Norway passes EU services directive

OSLO – Norway’s parliament has passed the EU’s services directive despite two of the three parties in the coalition government voting against the new law that opens up for cross-border competition in the services industry.

The oil-rich nation of about 4.8 million people has chosen to remain outside the European bloc but routinely adopts its directives and rules through the European Economic Agree agreement.

Junior coalition members — the Socialist Left and the Center Party — oppose the EU and the directive. Labor is the dominant party in the coalition and got the law passed Thursday with opposition support.

EU-wide rules opening up the services sector go into force this year. The sector accounts for two-thirds of the bloc’s economic output.

Source: Cnbc.com