The Speech from the Throne by His Majesty the King at the Opening of the 143rd Session of the Storting

Madam President, Representatives of the People,

I greet the Storting as it takes up its solemn responsibilities with the wish that the fulfilment of these duties will be of benefit to our country.

The Government is working to achieve a society characterized by sound values rooted in our national and Christian cultural heritage. A society characterized by solidarity and humanity is built on values such as attention to the needs of the weakest members, respect for the rights of the individual, and responsibility for fellow citizens, for the environment and for future generations.

The Government will invite all parliamentary groups to cooperate constructively on a case-by-case basis, an approach made necessary by the parliamentary situation.

The current turbulence in the international economy and the low price of oil have given rise to a special need for broad-based cooperation on economic policy. Our aim must be to maintain and stabilize a continual high level of employment. The pace of reform must be adapted to this. The Government will present a fiscal budget that involves a more stringent financial policy to help bring about lower interest rates. Tax increases are necessary in order to contribute to equitable distribution. Our monetary policy is designed to keep the value of the krone stable against other European currencies. Cooperation with the social partners will be continued so as to avoid a lasting rise in wages in Norway that is out of step with developments in other countries.

The Government is in favour of a broad, coordinated effort in relation to regional policy. Efforts to decentralize workplaces, capital and power will be continued.

In a separate report to the Storting, the Government will provide a thorough analysis of differences in income and living conditions in Norway. Measures will be proposed to bring about greater equality. The Government will present proposals for harmonizing tax on employment income and capital income.

Norwegian foreign and security policy is aimed at securing our freedom and independence, promoting international peace and justice and safeguarding human rights. A strong Norwegian defence is one of the cornerstones of the Government's security policy.

The Government will intensify its efforts to promote disarmament and arms control in relation to both conventional weapons and weapons of mass destruction, especially nuclear weapons. Efforts to frame international measures to combat hand weapons will be continued.

The Government will continue to develop transatlantic ties and intensify its efforts to promote greater security in Europe, not least through membership of NATO. Through its chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 1999, Norway will play an important role in crisis management in Europe, the Caucasus and central Asia.

The EEA Agreement forms the main basis for Norway's relations with the EU. The Government advocates an independent and active national assessment of the legislation deriving from the EEA Agreement.

The Government is currently negotiating with the EU to find a new solution for Norway's affiliation with the Schengen cooperation when the latter is incorporated into the EU.

The Government will continue its commitment to reform and strengthen the United Nations as the most important global instrument for the promotion of peace, human rights, environmental protection and international development.

The Government will work to achieve a more unified and effective policy towards the South that reflects our solidarity with that part of the world. This will involve making a more active effort to combat poverty through development cooperation, and to improve the conditions for the developing countries in the areas of debt, trade and the environment. Priority will be given to implementation of the Government's debt relief plan.

The sustainable use of natural resources will be the basic principle behind the management of Norwegian resources and our participation in international cooperation on management of the environment and natural resources. Sustainable development calls for the integration of environmental considerations into policy at both national and local level.

The danger of climate change is one of the most serious challenges facing the world today. The Government will therefore take active steps to implement the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change, both through national measures to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, and through further international negotiations.

In order to alleviate air pollution problems, there are plans to introduce concrete measures in Oslo and Bergen from the coming winter.

The Government will support the development of new renewable sources of energy, and will make efforts to limit the consumption of electricity. Oil and gas resources must be managed within a long-term perspective that emphasizes a responsible level of activity. We must ensure that our role as a major energy producer is compatible with our leading role in environmental issues.

To facilitate the establishment and operation of enterprises throughout the country, a plan of action for small enterprises will be introduced. One of the priorities of the plan will be to simplify the many regulations and extensive paperwork that companies are required to deal with. Companies are to be assured a supply of qualified manpower. Unemployed and occupationally disabled people are to be given the necessary training to participate in the working community.

The Government will work to bring about broad and balanced ownership in the private sector. The regional seed corn funds and support for project development will contribute to investment in private sector technology. The Government attaches great importance to private sector-oriented research and development, and gives priority to innovation and the development of expertise in small and medium-sized enterprises throughout the country.

