b'an EFTA member, Norway has the right toensuring that the EU takes Norways interests advise EU countries on how it would vote,into account. These demonstrate tangible if it had the vote, on proposed EEAinfluence upon EU regulations separate from regulations. This right ensures that Norwaydirect voting. In the highly unlikely event has the ability to influence new regulations;that the Norwegian people voted for Norway technically, Norway also has the right notto become a member of the EU, Norways to implement EU regulations. Articles of thevote in the Council of Ministers would be EEA Agreement explain the procedures foronly some 2% (see table below). In terms of the EU and EFTA working together. Theseinfluence, what Norway has in the hand is articles mean that Norway can influencemore effective for Norway than a mere 2% of EU regulations by prompting debate and sothe weighted vote in the Council of Ministers.Table 40 Influence: EFTA members in the EU, assumed QMV vote in the Council of Ministers Comparably sized EUNumber of votes in Council ofPercentage of Countrymember (by population)Ministers (of 353 total votes)vote in CouncilNorwaySlovakia72.0%SwitzerlandAustria102.9%IcelandMalta30.9%Source: The Council of the European Union and CIA WorldFactbookThe number of EU regulations that NorwayNorway still has tariff-free access to the EU adopts is fewer than the number ofmarketand this without its farmers and regulations adopted by the UK as an EUfishermen being subject to the EUs member: over the period 2016-2018, a totalCommon Agricultural or Common Fisheries of 1,352 acts were incorporated into the EEApolicies. Furthermore, unlike the financial Agreement, while over the same period, thecontributionsof EU member stateswhich EU adopted 6,075 directives, regulations,go directly to the Commission to be used and other legal instruments.37 38 39only as the Commission sees fitNorwayretains significant control over how its The free trade agreements that EFTAcontribution to EU regional policy is spent. negotiates are signed by Norway and all other EFTA members individually. CompareNorway does make financial contributionto this with the EU, whose Trade Commissionerthe EU; 447 million annually according to negotiates trade arrangements on behalf ofone measure.41 (Compare this with all 27 EU countries. Furthermore, Norway canProfessor Tim Congdons table depicting import goods from other countries under itsthe costs of EU membership for the UK). own tariff regime as it wishes.40 Norway is notThis is often presented as a payment for obliged to apply the EUs Common Externalaccess to the EU Single Market. However, Tariff.Norways ambassador to the EU stated to the European Parliaments INTA Committee (5 November 2014):78'