EN
In this paper we deal with a best approximation of a vector with respect to a closed semi-algebraic set C in the space ℝⁿ endowed with a semi-algebraic norm ν. Under additional assumptions on ν we prove semi-algebraicity of the set of points of unique approximation and other sets associated with the distance to C. For C irreducible algebraic we study the critical point correspondence and introduce the ν-distance degree, generalizing the notion developed by other authors for the Euclidean norm. We discuss separately the case of the $ℓ^p$ norm (p > 1).