I am a Norwegian. Norway is a part of EFTA, but not the EU.
I am currently pro EU, but also fairly pro socialism, or at the very least pro social democracy.
I want Norway to have the security guarantees the EU offers, I want the same currency, I want Norway to be able to participate in changing EU, not just accepting something Brussels have decided without our participation (EFTA). And several other reasons.
We can currently veto implementing some decisions, but not too many.
If Norway joins the EU will it make it harder for Norway to transition to socialism/maintain social democracy?
The EU was designed from the start to be a liberal market for the US in Europe. The trim has changed over the years, but the foundation has not. For a country like Norway, joining the EU would be a terrible decision as it would put us in a similar position as France and Germany without any real control over domestic fiscal policy. Joining the Euro would see us lose control over monetary policy.
If this just meant our democratic voice being added to European democracy, that would be one thing. But that is not the case. The EU lacks democracy in the same way the moon lacks oxygen; it would be foolish to think it ought to be there to begin with. In the words of former German fonance minister Wolfgang Schäuble, ‘elections cannot be allowed to change economic policy’.