? Sell! The EU shares within its members as in some states invest more than they get in return, and others get more than they invest in the EU. Norway would, if they were to join, surely be a "giver state", and not a receiver, because of their enormous income from oil. You can't just imply things I haven't said. Never even mentioned gross nationale income lol, let alone giving more than that; that's just ridiculous.
I am sure Switzerland would join the "EU" if the EU adopted Swiss political system, freedom of taxes, freedom of trade including services and perhaps common fiscal responibility as it is taking place in case of unions or federations like USA.
Politics in Switzerland is not as popular, or rather, intense compared to its neighbors. Ninety percent of Swiss don't even know the name of their president and the head of their constituents.
@@zweigackroyd7301Even with US Politicians spending it into oblivion. (It can easily turn on a dime!) Because it’s economic system is a lot freer. Especially from State to State.
My only takeaway from this video… …I had completely forgotten about Liechtenstein’s existence due to how small it is. And funny enough, I travel to North-East Switzerland multiple times a year and even then any signs or mention of it apparently just skip my mind.
American here in my little Switzerland for 34 years now, and I know and enjoy Liechtenstein too, especially after departing back into Switzerland, I get this feeling that it is really big. Switzerland also does the post, or mail, for Liechtenstein, as they have a 9000 zip code like eastern Switzerland. 9490 - 9494 - 9492 - 9496.
As a Swiss, i have to say that direct Democracy is the Foundation of our Nation. Reducing it to a Democracy only, could be considered as Destruction of Switzerland and rebirth as a new State. But we want to do many other things in collaboration with EU but the Eu must learn that we have not the same government system as all the other country. The sooner they understand that the faster Agreements can be made. As for the moment Swiss is almost out of Bilateral Agreements and working hard with Eu to find solutions to solve the issue.
Very interesting. I suppose it works for a small country with well-educated citizens. What about a not so small (but no big) country with a lot of peasants, to put it harshly by Tolstoy in Anna Karenina, "who are in the transition from monkeys to humans"? What about a big country like the US? Do you think any chance it would work in those countries?
@@hanaluong2672 swiss was foundet in 1291 the last state joined in 1848 since then the border didnt change. US with direct democracy could work however it slows down the progress immensiv. better would be if besides the 2 political partys also a 3rd or 4th party would exist so that no party reach 50%, that would lead to a more polished politic as non can rule by itself and needs support from others. like in france, germany or italie and other countrys. also a split of from 1 president to maybe 3 would also be better so at least 2 must agree to something in order to execute it and not 1 person holds the future of 350milion peoples in hand.
@@hanaluong2672 well it could work but there are other ways to make the US system better. 1 having more than 2 Parties ruleing, 2nd have more than 1 President lets say 3 presidents so if 2 agree its 2/3: and evolution may say that humans origin from apes but evolution didnt stop there will be something after humans. atm i think the movie "Ideocratie" shows best what one of these futures can be.
Norway joined EU without the ability to vote. People said no, politicians did it anyway - essentially. We rarely object to any EU directives, and implement most of them regardless.
Worth noting is that one of the reasons why Norway doesn't want to join is definitely fishing, but it is also because Norway has a more sustainable fishing policy than the rest of EU, and if we were to join, it would basically mean the emptying of the North Sea over years. It is also worth noting that similarly as Iceland, agriculture and monetary policy is another big topic as for why Norway doesn't want to join the EU.
I'm proud of those three countries and I'm proud of iceland the most not only for denying entry into the union but also getting more economy from tourism. it's not hard to see why it got touristy over the years, iceland has probably the most unique geography of any other country.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but since the Russian invasion of Ukraine public opinion has shifted in Iceland. 60% want a referendum to unfreeze EU membership negotiations and consistent pluralities support membership (45% in favor, 30-35% against, 20-25% undecided). The current pro-status quo right-wing government is wallowing in the polls (60% of seats last election to 34% now in the polls between the three parties) and the pro-EU left-wing parties are poised to win the next election in 2025 (standing at around 50% right now).
As a Swiss, I don't want foreign judges who force judgments on us that we don't want. We are extremely satisfied with our system so far! Nothing will change in the overall situation anyway. In Switzerland, the people are the sovereign and not some "democratically" appointed politicians from abroad. We decide ourselves about our parliament and, if necessary, DIRECTLY about laws, because our constitution says so.
and we actually has say in who we trade with and how we manage our resources, instead of letting a small ultra privilegded elite in brussels controll it
@@JeverCraftNLit's not, as a Portuguese I must say I hate brussels and what they represent. If you had studied more you would've known that Ursula is there because of scheme and not because she was chosen. Hell, we didn't even vote for a boring and non charismatic leader like her. I proudly say that she doesn't represent me as a European
@@MartimCorreia10 I very well know how the EU works. Just that you don't like this sort of indirect democracy that happens all across the democratic world, doesn't mean that it's not democratic. Apart from that, you most know that the president of the commission as is, doesn't have any power as such. It remains very much the case that all commissioners, MEPs and council members are in those positions because of election results, be it directly or indirectly, on national level or on European level.
Use of Euro reduces freedom of economic action. Euro is subject to policies of European Central Bank, and largely what happens in German and French economies. Poland and Czech have their own Central Banks and can adjust independently monetary policies to deal with exchange rates😮, interest, unemployment, other factors. Both countries have dealt quite well with low unemployment and good economic growth.
As a Czech I would say that a major reason for us is the shift in the public opinion about EU since 2004. The EU we agreed to join back then was different from what it is today and the voices to leave are being heard more and more (even myself, formerly a very strong EU advocate, I must say that I am not sure how I would vote should there ever be a referendum on leaving - unless EU goes through some serious self reflection). It might be beneficial to our industry economically (arguable if the economic benefit is there for anyone but industry, but we have seen that CNB could not do a lot against the inflation anyway so my guess is maybe yes) but with so many people refusing EU politics, a possible Czech exit referendum is definitely not guaranteed to be rejected to be put mildly and if that ever happened, we will be better off with our currency still in place rather than with euro. Also, argument against euro for many is some countries in eurozone being in too bad of a financial shape for us to feel safe entering, as well as almost first hand experience of Slovaks accepting euro and its effect on regular people.
Preserving national sovereignty is a really good common sense reason to not join the EU. There are plenty of excellent examples in history of unelected foreign rulers being very bad for local people.
Just look at all the countries that have given away their sovereignty to the EU and what those countries are looking like now and I know because I live in Britain where we have given our country away by giving up our sovereignty to the EU.
They don't "refuse". They don't want to. There is no obligation WHATSOEVER to be member of the EU. Regards from the 🇪🇺
I was going to point that Iceland has been offered to join but it was Iceland that declined
Same thing. When you don't want to join despite someone offering, you're refusing the invitation. No obligation required.
Thanks for that, exactly what I was going to say.
Yep, also Norway not joining makes Sweden and Finland look a certain way on EU maps
@@SmulenifySo? Blame the energy suppliers, not the EU. Also, check the estimated gain to the Norwegian economy. As BREXIT clearly demonstrates, barriers with you closest trading partners are not a good idea.
as a Swiss I love that we can decide ourselves which laws we want and which we don‘t want, how much taxes we have to pay and how the government gets to spend that money.
@@brb4903 You know better, dont you ?
@@brb4903 do your research..
@@brb4903ah yes we do.
If we dont stand up, the politicians will take our responsibility on letting the WHO pandemic treaty happen. Greetings from Switzerland!
You can do that in the EU, you just get called off when acting irresponsibly
As an Italian living in Switzerland, I feel that one of the biggest deals here is direct democracy/self determination: so far it seems like that has worked pretty well for the country and the people.
I think the swiss model is the best in the world. That's is what true democracy looks like not thos rubbish we have where the central government in partnership with big bussinesses control everything.
All democractic systems should strive to be more direct. It's ridiculous that other countries aren't doing the same
Except for women who didn't get the right to vote until the 1970s.
@@starvictory7079 better late then never
@@ghosthunter0950 There are problems with direct democracy as well, though
3 of the highest GDP per capita in the world. Why would they give up their sovereignty!?
Norway already follows all the laws and regulations from the EU, except for fishery and agriculture. Norway isn't rich because of or lack of membership of the EU, it's because of the oil economy. Joining the EU wouldn't change anything with the oil industry, only fishing and agriculture.
@@purplemarsmotionpicturesstill, being outside EU is still 100% because we’re rich. Poor countries want in, rich countries don’t.
The present Swiss government
following the USA dictations 🤮
and be forced to accept countless illegal refugees
@@purplemarsmotionpictures well it would force them to accept countless illegal refugees
The main hurdle for Switzerland is direct democracy. Cantonal and federal constitutions can be amended by the people with an initiative launched by the people. Laws can be challenged by the people with referenda launched by the people.
However, EU law would always go unchallenged. This goes completely against the democratic core of Switzerland.
I'm not saying that the EU is undemocratic, I love the EU, but swiss style democracy can't fit in the EU in its current form.
yeah.. forcing high quality food standards, freedom of speech ect... what a Tyranny the EU is... gimme a break...
EU is too big and diverse for direct democracy
@@AndrewStamelakis This isnt about what the EU would actually force Switzerland to do, this is about incompatibility of the system.
In Switzerland every major law must be approved by the people and any law can be challenged by the the people through a vote.
It doesnt matter how "good" this law is, if the swiss people dont like it, it wont be implemented and if they like it, it will.
This very different from other countries.
It's not CH that should be joining the EU, but the EU that should be annexed by CH.
@@maszk9743 What a dream it would be to transform the entirety of Italy into the canton of Greater Ticino...
