Norway is the best at doing what the EU says

Of all the 31 countries in the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA), Norway is the only country that has adopted all EU directives before their deadline, according to the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA).

Published: 20 July 2016 15:43 CEST

Norway is the best at doing what the EU says

Norwegian PM Erna Solberg and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB scanpix

Norway has thus retained its top position in the ESA’s Internal Market Scoreboard for the third year in a row.

“Norway has continued success in its strategy for eradicating the transposition deficit, and provides an example for other EEA States,” ESA president Sven Erik Svedman said in a statement.

Svedman encouraged other countries to follow Norway’s example.

“A well-functioning Internal Market benefits both businesses as well as individuals. However, it only functions if the States are willing to comply with the common rules, as they have committed to under the EEA Agreement,” he said.

Norway’s two fellow EEA countries Iceland and Liechtenstein were the worst at following through on implementing directives.

Iceland has 16 directives that have not been not implemented on time, including one that is eight years overdue.

Following Norway at the top of the Internal Market Scoreboard were Malta and Denmark.

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