Erna Solberg said there would be both disadvantages and advantages if the U.K. were to join the EEA | Ben Gerdziunas for POLITICO Norwegian PM to UK: Why would you want our EU deal? ‘It’s quite frustrating to find the way through and find solutions’ for Brexit, the prime minister added.

The prime minister of Norway asked why the U.K. would want a relationship with the EU that's similar to the one her country has with the bloc.

Supporters of a soft Brexit often cite a version of the "Norway model" — with close regulatory alignment with Brussels and membership of the single market — as a less economically damaging route out of the EU.

But during a POLITICO interview in Brussels Tuesday, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg pointed out that it would mean Britain continuing to abide by the four EU freedoms, including freedom of movement, as well as having no decision-making power in Brussels. "Then I should just ask why … should you leave the EU if you’re accepting that?" she said.

Next week, British MPs will vote on an amendment to the government's flagship EU (Withdrawal) Bill that advocates remaining in the European Economic Area after Brexit alongside Norway.

The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, says frictionless trade between the EU and U.K. is only possible through the “Norway plus” model, where Britain would be able to stay in the single market, but would have to accept free movement of people, EU laws and jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice — all red lines for the British government.

"We do agree with the EU that you cannot be cherry-picking" — Norwegian PM Erna Solberg

Solberg said there would be both disadvantages and advantages if the U.K. were to join the EEA, which also includes Iceland and Liechtenstein.

“Now we are more like-minded,” she said. “Britain has a different economy, of course there will be some disadvantages to that.”

She also doubts that Norway and the U.K. share similar self images.

“We believe we have the best system in the world, but we know we are small and that big countries decide,” she said. “That might be a little bit more difficult for a larger country.”

If the U.K. does opt to join Norway, she said the group's members would "always find a good way of solving this," even though it would entail some disadvantages for Norway.

“The EEA is the only organization in which Norway is a super power. Losing that is of course of [big] importance — then Britain becomes a super power in that organization,” she joked.

However, she warned that Britain will lose trade “bargaining power” outside the EU and will be less “challenging” with its trade partners.

Solberg said there is a "problem with referendums" for solving the EU membership question because voters engage with the question on an emotional level rather than making an assessment based on economic pros and cons. Norway has had two votes on EU membership, opting both times to stay outside.

"We have lost twice. We accept that," said Solberg, whose Conservative Party is in favor of being inside the bloc. Solberg has been Norway's prime minister since 2013.

But she said it is nonetheless vital to respect the result. "Respect for the political system is also to understand that if you ask for the advice you have to follow it when you get it," she said.

On the type of deal that Britain can expect from Brussels, Solberg said the government would not be able to pick and choose which parts of EU membership would suit it best, adding that the process of Brexit is "frustrating."

Solberg warned just days before the Brexit referendum in 2016 that the U.K. would not be happy in a model such as Norway's.

"We do agree with the EU that you cannot be cherry-picking," Solberg said. "Norway is outside [the EU], but we are inside the single market ... We do accept that decisions on the four freedoms are done in Brussels."

"You can’t just opt out of one of the freedoms," she added.

Norway is not an EU member but receives access to most of the bloc’s internal market through membership of the EEA. That means goods, services and labor flow freely between Norway and the EU. In return, however, Norway has to adopt a large number of EU laws without having a formal say in how they are shaped.

Solberg warned just days before the Brexit referendum in 2016 that the U.K. would not be happy in a model such as Norway's.

Ongoing Brexit negotiations between the U.K. and the EU will also affect the two sides' relations with the EEA members. Solberg said "we really feel that so far we've been heard" as regards being informed about the process, but added that once the Brexit process accelerates "it will become more difficult to be heard."

"Isn’t the Brexit situation frustrating for all participants?" she said. "It's quite frustrating to find the way through and find solutions."