As a Swiss myself, I see it as a good thing we are not part of the EU.
The EU is the best thing that happened to Switzerland. It is ironic that I'll have to agree that not being part of it has been very beneficial to us.
Gotta protect the Swiss fishing industry
@@Alphoric 😂
@@robezy0 more power to you!
👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋
Another thing in common with all of the countries in question is that they're all quite wealthy, which makes them more capable to be independent.
Less well-off countries seek financial stability in the EU.
If you want to know the truth you have to have the courage to ask the question WHY.
Why are some countries richer than others? Why are some people more successful than others? It starts with responsibility. Those people who are prepared to assume responsibility over their own lives as in general more successful than those who expect that the "community" meaning all the others are responsible for them.
The fundamental principle of communism. Calling it Socialism is nothing more than putting perfume on to a pig and telling you it's a butterfly.
Is it independence if you have to pay into the EU budget and accept EU laws that you don't vote on, as Norway does? I am always surprised at that. It doesn't strike me as "independance".
@@phmagnabosc0 Norway does not have to pay, theres no penalty if it doesnt, and they do not have to accerpt EU laws either..
@@davidgreen6490 NO does pay, although it is not as much as a Member state obviously, and has to adopt a lot of EU laws, if NO is to be part of the European economic area. Almost 30% of all EU law has been adopted by NO, after it was debated. amended and passed by the EU, with no input from NO lawmakers.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norway%E2%80%93European_Union_relations
They better stay outside the dictatorship of EU !
Let Switzerland, Norway and Iceland continue to do what's best for them, while the EU continues to do what's best for Germany.
True
I don't think, only Germany profits from the EU, this is poor propaganda. There are good reasons for all the members to be in the EU. Britain, e.g., had to learn this with a lot of pain.
Best for America ya'mean?
I think best for those refugees
Except germany is by far the biggest net contributer 😂
The real reason Norway is not in the EU is to preserve the Finland-Sweden shape
Yes, I like my euro coins
Geometrists are still pondering what to call the Finland-Sweden shape. 😀
@@peterc.1618an erected land
@@mtaufiqnmtn Looks more flaccid.
To be fair, it would still appear as a penis even with Norway joined…
Norway is heading further from EU membership in terms of public opinion is my experience as a Norwegian. It generally doesn't benefit us, and put current agreement seems unfair to most. Being forced to follow EU policies and contribute significantly to the budget
Yeaa, and a lot of EU regulations just dont seem worth it anymore. And as far as i've heard, energy prices in the EU are even higher than Norway's
@@CrispyMuffin2 Northern power grid in Norway is independent from EU, while south is tied to EU grid. Right now, northern part gets its electrictiy for about 4 times less than southern. In winter when the demand is higher, it is not rare that southern part must pay 10 times more than northern Norway.
@@CrispyMuffin2 In Ireland we pay 56c a kWh 😂. It's outrageous, one of the highest in Europe I believe.
But if Norway benefits from the EU without being directly in it, it seems only fair that they also help contribute, economically, to what makes the EU great in the first place. And regarding the rules, I guess I understand the arguement that nobody should follow rules that they aren't included in the process of making those rules, but that was Norway's choice: they are choosing to not be part of the decision making process.
The current arrangement doesn't seem unfair to me.
@@Boomerrage32 didn't say it's unfair. But there's a few parts of it that seem a bit... Dumb. And yeah, Norway being one of the top contributors when not being that large itself is a bit dumb. For example having to give money from the Schengen area (Norway Iceland and Lichtenstein) 2.8 billion Euro from 2014-2021. Norway had to contribute 98% of this sum. That is all fine however the bigger issue Norwegians have with this is how it affects the Norwegian workforce. The Norwegian workforce used to have a lot of bargaining power. However with the deal every EU member citizen can apply for work in Norway. And a common thing is traveling to Norway for work, and sending the money home where it's much cheaper and traveling home ofren. Sure the worker doesn't get a lavish life in Norway, but does get one at home. And his family does too, however he can easily afford to outcompete Norwegians on Labour cost. Because he doesn't have the same living expenses a norwegian citizen has. As such the Norwegian labour market has suffered in terms of bargaining power and fair pay, on top a big increase in housing costs from foreign workers and students wanting to move here. This has lead to it being increasingly difficult for Norwegian youth to make it in the Norwegian market and they get forced into a paycheck to paycheck lifestyle reminiscent of the US. The argument is that "but it lets Norwegians work in other countries too!" Oh... Great we get to work, for lower pay in a lower cost country. Which gives you two options, live very poor in Norway or move out. Something most Norwegians don't want to do. So in effect it's a one way street. We give Europe access to the Norwegian labour market and except for in times of labour shortage we essentially just bring competition to our workers. Great for buisness. For welfare not so much. The transportation market is hit the hardest. a truck driver from Romania doesn't care if he's driving in Romania, or Norway. But he is willing to accept much lower pay. Hence 9/10 transport companies and workers in Norway aren't Norwegian. Not because Norwegians don't have enough of em, but because they keep going bankrupt having to pay Norwegian taxes, with Norwegian housing prices completing with European workers and companies paying far less Norwegian companies outsource logistics, and manufacture out of Norway. Because the deal lets them do it cheap, and they don't need to pay Norwegian prices for the workers. So it has some benefits. And it has some drawbacks.
Over the years the benefits really start to become thin. Especially for the WORKING class Norwegians. Sure buisnesses love it and will always vote and lobby politicians to stay. But the people don't really benefit much. The benefits are free trade, free movement and right to work. As discussed right to work isn't really benefiting Norwegians, free trade benefits the market. But we trade with non free trade regions through trade agreements. So individual trade agreements with the different nations might just be better. Gives Norway more leverage over its resources. Oh and yeah energy companies. Fuck energy companies. Norway is a big producer of energy. So whenever energy costs are Higher in Europe than Norway. Which is quite common they SELL OUT TO EUROPE raising the energy costs of NORWEGIANS simply because they can profit more from selling to Europe even when Norwegian demand isn't satisfied yet. So dumb. We have to follow European road rules and regulations, which aren't really that good. And make no sense for a country of our climate. We would prefer to have our own rules instead. And so on so on. Benefits are really starting lot not feel all that great. The drawbacks are all there tho, and honestly they keep growing. So yeah. There's a movement to pull out of the deal because when Ukraine got invaded, and energy crisis emerged. The EU tried to force Norway to sell its power to Europe CHEAP because we are part of the free trade. Blah blah blah which would not only skyrocket the price Norwegians pay even more than it already had it would also remove a lot of our profits off the power.
TLDR: many want something closer to how Switzerland does it. With individual trade agreements because the Norwegian market is affected by EU companies outcompeting Norwegian companies on price because they pay less labour costs.
Norwegian here. We say no to the EU because we don't want the EU to take and control our oil, gas and fish, along with a lot of other things.
Heretic. How DARE you rejecting to unite with the rest of Humanity in the glorious European Imperium?
you are already under the control of eu with the only exceptions of fish agriculture and gas
And you can't even vote
What are you on about? We would not lose control of our oil, gas or fish. What makes you think that?
@@PropellPelikan Selfish thinking heretics. That's what you are. And to think that your country is considered one of the most privileged on Terra just like all European countries.
Precisely because you have the ability to be part of this collective that has HUGE potential for Mankind. Non-European countries would do ANYTHING to swap locations with your country so that they could be within the glorious and prosperous European continent and as such have the possibility of joining.
But no, like selfish pr1cks you cherry pick the things that benefit you without assuming full responsibility and be a proud member of the European Imperium. You lot in fact remind me of Turkey.
A Middle Eastern dictatorship, that basically tries to get the same pros out of the EU without joining while at the same time, badmouthing us. Disgusting. And your situation is even more disgusting since Norway could join the EU WAY easily compared to Turkey, which is unwanted btw for obvious reasons.
But aight, enjoy your freedom and independence for as long as it lasts. Just don't come crying when things get dire for your country for whatever reason in the future.
@@TrymBraathenif someone has enough on its own, there is no point in joining for else interests or desires.
As an Italian, I sure as hell don't trust neither italian people nor italian politicians to make good decisions for my country, so I like that there's someone keeping them in check. These nations are successfull and functional as they are, so good for them!
How do you mean I work with italians so I'm actually curious.
Are they tho? Are they really? No they are not. Left and Green ideologs ruining all european countrys.
@@drinkyourtea In Italy we say: Don't let Italians rule Italy, just because all our problems are made by the politicians (Italians) and the people who vote (also Italians). And a lot of Italians says that our problems are made by EU or USA 😂
@@toddthemushroom7652 ahhh right right lol I'll tell that to the italians.
@@drinkyourtea try, but not all Italians recognise the truth
Another large part as to why Norway doesn't wish to join is its agriculture. For reasons that should seem obvious, agriculture isn't as easy in Norway as it is in for example France. If the country were to join, most farmers would go out of business, for it would be simply cheaper to import.
Today's world depends on some imports no matter where, but to allow dependence on other's always ends up with 'hurt feelings'. Always. We are not one big happy family, but we do have a lot to share with each other culturally - shame the internet tossed us all into the same room too soon.
To maintain a degree of national self-sufficiency in critical areas such as this is pretty important for nations. Disparities regarding this emerging in the EU common market have always been a problem to balance.
@@terrylandess6072
Thats not how it can work. Every country are asked to produce MORE food,not less.
And yes,some items one cant produce ,often due to short growing time.
But one need to keep import at a minimum. It hurt climate to import everything .
It should be obvious...
