Part 3/8:
Norway's pivotal moment came in the 1972 referendum, where a slim majority ultimately voted against joining the EU, an outcome that established an enduring divide within Norwegian politics. Following this, Norway joined the EEA in 1994—a move that surprisingly did not culminate in EU membership despite strengthening ties to the EU single market. Despite a narrow defeat in another referendum in 1994, popular support remained low alongside opposition from several political coalitions.