Sounds a little like Norway is getting bullied, fearing the loss of the EEA privileges if they negotiate with the UK. Perhaps they just made that fear up out of some sort of paranoia and nobody in the EU whispered in their ears, but that's telling too, isn't it?
That’s what I said myself. If the EEA members are acting this way, they truly have lost their sovereignty just as full EU members have.
So what we have here is a total lack of respect by the UK on formal agreements because it is not allowed for them to negotiate a trade deal while still in the UK.
While Norway shows they are much more responsible and civilized. Not everyone cares to live like an uncultured barbarian. Which when you look at the history of Europe, explains why there is an E U.