The same, more or less, happened in Greece. Agriculture used to be a huge export business back when we had our own currency and no EU-wide agriculture policies. Now we can barely cover the domestic demand, with olive oil being the sole exception.
Yes and in Norway there are very few large scale farmers as in the flat countries in Europe. The farmers here have zero possibilities for that type of farming. Still, Norwegian farmers struggle. One of the farmers I know said that he wouldnt want his worst enemy to go through what hes gone through as a farmer.
Refuse is a strong word. They simply don't want to join. Nobody is trying to force them
sure, just need another 9 referendums just to make "sure"
If you ask me, and I say no thanks, that is a refusal. It doesn't have to be anyone trying to force anyone.
They are trying to "force" in other ways
In Norway there are most definitely people trying to force a membership by hook or by crook. Those people are the industries and entities that would benefit financially and have no scruples about how their gain hurts the other parts of the Norwegian society and economy. Since the vote was clearly no to joining the EU(and public opinion remains so) we are now living a death by a million papercuts with legislation, rules and other things hidden in agreements quietly moving us into a sort of unspoken EU membership with no vote.
Switzerland has been sanctioned by the EU because we do not want to fulfil all the conditions set by the European Union (unemployment benefit for EU citizens from day one, arbitration court only with EU judges and without Swiss judges). EU is forcing us.
For Norway, another reason I often hear cited is also the widespread belief, whether true or not, that joining the EU would bring with it a requirement (if not an immediate legal requirement, then being subject to pressure over time) to open up our offshore oil reserves for private foreign enterprise (which would be easily argued as breaking our constitution which declares the natural resources of Norway belong to its people), whereas currently the oil is a state affair that makes all its proceeds function as public money, though it is mostly invested, with only a limited quantity being spent in each budget, so as to avoid escalating inflation.
The private ones (BP, Schell...) have been in Norway for a long time.
The difference is FOREGIN investment, Norway as a state, or, rather, Norwegians as a people and ethnic group, retains control, that is key.
Same reason you dont see many foreginers outside the major cities, the divide is real deep these days@@amparogonzalezalvarez2295
Norway needs an EU membership like a hole in the head.
@@amparogonzalezalvarez2295 Yes, by the norwegian rules and laws, not by the Eu directives...
Norway joining EU would be a disater for a big chunk of its people, especially people living in the outer districts of Norway.
A major aspect of ICELAND not joining EU is the Financial Crisis and the bankrupt of banks which refused to repay funds to EU investors, that would have desdtroyed the state budget
Either you are a member of the EU or you have direct democracy. For the Swiss, it is out of the question that they surrender their political rights to EU functionaries whom they are not allowed to elect and, even worse, not allowed to vote out of office.
EU should have a seperate "trade state" category.
Coutnries like Turkey and Norway specifically.
Well said🎉
Yes, they are simply smart. Other countries got fooled by Brussels.
Ah yes, you mean they couldn't vote out the representatives they voted in with something like a Parlamentary election? There are Institutions for direct democracy e.g. the Citicen Assembly, as well as political parties in support of them.
I am a big fan of the democracy in Switzerland and think the EU could do better, but some of you people are just making stuff up at this point.😅
@@moritzweber5707 citizens assembly! That is a Govt. Set up ie specifically chosen people to tow their line. No democracy there Sir. Total con job.
Iceland, Norway and Switzerland are strong allies already and everybody is, for the most part, happy with the situation.
As a EU citizen, the moment I find a good job, none of these countries will forbid me to stay there.
On the other hand, each of those countries has sectors it wishes to safeguard, which wouldn't be possible if they were to join.
I see no good reason for things to change.
@@arisnotheles If everybody was in for their interrest and out in ther protected sectors then eu wouldn't exist
@@arisnotheles just saying that the eu should not let other countries to parasite us like norway
As a Norwegian I can inform you gentlemen that staying out of EU has little to do with "safeguarding sectors". Most of our politicians actually wants us to join and we are practically already a member through the EEA. The opposition comes from the people who fear to lose sovereignity. After occupation from Denmark and more recently Nazi-Germany, the people are very hesitant to give away any part of its sovereignity. The reason is emotional, not economic.
The EU is destroying Europe.
@@juanantoniogomezdelpulgarg2273 drink up your milk and go to bed kid!
EU would never even excist if it wasent for people watching out for their own interest, you think its a charity project or something? it excist solely becouse someone, somewhere are winning on it, in other words, self intrest!
As a Norwegian, I think this video was very good. Joining the EU is not on the table, however our politicians have snuck us closer and closer to the EU over time. Making us more or less de-facto EU members. I wish we had real democracy like Switzerland, but alas, we are stuck with "representative democracy", as the opposition to EU is larger in the population than amongst the politicians.
Vote for conservatives. When joining - you will be trading your resource-rich and culture-rich country for nothing but donations to the poorest EU states. (I'm from Luxembourg and though my country doesn't contribute as much, but from what I observe - the neighbours pay dearly for their membership)
@@kut9682 - The EU / Anti-EU stance is widely spread out on the political spectrum in Norway. But the historic two main parties (left/right) are both pro-EU.
But EU is not a hot topic in Norway, because the politicians know bringing it up is a sure-fire way to tank on the opinion-polls. So they get votes on other topics, turn around a tie us closer to EU between the elections.
@@kut9682the conservatives are the most in favour of EU membership. Vote socialist to avoid membership
Yeah you're right...
Maybe we should just invade norway. 🤷🏻♂️😸
@@kut9682 If Luxembourg was to leave the EU, it would lose its valuable position as a tax haven within the EU, attracting EU business to set up their headquarters in Lux. Not so sure whether that's in the interest of the Luxembourgeois people.
Building wealth involves developing good habits like regularly putting money away in intervals for solid investments. Financial management is a crucial topic that most tend to shy away from, and ends up haunting them in the near future.., I pray that anyone who reads this will be successful in life!!
Starting early is simply the best way of getting ahead to build wealth , investing remains a priority . I learnt from my last year's experience , I am able to build a suitable life beause I invested early ahead this time .
It’s precisely at times like these that investors need to be on guard against the next certainty. You don’t have to act on every forecast, hence i will suggest you get yourself a financial-advisor that can provide you with entry and exit points on the shares/ETF you focus on.
please I want to invest but I don't know any F/A that can help me, can you leave behind the info of the lady you just mentioned?
she's mostly on Telegram, using the user name
Marieslopie
as a Swiss I am not inclined to change my Direct Democracy for Brussel's rule... we already have the best of the agreements
You also jave the best System in the world.
The canton system makes every democracy in the world look like a scam or at best a bad joke.
People are usually ignorant to how good of a example you guys are, unfortunately.
@@lucasbispodossantos5074the canton system.is in many regards silly😂😂😂 as swiss its always funny how people think shit works here and also think the grass is more green in this side if yhe fence when in reality its not
What is good in EU? Dictatorship of bureaucrats. If you don't know in what colour you need to paint your wall, they will say you. World of idiots!
@@kind2rethinkoh is it not? Only a swiss would completely disregard Switzerland’s system. You have no clue of how good you have it.
Coming from someone that lived elsewhere in Europe and resides now in Switzerland.
@puma1304 we dont want you in our union anyway lol. You dont have any good agreement, and all you can do is cry
Even if I'm in favor of EU expansion and further integration, I think that's a good thing to have neutral non-EU counties around. Even if they're western countries, not being completely inside the EU sphere of influence allows them to be good intermediaries for international disputes and agreements, allowing for easier international cooperation
And also giving us a perspective of what it is to be outside (for the good and for the bad). So that our EU politicians don't get lazy and have to improve the EU as we could see these three countries being better outside. And as the video says, they are already on our side and somehow very integrated. Priorities are others.
Eh.....neutral countries are useless. Remember how helpful they were between Russia and Ukraine?
@@warrenschrader7481 What do you mean useless? They might have not broken a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, but when they will do that they'll do it in a neutral country. Not to mention previous deals pushed by neutral countries in history, like how Finland worked as an in between the USSR and the European Wrest after WWI, or how they harbored things like the Geneva Convention. The fact that they aren't on one side allows them to be seen as a neutral ground, they don't necessarily succeed or even have the best interest for peace, but they have a place in international politics
@@soldatox3019 I think he meant "neutral" countries within the EU like Austria, that initially blocked the EU's aid to Ukraine based on their neutrality and wanted to enforce it upon all of the EU. And since EU needs an unanimous decision for that - the haul was put for quite some time
@@oculusvision558 Neutral countries can use their neutrality to behave like vultures, taking all opportunities to enrich themselves over the misery of others, but that's more of a reason to keep them out of the EU. In addition, not all neutral countries use their neutrality that way: before joining NATO Sweden used its neutrality to be the moral conscience of Europe by arguing for Palestinian nationality, in favor of Kurdish independence after they fought against ISIS, and against intervention in Vietnam, just to name a few; they used their neutrality to bring on the international stage the voices of those who couldn't. Switzerland used to be more like Austra in the past, using their neutrality for profit, but they have tried to become clearer and they too condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine. What I'm saying is neutral countries aren't useless, even if they can use their neutrality for greed, they can also be a much needed space for international politics
I alwsys thought Norway and Iceland not joing the EU smelled fishy 😃
Here in Iceland we have a word for that ... "peningalykt"!
Who wants to give up its sovereignty?
The poor and hopeless. When governments grow too corrupt and people lose hope in them, a faceless institution like the EU starts to look like the better option. I can tell you that's 100% the case in Spain.
@@gurriato Very good point.
@@gurriato almost the same here in France unfortunately..
