Norway and the development of a common European security and defence policy

This article explores the avenues open to Norway for securing its interests outside the European Union (EU). Since the 1994 referendum in which Norway , for a second time, rejected membership in the EU, the country has had to manage its national interests using roundabout methods. This has been evide nt, particularly in the development of a "Common European Security- and Def ence Policy" (CESDP), an initiative that has received increased attention b ecause of events in the former Yugoslavia and the end of the Cold War. The development of a CESDP has given cause for concern in the Norwegian Parliam ent over the possibility of maintaining the central position in its relatio nship with the EU. To avoid marginalisation in the future European defence policy, the country has contributed to the Military Rapid Reaction Force (M RRF). The establishment of MRRF does not in itself constitute a common defe nce, but is meant to manage humanitarian and rescue missions, peacekeeping missions and combat force tasks in crisis management. However, even though its contribution will be among one of the largest, it does not secure, in i tself, a great Norwegian influence on the CESDP.