A growing number of Norwegians are calling for a new referendum on EU membership, according to a new survey from research institute Opinion. The data reveals that 63% of the population supports holding another public vote on whether Norway should join the European Union—a dramatic increase in appetite for debate on the country’s relationship with Europe.
The March 2025 survey, conducted with a representative sample of 1,000 people, found that only 31% are opposed to a new referendum, while 6% remain undecided. This marks a significant shift in public sentiment since Norway’s last EU referendum in 1994, when membership was rejected by 52.2% of voters.
Norwegians support new EU referendum, even among EU sceptics
One of the most striking findings is that even among those who currently oppose Norwegian EU membership, 42% are still in favour of holding a new referendum. Among EU supporters, an overwhelming 90% support a renewed vote.
“Although both Jonas Gahr Støre and Erna Solberg have stated that Norway is not ready for a new EU debate, the general public is far less dismissive. Many Norwegians have never had the chance to vote on this issue,” said Nora Clausen, senior adviser at Opinion.
Political party affiliation also plays a role in referendum support. Backing is strongest among voters from Venstre (87%) (Liberal Party), Høyre (78%) (Conservative Party), and the Arbeiderpartiet (73%) (Labour Party). In contrast, scepticism prevails among voters from Senterpartiet (Centre Party), Rødt (Red Party), and Kristelig Folkeparti (KrF) (Christian Democratic Party), which are the only parties where a majority opposes a new vote.
EU membership still opposed by many, but gap narrows
Despite the desire for a referendum, Norway remains far from ready to join the EU. If a vote were held tomorrow, 48% say they would vote “no” to membership, compared to 41% who would vote “yes”, with 11% undecided.
“The ‘no’ side still has a majority, but the gap has narrowed to just 7% points. Many people are open to changing their minds, especially among today’s EU supporters,” Clausen explained.
Public openness to change is another key theme of the survey. Almost half of respondents (44%) said new information and public debate about Norwegian EU membership could influence their stance. This includes 49% of current pro-EU voters and even 32% of EU sceptics.
Norwegians show strong support for EEA over full EU membership
While the EU debate heats up, Norway’s current relationship with Europe through the European Economic Area (EEA) appears more stable. The survey shows that 67% of Norwegians would vote to maintain the EEA agreement in a hypothetical referendum today, with just 21% opposed.
The EEA arrangement allows Norway access to the EU single market without full political integration. It has long been viewed as a pragmatic compromise between full EU membership and total independence.
A changing political landscape in the EU debate
Norway last held referendums on EU membership in 1972 and 1994, both resulting in a “no” vote. Yet the current findings suggest the Norwegian public is increasingly open to revisiting the issue, especially as new geopolitical challenges, energy policy, and security concerns reshape the European context.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, speaking at the Arbeiderpartiet congress before the weekend, commented, “We should have an open debate about Norway’s relationship with Europe, but a new EU referendum is not what’s best for the country.”
Whether or not a new vote is on the horizon, one thing is clear: the EU question is far from settled in Norway. With growing public interest in revisiting the issue, the coming years could mark a turning point in the nation’s long-standing European ambivalence.