No, we Swiss shall continue to vote against it. They just want our money! We're already too much meddled in foreign affairs that isn't any of our business nor obligation rather then to stay neutral and had to given up bank secrecy which was also a blow to the economy. Switzerland is already overpopulated due to Dublin-Schengen regulations which made also criminal tourism much easier.
Jesus, your banks sucked up dirty and bloody money from all over the world, whitewashed the worst possible crime that happened in the world and financed your development with it, and you still have the audacity to complain about others. I hope karma finds you eventually.
Thats precisely why the UK left the eu.
As a Swiss, absolutely NO!
I don’t like EU and I’m glad than we’re neutral.
Our direct democracy is perfect, we don’t need the help of the EU, this is my idea.
Sorry for bad English
Good opinion, the EU is a vice, that's why UK left the European community. Too much open border policies.
As a Swiss I see this as an absolute win.
imagine being a swiss coward lmfao
@@prehistoriccreature1800 Imagine being thrown in the Garbage truck by your mom when you were born.
@@ItzBloodless
So, what happened to you. Yeah, imagine.
@@ItzBloodless
Swiss coward
@@prehistoriccreature1800 look you jealous living in a 3rd World Country jealousy is such a beautiful thing you can see it the Swiss living in your head rent free.
European countries need close economic ties, but not a political union like the EU. Each European country is capable of self-rule under democratic principles, while in the EU a big part of decisions for each country is taken outside of that country by the EU institutions, which is against democracy.
Due to the oil, Norways economy is larger per capita than most EU-countries. Even though the Norwegian state tries to keep most of the profit for future expenses, lots of money is in circulation which has triggered the price and cost levels. If not subsidized by the oil the rest of the economy (maby except for the fish) would have big difficulties to survive without preventing competing cheaper products from coming in from abroad. That would not be possible if Norway would be a EU-member. Especially the agricultural sector would be very vulnerable.
Yes true. Their sovereign future fund would be at risk with EU membership. Norwegians are smarter than that.
I support decentralization, so I don't think any country should join the EU
Norwegian here, it's not just fishing, it's also farming and and suporting the Norwegian work force. We suport local grown food for environmental resons as well as being able to provide example farmers with sustainable jobs. There is allready a influx of imprted good that our government are regulate in order to minigate the risk to the Norwegian work force. We also have to pay tax if we are buying from other countries. Our agreement with EØS maks transactions, import and export with the EU posible, but joining them could greatly effect our work force and effect the our workers organisations like LO.
if you joined the EU, you'd see free labour force movement and people coming in and willing to work for lower wages than your nationals. Wage dumping has been going on in the richer EU countries for years, and no one is adressing it. Wages staying low like that literally affects your ability to buy property and start a family. It's house-made problems, and the braindrain to the countries the cheap workforce came from (Romania, Croatia, Greece, etc) is sth the priviledged in Brussels never want to even think about, let alone adress or tackle. Brussels doesn't care about the wellbeing of the population. The wage dumping in e.g. Germany has led to the weird situation where they have millions of unemployed but also millions of vacant jobs. But since the offered salaries of those jobs is too low, no one is apllying. So they import people from outside the EU! It's crazy. It has happened to my previous job that I left because I was getting only 1600€ net here in Austria, and they replaced me with an Indian, a Greek, and a Chinese.😅
I asked someone if Norway should join, and she said that we shouldn’t because we will have to pay, but we won’t get any economic benefits.
That is true
Without EU, each state alone will be very weak.
Norway would probably be the only country to survive as they are spoiled by the oil.
@@tustak What about the Netherlands, they have a ton of Natural Gas, Romania also has a ton of Oil, and Germany has huge industries.
@@TheboyInPurple915 I am quite sure it is not even close in value.
I think Norway acts a bit spoiled to not engage with EU.
@@tustak what do you mean by spoiled, because idk, we voted not to join so we could protect our fishing industries, and so that no one could take our oil, plus, we are part of the EEA, and Schengen, so we have our ties to the EU, but not directly.
A country with 5.4 million people like Norway will have nothing to say and no sway in the EU. The EU is essentially run by Germany and France with populations of 70 - 80 million people. Norway will have no power in any debates. You also have to take into account that Norway was under other coutries rule for 100's of years, including Sweden, Denmark and Nazi Germany. Our independence is fairly new.
In fairness Denmark did not Rule Norway, the king of Denmark and Norway, ruled Denmark and Norway, until the british and swedes fucked that up and made your flag look DISGUSTING, EW!
But still, its not like we are all that different as people, I still vibe with plenty of Norwegians due to our shared language and culture.
Also its not like Danish independence really did jack shit, Denmark-Norway just got kicked around.
Unless Peter Wessel was involved, in which case everyone else got kicked around.... :D
Norway - if you were broke the EU would not want you. That alone tells you why you are a prime target. Not for your beauty but for your fish and other natural resources. Brussels is greedy for a lot of politicians to be fed.
Wouldn't it be nice for Norwegian to know that they are paying Macron, Schultz, a nice lady Ursula von der Leyen - a stooge that got put into her position by Angela Merkel personally - the communist broad who sold out Germany to Putin - her personal friend with whom she studied communist governing in works shops in East Germany under the STASI- Putin lived 5 years in Eastern Germany and she speaks Russian and he German. Yes - the dream team.
@@Elenrai If you are a Dane and that is what is thought in your school, your leaders are liars. "Our shared language", are you insane?, no it is Danish Language that was forced upon Norway.
@@Kali-Yuga-Peace-Corp That moment a Norwegian has to deal with Norwegian nobility goin Dano-Norwegian because it was beneficial to them....hue hue hue cope :D
@@Elenrai Nice to see that you agree with me, seldom Danes do. :)
I am always in favor of each country having sovereignty and determining its own future. Stay independent.
I want my country to have the Suisse aproach, economic relations, but away with the political aspect of the EU.
The free Direct Democracy in Switzerland👍 and a centrally controlled EU👎 are not compatible!
If Switzerland were to join, it would destabilize both, Switzerland and the EU.
Because it would just be a matter of time until the Swiss would reject implementing an EU regulation in a direct democratic referendum. Then either, there would have to be a Swexit or the Swiss would again resort to a special status. In both scenarios, both, the EU and Switzerland would face a host of turbulences along with economic and geopolitical losses, possibly worse than Brexit. Meanwhile, the upside for both sides is negligible, as Switzerland already autonomously adapts the vast majority of EU regulations under current legal frameworks.
Like Hungary you mean?
As a Norwegian, under the current EU setup i don't see any points i joining the EU, they have to do alot of changes for that to be happening.
There is to much vital control we will be losing over alot of different things that we are not interested in losing control over.
And one of the biggest problems are that the power prices would go sky high....even more than what it currently is doing.
So joining a body who is currently in minus power generation is definitely not gonna happen.
And EU is currently in to of a unrefined condition to be worth joining.
It needs to be refined a good amount more and be better thought out on expanding and adding new countries and to improve current existing once.
Interesting standpoint. Would you elaborate a bit more on how power prices would go higher with EU member ship, when Norway is already an EAA member? Maybe there's an aspect I'm overlooking.
@@terkkraft8057 we still dont have all the tariffs or taxes that the eu got on power production. so we still have cheaper power then the main land. would be dirt cheap if we wasn't a member of eea but that's for another argument.
富裕国家不想加入欧盟
补贴那些贫穷的欧盟成员国
以及欧盟外的贫穷国家
那些贫穷的国家应该靠自己而不是懒惰的等待救助
Are you aware that you already are under eu control in everthing except fish agriculture and energy?
And you can not vote
Noen som burde lære seg bedre engelsk...
They will never enter as long as EFTA exists, if these agreements were to fail, these nations would be faced with a precise choice: either they are completely in or they are completely out.
Then i hope we go out. We have enough things that the EU are in dire need of so its not a big issue. Fish and energy in particular. Hope we never enter the 4th reich!
@@organicperoxide4619 This type of answers is boring, they never add serious content to the debate.
@@slavianalbanovich9025 Whats wrong with it? Germany steers EU as they want...
@@slavianalbanovich9025 That's because organicperoxide is a Norwegian hard-line "Nei til EU" person. I myself am ambivalent and somewhat undecided on the EU question, so I understand your frustration over his very, very hardened stance. But, remember: In some milieus here in Norway, EU is still now viewed as the equivalent to the biblical Satan, or even worse. That's their perogative, I suppose, but I am not quite there, to put it mildly. Personally, I see both pro's and cons, and find the question a bit too complex to have a hard and fast opinion on.
An EU debate would be more accepted in norway, but. As it currently stands, the EU from what I understand is in a lawsuit of sorts for efta violations because of norway banning staffinf agencies in certain regions.
As well as the ongoing mackerel quota dispute going on.
From what most norwegian sees it, joining the EU would give most of the nations sovereignty over to Germany. Seeing as Norway although not a EU member, is suffering from inflation and the previous power prices which are mostly thought to be imported from the EU.
Im not for nor against as it currently stands, but both sides have good arguments.
You missed the UK, who came out of the European Union, never had the Euro, are not in the Schengen area and have few bilateral agreements
UK is kinda off-topic honestly
And the UK left the EU, and next are the Netherlands. Bravo for them.
No chance!
The biggest issue for me as a Swiss, is the centralised governance of the EU. This governance is corrupt, disfunctional and biased. Lastly, the EU government is appointed ..... this is very UNDEMOCRATIC. The EU was designed as a free trade area and this is what it should remain. THe day it became political, it ushered in a new dictatorship to Europe which is akin to the Chinese and Soviet style of governance.
Now yall know how Americans feel abt the feds lmfao.