In order to help secure jobs and maintain settlement patterns along the coast, the Government will encourage the profitable and balanced development of fisheries and aquaculture through market orientation and increased wealth creation based on sustainable management.

The Government will maintain an agricultural sector with an appropriate varied system of use based on sound management of the environment and natural resources. It will pursue an active forestry policy and a restrictive policy for the protection of agricultural land. Efforts to improve incomes and social welfare arrangements in the agricultural sector will continue. The economic basis for Sami reindeer husbandry is to be secured, for example, by adjusting the size of the reindeer herd to bring it in line with the grazing resources.

Development of transport and communications is an economic and regional instrument of great importance for the flow of traffic and for the environment in central regions. Priority will be given to efforts to improve traffic safety.

The Government will lay the groundwork for further development of the transport sector with an emphasis on utilizing the advantages of the various means of transport. Proper coordination between the different branches in the transport sector will result in environmentally sound, flexible and rational transport solutions.

The Government will renew and modernize the public administration. An efficient administration is to provide services of high quality, have regular contact with its users and give citizens access to information. Electronic information services and two-way communication facilitate users' access to public information. The Government will continue its efforts to ensure that Norway is equipped to handle computer problems associated with the year 2000.

The municipal and county authorities are to be enabled through their revenues to supply basic welfare services. The efforts to revitalize local democracy will be continued.

Children and young people are to be provided with a satisfactory environment in which to grow up. The Government will work to strengthen local NGOs, with particular emphasis on safeguarding the available facilities for children's and young people's activities in their local community.

Efforts to facilitate greater freedom of choice for parents of infants will be continued through the cash benefit scheme, coupled with the continued extension of day-care facilities. The aim is to provide day-care places for everyone who needs them by the year 2000.

The Government will conduct a thorough review of the Gender Equality Act. Women and men are to have equal opportunities to participate in working life, organizations and family life.

The Government will intensify efforts to prevent and combat crime by means of a visible, decentralized police force, improving efficiency in the administration of criminal justice, and improving the quality of the implementation of penalties.

Policy towards asylum-seekers and refugees has been made less stringent. This work will be continued. Special emphasis will be placed on children's needs. The Government will propose amendments to the Immigration Act in order inter alia to improve legal safeguards for foreign nationals.

The Government will give priority to efforts to combat racism and discrimination in order to ensure that everyone, regardless of their background, has an equal opportunity to take part in Norwegian society. Priority will be given to an active integration policy through instruction in the Norwegian language and job training.

In its future educational reforms, the Government will attach importance to cooperation with the social partners and the development of programmes tailored to adult needs in further education. The Government will work to intensify Norwegian research efforts in general, and to improve the conditions for long-term, basic research in particular.

In the course of the year, a new, revised information technology plan for the educational sector will be submitted. The Government will increase capacity in the training of teachers and health professionals and in the field of information technology by redistributing student places.

The Government will submit a proposal for new health legislation relating to patients' rights, health personnel, mental health services and specialized health services. A proposal for a new, more effective control system for establishing new medical positions will provide more physicians in outlying districts. Efforts to improve mental health services and the care of cancer patients and to procure necessary equipment will continue to be intensified in 1999. The Government will draw up a plan of action for the prevention of unwanted pregnancy and abortion.

Efforts to improve the care of the elderly will be continued, and a pilot project involving commissioners for the elderly and for care will be started in several municipalities.

The Government will support an active cultural sector and will facilitate amateur activities as well as professional cultural activities. The Government will work to ensure that the celebration of the new millennium will provide a lasting monument to culture and to our fundamental values.

The Government will attach particular importance to assisting groups that have special difficulties with the housing market.

The Sami parliament will be given more influence over the development of the Sami community in that it will be given greater freedom to decide its own priorities.

Church policy will provide a foundation whereby the Church of Norway as a religious community is given the freedom and resources to serve as an open, confessing, evangelizing and diaconal national church.

I pray that God will bless the deliberations of this Storting, and I hereby declare the 143rd session of the Norwegian Storting to be opened.

Given at the Royal Palace in Oslo on 25 September 1998.