The Foreign Policy of Norway

Norway is a democratic monarchy in Scandinavia. It is not a member of the European Union (EU) but it is part of the European Economic Area (EEA). It is an important member of NATO. Norway joined the United Nations in 1945, and the first secretary-general of the UN was Norwegian lawyer and politician Trygve Lie.

The Vikings ruled Norway from around 800 to 1030 AD. After that, Norway was a kingdom and ruled over countries such as Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. From 1380 to 1814, Norway was in a union with Denmark. From 1814 to 1905, Norway was then unified with Sweden and in 1905 it became an independent country. However, in 1940 Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany invaded Norway, rendering it occupied during the Second World War.

Norway was liberated from its occupation of Germany on May 8, 1945 when the Nazis surrendered to the Allies. To protect itself from Soviet aggression during the Cold War, Norway joined NATO in 1949. Norway was one of only two NATO countries to share a border with the USSR.

Because of its northern location, NATO forces often train in Norway for arctic and winter warfare. Norwegian forces have taken part in the war in Afghanistan as part of NATO and the UN, and Norway has taken part in numerous UN peacekeeping deployments.

Norway tried to join the European Economic Community (EEC - forerunner of the European Union) in the 1960s but was rebuffed due to its close ties with Britain. In the 1972 it had a chance to join, but while the Parliament voted to join the EEC it gave the public a referendum and the public voted against it. The public again voted against EU membership in 1994. Currently, while Norway is not a member of the EU it does enjoy close ties with the Union. Norway has its own currency and its own laws on migration and immigration.

The Foreign Affairs Minister is responsible for Norwegian foreign policy, as the head of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry. As a Scandinavian country, Norway enjoys close relations with Sweden and Denmark, including both economic and cultural ties. It enjoys close ties with other European countries, including the United Kingdom. During World War 2 the Norwegian King formed a government in exile in London, and continued the struggle against the Nazis.

While Norway is not in the EU, it is affected by the policies of large EU countries, such as the UK and Germany. It often works with these countries on international issues. Norway also enjoys good relations with the United States and Canada. It is an active member of the UN, and plays an active part in global issues such as trade, conflict and human rights.

If you’re used to Norwegian roads, Britain can feel a bit... different. The driving is on the other side, the roundabouts arrive thick and fast, and half the roads seem to have hedges leaning in as if they’re trying to join the traffic. All of that is part of the charm, but it also explains why car insurance in Britain is taken seriously.

In Britain, car insurance is a legal requirement for most drivers before the car is used on the road. You can’t really do the classic “I’ll just nip down the shops” routine unless you’re properly covered. And if you’re visiting from Norway, you’ll usually want to check that your insurance covers driving in the UK, and whether you’re allowed to drive a UK-registered car at all, depending on the insurer’s rules.

You’ll often see three main levels of cover offered in Britain. Third Party is the legal minimum. Third Party, Fire and Theft adds cover if the car is stolen or damaged by fire. Fully Comprehensive is the widest option, and may cover damage to your own car in an accident as well as third party claims, although the wording matters and the extras aren’t always the same from one insurer to the next.

British insurers also care a lot about how the car is used. Social, Domestic and Pleasure usually covers normal personal driving, shopping trips, weekends away, and visiting family. Commuting cover may be needed if you drive to a regular job. Business use can apply if you travel between sites or meet clients. If you’re doing anything like deliveries, courier work, or carrying tools and equipment every day, you normally need a policy that matches that kind of use. (Britain is very good at paperwork, and insurance is no exception.)

Another thing that often surprises people is how much location can affect the price. A car kept in a quiet rural village can be treated very differently from one parked on a busy street in a city. Even the same car, same driver, same mileage, different postcode, different premium. It’s a bit like the weather: you think you’ve got it figured out, and then it changes its mind.

If you want a practical place to read up on car insurance in Britain, without getting lost in technical language, bumpandgrin.co.uk is a handy starting point. It’s the sort of site you use when you just want the basics explained properly, so you can get on with the important things, like not missing your turning because you’re still trying to work out which exit to take on a British roundabout.