It sucks cus the idea is that states would be as autonomous as countries, but Democrats seem hellbent on federalizing everything to such an extreme level.
Even shit like healthcare. Something that should be implemented at a state level, ends up being forced down everyone at the federal level.
Its such a simple concept that only republicans for some reason understand.
I dont know why either.
Like the whole point of an electoral college, is the fact that the feds should act like the EU. Its not supposed to be passing laws that should be passed on a state level.
I dont know why people in New York feel that someone in rural Texas shouldnt be represented in an government thats by design, supposed to act more like a "glue" between each state.
Its all very goofy, and I blame the education system for it. They lower standards, to the point basic history, geography, and civics, become an elective rather than a mandatory class.
It is not centralised, if anything it's the exact opposite (look at the reaction to Isarel-Palestine war). The EU was originally designed to reconcile France and Germany at the start, free trade came later.
@@pio4362 Oh come on !! It is centralised in Brussels and the entire EU has to do as Brussels says or else face sanctions ...... how is this not centralised governace ??
@@cococalm it wouldn't be a problem if the EU wasn't so pathetically anti-Europe.
That’s why I voted to leave (uk citizen)
Thank God we didn't join
As a Norwegian we see now that saying no twice has saved us look at our neighbor Sweden whos society has fallen apart in just a few years and will if nothing is done be an Islamic State within 2 generation's....😢
@@eidanchris yeah spot on!! Very big mistake to allow mess migration! Very different culture " Sweden 🇸🇪 is paying very high for Their Stupidity !! Nothing more to add !!
"REFUSE" - a very disturbing word for a Swiss guy who doesn't want to loose the right to vote about projects several times a year.
That word - refuse - is never a problem to those who use the word UNITED as a cover-up for being on the take. Letting others work for them and accusing others of not doing what they are supposed to do.
Never forget - the EU was supposed to be an Economic Union - but it did not take long until Angela Merkel and the likes turned it into a Control Center for the food supply of Western Europe.
The one who controls such an essential element in human life is the ultimate ruler.
I was not aware that any country on the planet had anything close to the type of democracy system I desire.
To make a public vote per topic at hand, good job Switzerland!
its an incredibly stupid political system, but it works with such a small and insignificant country
@@TheGamingSyndrom I would strongly disagree. First raising hands is done just in two very small cantons or in local communities and only done for their local issues. It works for them so it is fine and far away from stupid. Raise your hand and in 80% of the cases you don't have to count. It is a simple yes or no answer.
2. Which system is more stupid. A system where you can have a direct influence of what happens hand how you want to live or a 4/ 8 year kingdom like the USA? In my view that is exactly what it is in a "Presidential" "democracy". You choose your king/queen for the next x years. This king does plus minus whatever he/she likes. After his/her period another king/queen has the power and maybe changes everything the former holder of the power did. THAT IS A STUPID SYSTEM.
@@chbonnhoff you believe whatever you want. I'm glad I live in an indirect democracy
What is good in EU?
@@ainars1205 everything
Finland was in EFTA before EU which was forgotten in this doc. One consideration is that these three countries pay practically as much as members in order to be inside EU market without having any votes for any decision, and to be in they have to comply with the regulations and rules. Switzerland's banking sector has always been so shady that there's no way they would join and the voting system is ideal for populists which sometimes prevents making radical decisions. As long as Norway has oil reserved they do not join the union. Iceland is so small that it doesn't get much attention anyway.
Best analysis.
I would add: take them their wealth and they will apply.
@mksnz
Imagine this, from Norway, past Iceland on to Danish owned Greenland, the north Atlantic would belong to Brussels, and if you count that French Island off the coast of Canada, they'd lay claim to it all, and as the various Commissioners are only accountable to the joke parliament which is run by the bureaucrats, I shudder to think what could happen.
All banking system arguments are discontinued since 2014.
Populists? You mean as opposed to ELITES. I find it extraordinary that someone could talk about a democratically popular and accountable government as if it were a bad thing.
By staying out of the EU, Norway and Iceland become rule takers rather than rule makers. How? Norway and Iceland participate in the EU single market, engage in various programs such as Erasmus, and contribute to the EU budget.
The EU budget and laws governing the single market, programs, and budget are established by the EU Parliament and Council of the EU.
EU citizens vote for MEPs to represent them in Parliament and national governments to send Ministers to the Council. However, citizens of Norway and Iceland are not part of the EU, so they lack the right to vote for these representatives. Consequently, they end up as rule takers rather than rule makers.
Success is not built on success. It's built on failure, It's built on fraustration, it's built on fear that you have to overcome. I pray that anyone who reads this will be successful in life
We are making sure our son will inherit our home, but however the government is taking steps to stop people from leaving their children their homes, it's heartbreaking to see they are trying to make it illegal not to leave your children your home.
I just accepted, I needed to conform the narrative of Productivity when it comes to this new trillion-dollar's digital gold opportunity.
You're absolutely right, I think your proposal has much to comment on. Because when you invest, you're buying a day you don't have to work. @@craigpotter1262
Please, it will be of benefit if you share more of your educational business lessons and ideas fact that's working recently.
Honestly speaking real estate has been the best but crypto is better rough for fast wealth growth.@@alanfuller7176
Another reason Norway is reluctant is a perceived notion that the EU just don't seem to 'get it' with what is important to Norway. There are many regulations and clauses in EU law that came about to protect what each member country is really good at. One version of this is stuff like food designations. In the EU, you can't call just any old salty aged crumbly cheese parmesan, Italy is the only one that can do that. Norway would need similar assurances for fishing and energy, as these are really vital parts of the norwegian economy both in exports and domestic consumption.
Some background info: One of norway's biggest competitive advantages in industry and just economics in general is a really robust electrical grid with cheap electricity. This is used in a lot of draining chemical engineering and processing industries that aren't often talked about but collectively add up to an enormous part of norways economy. It has also shaped norways consumer practices, with most homes being heated electrically and gas heating being basically non existant.
In recent years, to try and promote cooperation with the EU as well as stabilize ourselves against price shocks, we have started linking our power grids with the EU. This backfired spectacularly during the gas/electricity crisis of 2021/2022, with our electricity prices increasing on average about 1000%, with peaks closer to 6000%. This was an imported problem. We had surplus production, but due to those cables and the agreements around them our grid was hemorrhaging. This meant that there were many months where the average norwegian home could easily spend 20-30% of their net income just on electricity, and this is after doing all they could to reduce spending.
Despite numerous appeals by both the norwegian people and the norwegian government to focus on alleviating such things, the EU effectively told them in more kind words to get bent, while calling us war profiteerers for selling our gas at market rate and essentially whinging that we wouldn't give away the gas for free when the EU was already bleeding our people dry. The EU nations didn't care about electricity prices much since they could just turn off their lights and reduce the cost to basically zero. A 1000% increase on a 10 euro bill wouldn't really bankrupt the average household after all, so they even closed down nuclear plants mid crisis, just spending their way through it. So they instead complained constantly about gas prices which in Norways interest would be kept high as we export it all and use essentially none of it ourselves. Norways citizens basically got to see in real time that the EU didn't care that we were facing a 1000% increase in heating costs, while complaining themselves to the point of hysteria about their own 200% heating cost increase.
Prior to 2021 most opposition to EU membership in Norway had little merit, essentially just fear mongering about sovereignty and the like with no real tangible examples to point to. That's not the case anymore. It's been thoroughly ingrained in the Norwegian psyche that we care about very different things, and even with voting rights, we wouldn't have a big enough voice to ensure our interests aren't overruled by these other nations.
same sentiment in my circles, even the ones that was milk toast are now hardliners. all they want is out money,fish and oil, and they will fuck us on the price if they can.
"while calling us war profiteerers for selling our gas at market rate"
If Norway was to suddenly stop exporting oil and gas, they would just be more mad
I think the UK and Norway have more in common in keeping a distance from Germany's EU
Yep true words. The EU is nothing more than an olicharchy. And if it collapses you'd better hope your country isn't a part of it, because there will be hell to pay for the members who have a good economy if that ever happens.
Congratulations to them. EU is not good way!
Why would they want to join the rest of a continent in self inflicted decline?
5:23 But the agricultural sectior plays a big role as well. Swiss farmers are heavily subsidized which wouldn't be allowed if Switzerland was part of the EU. Swiss people, especially in rural parts of the country, see farmers as an essential part of Swiss identity and want to protect them even if they couldn't compete with imported goods.
Why would subsidization schemes change?
Very good video. As a Swiss, I see most of the core issues addressed. We rule ourselfs with direct democracy, no other options are accepted, certainly not a central government in Brussels. I'll could accept free trade, but nothing more, certainly not the blackmailing attempts the EU is doning now. And I see it more than proven, that our system of direct democracy, federalism and considerably lower regulation is working very well.
Hope you all can keep it that way , as an American living in the state I do , I am sick of being told what to do by a handful of people in the northeastern part of this country.
@@rewar5870 I hope u guys over there do also well
By staying out of the EU, Norway and Iceland become rule takers rather than rule makers. How? Norway and Iceland participate in the EU single market, engage in various programs such as Erasmus, and contribute to the EU budget.
The EU budget and laws governing the single market, programs, and budget are established by the EU Parliament and Council of the EU.
EU citizens vote for MEPs to represent them in Parliament and national governments to send Ministers to the Council. However, citizens of Norway and Iceland are not part of the EU, so they lack the right to vote for these representatives. Consequently, they end up as rule takers rather than rule makers.
@@rewar5870 You are against democracy. Putin is that you?
Russian money is always a welcome sight?
