What EU regulations mean for your business

Norway is part of the EEA (European Economic Area). This means that Norwegian businesses participate in the EU's internal market, where goods, capital, services and people can move freely, on equal terms with their European counterparts. To ensure a level playing field for Norwegian and European businesses, Norway incorporates much of the EU's legislation into Norwegian law, even though it is not an EU member. When the EU develops new legislation, it therefore affects Norwegian companies' opportunities to innovate, scale up and export.

New requirements also create new needs, giving businesses and entrepreneurs opportunities to develop solutions and bring them to market. This thinking underpins much of EU policy. For example, charges on greenhouse gas emissions through the EU Emissions Trading System can increase demand for green technologies that help public- and private-sector organisations cut emissions.

In other words, understanding EU regulations can give your company an advantage if you identify early how your business needs to adapt and what new needs the regulations create. It is also a clear advantage to understand the goals and challenges shaping the EU's political priorities.