OLE GUNNAR AUSTVIK

This book analyzes how Norway¿s integration with the European Union has contributed to change the Norwegian state¿s oil and natural gas entrepreneurship from the 1990s. The point of departure is that the Norwegian state was engaged in her petroleum industry from the 1970s as producer, regulator, law-maker and political and economic risk-taker. As a political entrepreneur the state could define social goals for activities and use regulative, legal and political measures to reach goals that private entrepreneurs do not have at their disposal. The European Economic Area (EEA) agreement challenged and changed the way the Norwegian state could continue the control and innovation of her comprehensive petroleum model. Norway adapted eventually de jure to EU directives and competition law. At the same time she gave their contents and interpretations a de facto Norwegian flavor. The analysis sheds some light on European integration and variations in regulatory reform, and should be useful to people in academia, governments and regulatory authorities, professionals in the energy industry, as well as the general public.