There may be different reasons why to join a union with other countries or to avoid doing so. There was a time wheb Norway was still the largest kindom of Europe, prior to joining Denmark for what later is regarded to the 400- Year Night, which regarded with Norwegian eyes is a dark period. Who knows, it mightn't be by coincidence that Norway and Iceland (which also was former a part of the Kingdom of Norway), same as the case is for the now self-governing archipelago The Faroe Island (now under Denmark) have chosen to remain non-EU-members. Although the Faro Islands isn't independent (yet) it could be mentioned if talking about that Iceland and Norway are outside of the EU. During the centiries of being united with Denmark (or Denmark and Sweden), Norway lost much of its territory and got cut short in size as well as much of the natural resources escaping. The union with Denmark is referred to as the 400-årsnatten (meaning The 400-Year Night) which says a great deal about how it's looked upon. The five years of German occupation in the 1940s and what happened then just adds to story from the centries prior to this where Norway started out as an equal part of constellations with neighbouring countries who reduced us to a weaker part. Why would Norway want to enter the EU? Aren't we managing when we can arrange things our own way? What do you have to offer that we lack? Or is it the other way around that we have something to offer that you want to get hold of that we can't give you of our free will without being consumed? Such as fish, oil, minerals, woods. As an example, Norway has the worlds largest deposits of certain crucial minerals that is used for computers, phones, fertilizer etc that's sufficient to serve the entire world for the next 100 years. It's okay to co-operate with other nations, that we also should do, but there's no reason to let the history repeat itself all over again. Because we don't need to get even closer tied to Europe or any other country than we alruare to survive than we already are. We have as implemented a whole range of directives like the EU-members have. In addition of being a Nato member, we're a member of EEA and EFTA, which all together should be plenty enough and it doesn't differ that much really, but at least we can limit the greed of other nations to some extent when it comes to the wish of helping themselves to our resources on their own... Because there are conflicts and it proves why an EU application will not be sent from Norway any time soon, simply because EU is not what we need.
you forgot to mention a longstanding regular spot in the Bilderberg group.
Respect to these countries for seeking to secure their economic rights without secluding themselves from any conversations!
Europe as an entity is very important; as important are free voices, not an established right amongst all countries of Europe, nor will it ever be. We must remain flexible 'organised' independency will help regulate the stability of the umbrella!
China, USA and Russia thank you for that. If Europe wasn’t a minimum united, Russia would have already invaded half of Europe.
@@luclandrot7652 sure.
Like in Ukraine?
Stop falling for the crap of "Europe as an entity".
Unless you understand what that means. EU is an entity that enters "mutually binding agreements" with its member countries - in which individual countries subordinate their national laws to those of the EU directives.
Now - they are controlled totally by bureaucrats in Brussels. Don't like it? Be happy that you are now a member of the EU. The EU is happy too. You pay, you do, you obey, and you shut up.
Ukraine was invaded because it is not a NATO member country. If Putin invades a NATO member country then he is at war with all of NATO and he knows he can't win in that situation.@@istvanmakai280
They see that their future to stay outside of EU.that is wisdom and logic.
Great video! I was also delighted to be served up an ad featuring former MEP Nigel Farage shilling his "Fortune & Freedom" newsletter after the video finished! 🤣
Thanks! That is hilarious. Not sure if his target audience watches these videos? :P
@@EUMadeSimple Is it possible you can cover the new Franco-German report presenting proposals for "Reforming and Enlarging the EU for the 21st century"?
www.auswaertiges-amt.de/blob/2617322/4d0e0010ffcd8c0079e21329bbbb3332/230919-rfaa-deu-fra-bericht-data.pdf
Immigration is also an issue for Switzerland. Although there is currently a free movement of labor into Switzerland for EU citizens, the Swiss have difficultly agreeing to abandon any possibility to restrict immigration. Actually Switzerland had probably a bigger immigration from the EU than most other EU countries since 2002, when the free movement of labor was introduced. This creates economic benefits, but poses also a great strain on infrastructure. There is limited land for more construction for more housing for the increasing population. It is also difficult to build new rail tracks, new roads, etc. I believe that most EU countries would be reluctant to have this level of immigration.
We could solve it by adding Vorarlberg and Baden-Würtemberg to Switzerland... The Austrians wouldn't realise it because the Arlberg is in the way and the Germans could finally focus on building up the economy in the former East-Germany... jk
@@WaechterDerNacht and while we are at it, why don’t we also add Valtelina, Haute-Savoie and Franche-Comté. I am sure that the French and the Italians are also quite busy with their own problems and wouldn’t really object 😃.
The interesting thing that never gets talked about and that most people don't realize is that in the current situation, it is a quite a good thing for us swiss people that we have so many immigrants comming to switzerland. While this creates some problems right now, in the future and long run, it will help to ease some quite catastroiphic problems that can't really be solved. Meanwhile, short term problems are solvable.
One thing as an example is population. We are only able to almost sustain our population thanks to the current immigration. If we would be able to completely stop it, our birth rates will drop dead like South Koreas or Chinas, booth countries which will loose about 50 to 60% of their population until the end of the century.
Not loosing population obviously has a huge economic benefit and considering that we failed to test new revisions of our retirement provision and a unconditional basic income so far, booth things which are basically required in some way for a stable and sustainable future, the current immegration "crysis" will buy us some time in the long run.
@ In my opinion you have it exactly the wrong way around. Immigration to help out with demographics is the short term solution. Whereas the problems caused by it, especially in a country as small as switzerland, are anything but short term. Immigration at the moment is the easy, lazy and ultimately unsustainable "solution" that's going to come at a huge cost in the medium to long term. A cost payed in an overall reduction in the quality of life. (overpopulation, destruction of the environment, increasing food dependence, loss of social cohesion, increasing scarcity of limitied resources such as water and land, increasing crime, etc.)
@@Jansi05 That is not correct. Overpopulation is not a problem, underpopulation is. Destruction of the environment is a problem uncoupled from imigration. Loss of social cohesion is neither an effect of that, especially considering this is more or less an "old people" problem.
Ressources, food and water are not problkems because opf immegration. Neiteher are most a problem right now.
Limited land is simply a factor of planning.
You are focussing on short term problems.
None of your points are influenced in the long run by immegration in a negativge way.
As a Norwegian one fear that keeps coming up in regards to joining the EU is the chance that our sovereign oil wealth fund could be compromised in one of several ways.
Currently it is being invested in a wide portfolio of stocks that have to pass a long list of criteria to be eligible. This has led to a bunch of companies changing their policies to apply for an investment from our oil fund, thus allowing Norway to indirectly wield geo-political power above our "weight class".
If we joined the EU there isn't much we could do if it was democratically elected that "nations with sovereign wealth funds need to do x, y, z".
Plus you would have to take vast numbers of ILLEGAL immigrants. Just ask Sweden how that’s going. Stay out.
@@TheRedPeril sweedens madness was a realy good wake-up call to manny norwegians, before the massive uncontrolled flood in to europe, norway was actualy more in favor of helping out immigrants legal and illegal, but after the shit show, manny finaly woke up to the fact, that you cant house others, if your own house is on fire
It's artificial wealth that adds nothing tangible to Norway's economy. Why Norway has the worst economy in Europe. It's almost like Norwegians don't understand what an economy is and assume it's just about accumulating artificial wealth. Only superstitious folk lost on the periphery of civilisation could be so economically illiterate. Thinking otherwise just confirms Norway is backward-looking and isolated on the periphery of civilistion, geographically, climatically and culturally.
You understand it is possible to negotiate for exemptions from these kinds of rules to ever apply to you when joining, right? And that 100% of the countries in the EU (including yourself) would be needed to change such an exemption?
For example, all countries are required to eventually abolish their national currency for the Euro, except for Denmark (and the UK before Brexit) since they have an exemption. This exemption will never change. Although speaking of Scandinavia, even though Sweden is legally required to eventually adopt the Euro, they are currently abusing a loophole in the rules to indefinitely avoid having to do it, so I guess that is also an option, lol.
If Norway joined the EU they would easily be able to negotiate exemptions for more or less all of their main concerns since they are otherwise a perfect candidate member. So your concerns don't really apply.
Basically Norway would have FAR more sway over their own affairs as part of a Scandinavian voting block in the EU than they currently do. Since they would be able to get exemptions for any major concerns (sovereign funds, fishing rights, oil rights, whatever), so those could never be threatened. But it would get to have an actual voice in rules that they are currently being forced to obey without question (i.e., EU single market). And a united Scandinavian or Nordic voting block in the EU would be big enough to have a real tangible effect on any EU votes.
3 of the happiest and most stable countries
Happy or rich?
@@preciousmousseBoth. All of these countries rank pretty high on pretty much every metric, except maybe raw GDP. Their GDP per capita however is among the best in the world.
So yeah, they're doing pretty well.
Iceland: Why am I missing on this map?
New Zealand: First time?
Interesting, but a major oversight of this presentation is currency integrity. The Swiss Franc, the Norwegian Krone - their national banks set monetary policy for their countries. This should have been mentioned.
The EURO is the biggest fraud ever. Nobody is in charge of the EURO. The currency is under the government of a Group of Politicians who have no decision-making powers
The Euro regulations and agreements are "Recommendations" that none of the countries ever met.
The only reason 70% of the Euro countries would be bankrupt if they would grant each other increasing amounts of "loans" against no guarantees or financial back-up other than "smiling politicians shaking hands and declaring each other credit-worthy partners.
If Banks were managed like the Euro is - bankers would be in prison.
