A Service of Leibniz-Informationszentrum econstor Wirtschaft Leibniz Information Centre Make Your Publications Visible. zbw for Economics Lange, Gunnar Article — Digitized Version Nordic integration at the cross-road Intereconomics Suggested Citation: Lange, Gunnar (1969) : Nordic integration at the cross-road, Intereconomics, ISSN 0020-5346, Verlag Weltarchiv, Hamburg, Vol. 04, Iss. 10, pp. 306-309, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02926278 This Version is available at: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/138262 Standard-Nutzungsbedingungen: Terms of use: Die Dokumente auf EconStor dürfen zu eigenen wissenschaftlichen Documents in EconStor may be saved and copied for your Zwecken und zum Privatgebrauch gespeichert und kopiert werden. personal and scholarly purposes. 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Pros and cons are subsequently reviewed by Denmark, Sweden and Norway. More Intra-Nordic Trade within a Customs Union Interview with Gunnar Lange, Swedish Minister of Commerce, Stockholm QUESTION: Mr Lange, dur- the organisations and institu- had, first before EFTA and then ing July of this year there has tions of our country. We will within the framework of EFTA, we been another meeting of the first have a discussion in the have never been more coordinat- countries engaged in the crea- open, in order to have a better ed in our views than we are now. tion of a Nordic Economic basis for the statement of our I would say that there is a Union. Here again, as in the own position. majority for a Nordic Economic past, the difference of opinions Union in each country. Majority for Economic Union of Denmark, Norway, Sweden QUESTION: The membership and Finland became clear. How QUESTION: Do you think that of Finland in the Nordic Eco- do you judge the possibilities the political will to create a nomic Union represents a prob- for arriving at a common de- Nordic Economic Union actually lem, due to its close links to nominator in the question of exists in all countries that are the USSR. And Iceland would Nordic integration? participating in the talks? need special concessions be- ANSWER: I think that we have cause of its economic structure. to realise that in many respects ANSWER: Yes, in all coun- Do you believe that the Nordic the work in the Committee of tries! But this doesn't mean that Economic Union will have a Nordic Officials has been very the opinion in each country is positive effect on Finland and successful. There are very unanimous. There are those who Iceland? few-although, I admit, impor- are critical with regard to a ANSWER: First of all, Finland tant-points outstanding that will Nordic Economic Union in has seriously agreed to ne- have to be sortened out. The Sweden. And I am aware of the gotiate a closer economic co- Swedish Government as such has fact that there is more of a operation in the North. I don't not yet taken a position on the hesitancy in Denmark and in think it would have done so, draft treaty presented by the certain quarters of Norway. But unless its government realises Commission. We want to hear in the long cooperation we have that this collaboration offers op- 306 INTERECONOMICS, No. 10, 1969 portunities for this country it ANSWER: Well, this is a ques- competitive in some fields. Cer- otherwise would not get. tion of how fast we can move. tainly the fears that Swedish in- With respect to Iceland, we The Customs Union cannot en- dustrial strength could slow shall have to observe that it ter into effect before 1972, I down the economic develop- has not indicated its definite in- would say. But then in many ment in our neighbour countries terest in joining a Nordic Eco- items there is no need for a have been unfounded. temporary arrangement after nomic Union within EFTA, but QUESTION: An argument only its readiness to enter 1972. There we can take the step at that date as the differ- brought forward to substantiate EFTA. But already EFTA would the Customs Union is the thesis bring to Iceland some benefits, ences in tariffs are rather in- significant. In some fields, as that a harmonisation of tariffs if special provisions are agreed to the level of EL(3 tariffs would upon, particularly in the fishing for example iron and steel, and chemicals, we will have to dis- strengthen the position of the sector. cuss transitional arrangements. Nordic countries when mem- bership to the EEC becomes Expanded Intra-Nordlc Trade I admit that our interests are not exactly the same here, since relevant. But wouldn't the Cus- QUESTION: The creation of some of us would like to have toms Union bring forward a spe- EFTA increased the trade re- a rather short transitional period, cialisation within Scandinavia lations between the Scandina- while others would like to see that would perhaps make it even vian countries considerably. it prolonged. However, what more difficult for the four coun- Would you say that a Customs we on the Swedish side are op- tries to join the EEC? Union would again expand in- posed to is an indefinite post- ANSWER: I don't agree with tra-Nordic trade substantially? ponement of the date at which this. As a matter of fact, I think the Customs Union will cover ANSWER: I think it's very dif- that both we, if we succeed in the whole trade field of in- ficult to say anything definite creating a Customs Union, and dustrial products. We want the on this. The intra-Nordic trade the EEC stand to benefit from final date agreed upon now. trend is still moving upwards. it. It must be in the in- But, of course, the speed could terest of the EEC to have Fears of Over-saturation be higher within a Customs strong trade partners. And Scan- Unfounded Union. Then businessmen could dinavia stands stronger if it take closer cooperation into ac- QUESTION: If the Nordic Eco- stands together. But economic count, when drawing up their nomic Union comes into effect, integration is not limited to plans-investment plans, plans it will comprise a market of trade alone; it also comprises for economic cooperation, joint about 22 mn consumers. Is there cooperation in production and venture plans, and so on. a danger for the remaining many other sectors. Therefore I QUESTION: Sweden would countries of an over-saturation think a Customs Union in Scan- like the establishment of a with industrial products made dinavia must be as much in the Customs Union by the end of in Sweden? interest of the EEC as in our 1972. Denmark, on the other interest, if the EEC wants to ANSWER: That was partly hand, proposes a far longer extend its cooperation in one feared before EFTA was creat- transitional period, while Norway form or another to other coun- ed. Today everyone admits in is inclined towards a compro- tries now remaining outside of it. mise. Why have you proposed Denmark, Norway as well as in that the Customs Union should Finland that this has not been QUESTION: Denmark has stat- come into effect by 1972? the case. They have been very ed that it will join the Cus- established 187g CARL TIEDEMANN CONTAINER-LEASING-SERVICE. STEVEDORES HAMBURG 11 . RiCiDINGSMARKT 20 TELEGRAMS= "FAIRPLAY" HAMBUR6 TEL.: 361441 TELEX= 212 524 INTERECONOMICS, No. 10, 1969 307 toms Union if at the same time Therefore our contribution to rather mature economically to a solution is found in the agrar- the costs must remain within take part in an endeavour of ian sector. Sweden has always realistic realms. far reaching cooperation in the tried to separate these two economic field, as represented fields very clearly. Why is Swe- Cooperation in Other Fields by the EEC. The only require- den against a Common Agrar- ment that we mean must neces- ian Market? QUESTION: The establishment sarily be fulfilled is that we will of an atomic syndicate and under no condition deviate from ANSWER: This question closer research cooperation our neutrality policy, as it has should be qualified slightly dif- within the Scandinavian coun- been defined and applied. If ferent, if I may say so. The tries has been discussed. What this is possible then the ques- Danes themselves realise that concrete plans have been drawn tion of the form of cooperation the solution to their agricultural up in this respect? becomes of secondary impor- problems cannot be found with- tance. And this is not only the in a Nordic Economic Union. ANSWER: This question aims position of the present Swedish They have lost markets in the at a field which is not directly Government, it is also the posi- EEC, and we cannot provide a my responsibility. All I can say tion of all political parties re- substitute for that in the North. to this is that we are still work- presented in parliament, with That the Danes realistically un- ing on these plans.