I'm a Norwegian. There is no support for joing EU among the Norwegian population. Even if the political parties would want a membership it will be voted down in a referendum where the citizens of Norway have their say. There are a majority in the parliament, but no majority in the population. The video brought forward the conserns of the Norwegian people in a fair manner.
politicians like the eu because it's where our politicians go after they are done at home. its like a big fat retirement policy.
Better out than in EU
Love your videos
very informative video, nice.
Why would they want to? They have self determination as sovereign nations and a terrific standard of living. Hats off to them.
Video pretty much hits the nail on the head for Norway. Fish is the original and primary reason why we are not a member and it is reflected in the districts with the highest opposition to EF/EU (oil production in Norway began in 1971). Norway's continued approach to the union has been to integrate as much as needed to gain access to the internal market and keep travel/trade restrictions to a minimum, while maintaining sovereignty over our natural resources. There are other important positives with regards to regulatory powers and having own monetary policy, but jobs in the fisheries (+farming to a smaller extent) was the major reason. Despite strong numbers from the fisheries, the number of people fishing has halved since the 80s so it has less of a grass roots political impact nowadays (which is important in Norway). I predict a fair chance we will join the union when the black gold in the North Sea isn't making us money anymore (when the crash of '08 and, hopefully, the war in Ukraine is a fading memory).
Yes. Black oil in Norway, banks be collapsed or bought from third countries in Switzerland (like Credit Suisse) and when Iceland humanitarian catrastrophe happend like earthuquake, large storm and mass lack of recources, they would all became members of EU.
En annen nordmann, her. Brilliant kommentar! Spesielt enig i konklusjonen. EU-medlemskap er ikke umulig, og kan absolutt skje i fremtiden. Det er en fin tanke, spør du meg:)
Given our history of oppression by our neighbors leads us to desire independence as well, though it's a fading sentiment it seems
Being an independent country would appear to be more important than being told what you can and cannot do within the EU.
Countries in EU are indipendent, idiot!
Swiss here: we do not want to. leave us alone
Then you are a heretic. Unless you can transport your country to another continent or planet, you don't have a choice in the matter. Only a FULLY united European continent, will make Humanity better.
@@Wisteria__Lane Well too bad for you, wether in one, two or a thousand decades or even centuries, you WILL join the collective the easy way or the hard way.
Be it the EU or a wider Imperium of Man, your independence will end to benefit Mankind as a whole, you selfish pr1cks.
The nerve of not being as one with your fellow Europeans. Buttloads of countries around the globe would do ANYTHING to be on the glorious European continent and as such, be able to join.
But it's alright. Your "neutrality" and "independence" will falter in the end. And it will be for the better for your own country. You just don't realize it yet. But all in due time.
Enjoy your "freedom" as long as it lasts. Because one day all of Europe will be under one democratic Imperial banner, firmly and TRULY united against the dangers of the East and carving a name for itself and Humanity at large.
Europe must be fully united so that the rest of Mankind can follow suit afterwards. Only after the entire planet unites, will Humanity reach magnificent heights. But for that, we need to remove this selfish thinking from people like you. But like I said, all in due time.
I’m now living in Norway and always had curiosity on this question!! Very interesting video! Thanks for it
Definitely learned something new today!!! THANKS DUDE 😎
All the EU nations should leave the EU.
Why give unelected bureaucrats power?
Exactly what I would think. The EU is just dumb
Is is more and more apparent that decision not to join was wise. Twenty years ago, 90 percent of people of Czech republic agreed to join EU. Now it is barely 30 percent who are happy with membership.
Czech people are heavly influenced by populist propaganda, and as meny eastern ex-communist countries, they have benefited enormously from the EU.
@@abelnicolaebaritone what populist propaganda???? We just want to be sovreign and in this monster of the EU, it is impossible!
@@d.d.6045 how so... did Brussels invade you when you publicly positioned yourseves against the EU, like the soviets did some years ago? Are your borders closed?
Not as fun anymore when you start to be a net contributor is it? Having other countries leech of your taxes while voting in governments you despise. Having dictator wannabees like Orban act all tough but who would be nothing if they were not part of the EU (again with your tax money). I'll bet you will see more of this in the future, especially if you have to start bailing out the south of Europe who would love the to acquire common debt so they can leech some more of your tax money to buy their voters favor.
The Atlantic Arch, UK, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Iceland! Swiss in the center of Europa, must Stay neutral and a kind of ECT, (European Capital Territory)! Swiss administrativo, etc is an example for E.U., how to work with respect and balance! Brussels is the capital of eurocrats! Swiss is the capital of the people's democracy!🇪🇺👍🏻🇨🇭
I salute Norway for not joining. and wishing the Danish people was as clever as the people from Norway on this point historically. That said there is a special case to be made with Norway that you did not bring in. Norway is a member of the Nordic union and as such any citizen of Norway can enter, work and live in Denmark, Sweden and Finland, with equal rights as the citizens of each of those countries. This is possible despite what EU says as it is an agreement that EU have no power over, from before EF.
I disagree. It's completely individualist and ignorant of Norweigians to not want to spend their oil-wealth money on making donations to building bridges in rural Slovakia or buying up French Riviera properties for corrupt Bulgarian politicians. You're portraying yourself as a socialist state for God's sake. Make contributions, don't just sit in the corner!
Ireland which is an EU members has a common travel area with the UK and Irish citizens have the right to live and work in the UK with UK citizens having the same rights in Ireland, the common travel area between Ireland and the UK predates the EU by 7 decades and the EU have no issue with this arrangement.
@@fitzstv8506 I never claimed EU have any problems with it. and this video wasn't about UK or Ireland just saying that I feel like there was missing information about Norway, that is related to the content of the video.
@@steffensegoviahelbo5065 Your opening comment was immediately critical of the EU by suggesting that Norway was wise not to join the EU like Denmark did. The EU is the most successful political and economic project the world has ever seen it has propelled tens of millions of Europeans out of abject poverty and helped maintain peace in western Europe for the last 7 or 8 decades. If your particular country is not happy in the EU then it can leave at any time.
@@fitzstv8506 yea I'm critical of EU. My country atm unfortunately have just enough people who do not agree with me.
just addressing your comment. No EU is not the most successful political and economic project. the people that got out of poverty is not because of EU but despite of EU. the peace is again not maintained because of EU more like because of the bilateral cooperation countries between after WW2.
just don't claim things that are wrong. EU is slowly moving towards a similar system as china. Democracy in EU is suffering because of EU. but hey people close their eyes because they don't want to see the problems and only focus on the perceived benefit for them selves personally.
my issue with EU is that it has gone too far. it should in my opinion never had moved past the bilateral agreements. at some point in the future we will risk another big war because of it... and we can only look to the history of Yugoslavia and the Roman Empire and hope we don't repeat it... however time is endless and it will eventually come to pass. hopefully not for many centuries.
the more we ignore our problems the more problems we create...
I can see we don't agree and that is fine too. just don't push a false narrative...
point to the few good things EU does rather than invent something that is at best doubtful and at worse pure fiction.
I think it is very simple. Some countries like to run their own country instead of having it dictated to by Brussels.
Thank you for putting “sovereignty” on the list. Switzerland is currently in negotiations with the EU, where the separate bilateral agreements should be bundled into a “Institutionelles Rahmenabkommen”. This comes with changes which are incompatible with direct democracy. Basically, the EU insists that Switzerland automatically applied the laws it decides without Switzerland having any representation and if Switzerland has a disagreement on this the court that judges it is going to be an EU court. No Swiss judges in their either. Its exactly that kind of shit why so many people hat the EU.
Add-on: The best thing is that Brussels started to use extorsion. Kicking Switzerland out of Horizon for example. But at the same time insists that Switzerland has to still pay what was originally agreed. If Brussels really wanted Switzerland to join it royally f’ed up. The EU has never been more disliked here (which is a problem, because they can't get it in their head that they have to convince the Swiss people and not our politicians since we actually have a working democracy). I was originally pro union and cooperation. Guess what I’m going to vote now. Yes to union with our European sisters and brothers but not with those wannabe-autocrats in Brussels.
Iceland, Norway and Switzerland should remain outside the EU.
They made a good choice. EU is like a circus
Because the EU is a dumpster fire
Average european being a dramaqueen while living in one of the best continent in the world:
@@Sir_Bucket It's a classic. As an European, I wonder what's taking them so long to leave, in particular when most of the world allows EU citizens to travel visa free.
Switzerland has also higher standards in their laws for food and livestock farming than the EU.
Making swiss people think the only ones benefiting from joining the EU would be companies while the quality of living would drop.
Even the falling wages and a lot more criminal immigrants ... would been the consequences, that couldn't expel anymore in "pact with EU".
Why would the Quality of life for the Swiss decline if you would stop paying all the politicians in Bern and be so thankful that Ursula von der Leyen and the hordes of rogue bureaucrats in Bruessel would take of all the problems the kind people of Switzerland have?
You would be treated like they treat everybody. Stupid peasants who should count their blessings to have the honor to work for them - the bureaucrats and the politicians who are using them to do their dirty work. United you would be in working for them.
There's no reason why EU standards would overrule Swiss standards, that's not how it works
@@mtk77621 What do you think the purpose of the EU is? It was created by whom? The idea of the EU is nothing else but a Marketing Concept. Instead of working for a National Government in their countries, they create together a "Legal Entity - EU" and sell the Governments of countries the idea of becoming members of a GROUP OF COUNTRIES with the benefits of "a bigger market for their products".
But 9 to become a member they must sign "the Contract" in which it says that EU "Directives" will overrule National jurisdiction.
TAKE IT OF LEAVE IT - and of course, in every country, some politicians take it - traveling to Brussels and getting a job in the EU government is "the carrot of the stick for the donkey - ahhhh the politicians.
@@BernhardSchwarz-xs8kp You should probably read comments you respond to before writing unhinged responses like this. I said "There's no reason why EU standards would overrule Swiss standards". If a country has lower standards then the EU standards, they will be overruled. If a country has higher standards, they won't be overruled.
I'm Swiss, so I don't want us to join the EU.
As you said in the video, we're basically in a state where we have most of the benefits from it without the drawbacks
they don't refuse to join, they have not applied. nobody is forcing them to do anything.
That’s not true, I know for sure that Switzerland and Norway applied formally to join the EU at one point. Switzerland retracted this application at one point officially. Of course there was never an obligation to join the EU. All member states joined the union on their own accord. This happened either by direct vote of the people or by a vote of parliament as the elected representatives of the people. Also there still is the option to leave the union. The British showed how that works. Unfortunately within the union the principles seem to shift. They tried to make it as hard as possible for Great Britain to leave the union and were even ready to seriously damage their own economy to punish Britain for leaving the union. For Switzerland I know that especially in Germany a lot of people try to insult the country as ‘Rosinenpicker’, implying that Switzerland is unjustly profiting from the European Union. These people seem to forget that all the accords between the union and Switzerland were only implemented when they were adapted by the EU and Switzerland. Such stupid comments that imply something else seem to me especially problematic in times when war is back on the European continent between Russia and Ukraine 😢
NEXIT!!!!!!!!!! FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!
In short:
- Switserland doesn't wanna lose it's economic safe heaven internationally
- Norway has too much money from oil they don't wanna share
- Iceland doesn't wanna give up fishing rights
If you earned or won alot of money legally, would you share with your neighbours or some random people 10 blocks away?? lol
@@Ola_Uteligger What is this reply even for? Never implied they should join, just merely stated their reasons for not joining.
@@alexandercoriolanus ''Norway has too much money from oil they don't wanna share'' We share, even when not members. Your reason is wrong. No other country on this PLANET shares more of their Gross National Income with others.
@@Ola_UteliggerShare? Sell! The EU shares within its members as in some states invest more than they get in return, and others get more than they invest in the EU. Norway would, if they were to join, surely be a "giver state", and not a receiver, because of their enormous income from oil.
You can't just imply things I haven't said. Never even mentioned gross nationale income lol, let alone giving more than that; that's just ridiculous.
As a Swiss I do not want to be a member of the EU
I am sure Switzerland would join the "EU" if the EU adopted Swiss political system, freedom of taxes, freedom of trade including services and perhaps common fiscal responibility as it is taking place in case of unions or federations like USA.
We should join Switzerland, not vice versa
Wait - you're holding up the US system as one to follow when it comes to fiscal responsibility? Or taxes?
Politics in Switzerland is not as popular, or rather, intense compared to its neighbors. Ninety percent of Swiss don't even know the name of their president and the head of their constituents.
😂....sure!
@@zweigackroyd7301Even with US Politicians spending it into oblivion. (It can easily turn on a dime!) Because it’s economic system is a lot freer. Especially from State to State.
My only takeaway from this video…
…I had completely forgotten about Liechtenstein’s existence due to how small it is.
And funny enough, I travel to North-East Switzerland multiple times a year and even then any signs or mention of it apparently just skip my mind.
American here in my little Switzerland for 34 years now, and I know and enjoy Liechtenstein too, especially after departing back into Switzerland, I get this feeling that it is really big. Switzerland also does the post, or mail, for Liechtenstein, as they have a 9000 zip code like eastern Switzerland. 9490 - 9494 - 9492 - 9496.
As a Swiss, i have to say that direct Democracy is the Foundation of our Nation. Reducing it to a Democracy only, could be considered as Destruction of Switzerland and rebirth as a new State.
But we want to do many other things in collaboration with EU but the Eu must learn that we have not the same government system as all the other country. The sooner they understand that the faster Agreements can be made.
As for the moment Swiss is almost out of Bilateral Agreements and working hard with Eu to find solutions to solve the issue.
Very interesting. I suppose it works for a small country with well-educated citizens. What about a not so small (but no big) country with a lot of peasants, to put it harshly by Tolstoy in Anna Karenina, "who are in the transition from monkeys to humans"? What about a big country like the US? Do you think any chance it would work in those countries?
I would love to live in a country like that.
@@hanaluong2672 swiss was foundet in 1291 the last state joined in 1848 since then the border didnt change.
US with direct democracy could work however it slows down the progress immensiv. better would be if besides the 2 political partys also a 3rd or 4th party would exist so that no party reach 50%, that would lead to a more polished politic as non can rule by itself and needs support from others. like in france, germany or italie and other countrys.
also a split of from 1 president to maybe 3 would also be better so at least 2 must agree to something in order to execute it and not 1 person holds the future of 350milion peoples in hand.
@@hanaluong2672 well it could work but there are other ways to make the US system better. 1 having more than 2 Parties ruleing, 2nd have more than 1 President lets say 3 presidents so if 2 agree its 2/3:
and evolution may say that humans origin from apes but evolution didnt stop there will be something after humans. atm i think the movie "Ideocratie" shows best what one of these futures can be.
Norway joined EU without the ability to vote. People said no, politicians did it anyway - essentially. We rarely object to any EU directives, and implement most of them regardless.
Worth noting is that one of the reasons why Norway doesn't want to join is definitely fishing, but it is also because Norway has a more sustainable fishing policy than the rest of EU, and if we were to join, it would basically mean the emptying of the North Sea over years. It is also worth noting that similarly as Iceland, agriculture and monetary policy is another big topic as for why Norway doesn't want to join the EU.
I'm proud of those three countries and I'm proud of iceland the most not only for denying entry into the union but also getting more economy from tourism. it's not hard to see why it got touristy over the years, iceland has probably the most unique geography of any other country.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but since the Russian invasion of Ukraine public opinion has shifted in Iceland. 60% want a referendum to unfreeze EU membership negotiations and consistent pluralities support membership (45% in favor, 30-35% against, 20-25% undecided). The current pro-status quo right-wing government is wallowing in the polls (60% of seats last election to 34% now in the polls between the three parties) and the pro-EU left-wing parties are poised to win the next election in 2025 (standing at around 50% right now).
I visited Iceland for the first time this year and will return very soon. It is a remarkable country in so many ways 🇮🇸🏴✌🏼
MOST UNIQUE extremely bad English!
All three countries have so many deals with the EU that they are for most important purposes members.
As a Swiss, I don't want foreign judges who force judgments on us that we don't want. We are extremely satisfied with our system so far! Nothing will change in the overall situation anyway.
In Switzerland, the people are the sovereign and not some "democratically" appointed politicians from abroad. We decide ourselves about our parliament and, if necessary, DIRECTLY about laws, because our constitution says so.
They pay "membership fee" and they accept EU legislation without having any say in making it. Basically members anyway.
and we actually has say in who we trade with and how we manage our resources, instead of letting a small ultra privilegded elite in brussels controll it
@@loliko23 You know that the "small ultra privileged elite" is democratically chosen, right?
@@JeverCraftNLit's not, as a Portuguese I must say I hate brussels and what they represent. If you had studied more you would've known that Ursula is there because of scheme and not because she was chosen. Hell, we didn't even vote for a boring and non charismatic leader like her. I proudly say that she doesn't represent me as a European
@@MartimCorreia10 I very well know how the EU works. Just that you don't like this sort of indirect democracy that happens all across the democratic world, doesn't mean that it's not democratic. Apart from that, you most know that the president of the commission as is, doesn't have any power as such.
It remains very much the case that all commissioners, MEPs and council members are in those positions because of election results, be it directly or indirectly, on national level or on European level.
sure they are, chosen by the party and then voted in by the poeple such democracy@@JeverCraftNL
Why ? they are just intelligent and do not want their country, langage, currency, democracy, and high standard of living to disappear.
Amazing video. Well explained and answered all questions I have got over time. Would love to see video why Czech and Poles not joining Euro Zone.
I am positive, you have already seen it.
Use of Euro reduces freedom of economic action. Euro is subject to policies of European Central Bank, and largely what happens in German and French economies. Poland and Czech have their own Central Banks and can adjust independently monetary policies to deal with exchange rates😮, interest, unemployment, other factors. Both countries have dealt quite well with low unemployment and good economic growth.
As a Czech I would say that a major reason for us is the shift in the public opinion about EU since 2004. The EU we agreed to join back then was different from what it is today and the voices to leave are being heard more and more (even myself, formerly a very strong EU advocate, I must say that I am not sure how I would vote should there ever be a referendum on leaving - unless EU goes through some serious self reflection). It might be beneficial to our industry economically (arguable if the economic benefit is there for anyone but industry, but we have seen that CNB could not do a lot against the inflation anyway so my guess is maybe yes) but with so many people refusing EU politics, a possible Czech exit referendum is definitely not guaranteed to be rejected to be put mildly and if that ever happened, we will be better off with our currency still in place rather than with euro. Also, argument against euro for many is some countries in eurozone being in too bad of a financial shape for us to feel safe entering, as well as almost first hand experience of Slovaks accepting euro and its effect on regular people.
as a swiss, i see the dissolvement of the eu a more realistic probability than joining it
Preserving national sovereignty is a really good common sense reason to not join the EU. There are plenty of excellent examples in history of unelected foreign rulers being very bad for local people.
Just look at all the countries that have given away their sovereignty to the EU and what those countries are looking like now and I know because I live in Britain where we have given our country away by giving up our sovereignty to the EU.