The Speech from the Throne by His Majesty the King on the Occasion of the Opening of the 144th 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’s aim is to develop a society firmly based on ethical values that are anchored in our national, Christian cultural heritage. At the threshold of the new millennium, our first priority is to preserve live-sustaining ecological systems on our planet and promote peace and human rights and a more equitable distribution of income and resources between the peoples of the world.

The Government’s aim is an innovative Norway where people show solidarity and feel greater security.

An innovative Norway should promote a high degree of wealth creation and social welfare and lay the groundwork for universal employment. Our monetary policy is designed to keep the value of the krone stable against other European currencies. The government budget for 2000 will contribute to balanced growth in the Norwegian economy with further reduction in Norwegian interest rates.

In order to maintain and develop internationally exposed sectors, wage growth in Norway must not exceed the level prevailing among our trading partners. The Government will give priority to further intensifying cooperation with the social partners in order to maintain the high level of employment.

The Government will propose changes in the taxation of dwellings and the value-added tax system, and will consider other changes in the tax system with a view to ensuring a more effective system of taxation and social cohesion.

The Government will actively promote Norwegian interests vis-à-vis the European Union on the basis of our cooperation arrangements with the EU and ongoing developments in European cooperation. The Government will actively and on an independent basis assess new legislation before deciding whether to incorporate it into the EEA Agreement.

Norway will play a catalytic role in efforts to meet global environmental challenges. Sustainable development calls for the integration of environmental considerations into policy at both national and local level. The Government will encourage a more environmentally sound use of resources by means of a shift towards more green taxes. The general public will be given more information about the environmental impact of products than is the case today.

The Government will submit a report to the Storting this autumn on environmental policy and the state of the environment in Norway. The Government will support the development of new, renewable energy sources, and will seek to limit the growth in electricity consumption.

The oil and gas sector is undergoing major structural changes, and Norway will continue to take a long-term approach to the management of petroleum resources. The Government will ensure the effective organization of the country’s oil and gas resources and a sound management system and will review the competitive position of the Norwegian petroleum industry.

Through the programme to reform the public administration, the Government will seek to simplify legislation in all sectors and to develop user-friendly services for the business sector, the municipalities and the average citizen.

The Government will ensure stable and internationally competitive conditions for the business sector. The Government’s aim is balanced, long-term ownership.

The Government will intensify regional policy efforts in order to reverse migration flows to urban areas. A competitive business sector based on a high level of expertise and which utilizes the advantages offered by the local community will be encouraged.

An innovative Norway needs to give more priority to research. Public sector efforts will be intensified partly through the return on a research and development fund. Special measures to stimulate research and development in the business sector will be considered.

The Government is seeking to promote the sustainable and coherent management of marine resources. Marine research is a priority area. A suitable framework will be provided for a more market-oriented fishery industry and for the modernization of a fishing fleet whose capacity corresponds to available resources.

In order to maintain a viable agricultural sector and the production of high quality food, the Government emphasizes the importance of the sustainable use of resources and of ensuring that incomes and social welfare arrangements in this sector are in keeping with those of the rest of society. The economic basis for Sami reindeer husbandry will be secured, for example by adjusting the number of reindeer to the available grazing resources.

The construction and modernization of transport arteries and transport facilities is an economic and regional policy instrument of great importance for the flow of traffic and for the environment in central regions. The Government will submit a national transport plan in which the various modes of transport are for the first time viewed in relation to each other.

The entire country shall be ensured access to basic telecommunication services of high quality and at the lowest possible price. Competition in the telecommunications sector will contribute to this.

The Government will seek to ensure equal educational opportunities for all and will intensify efforts to improve the quality of Norwegian education. More priority will be given to research and development in the field of primary and lower secondary education, with special emphasis on the latter, and in upper secondary education. Priority will be given to information and communication technology, competence building and a new role for teachers.

In higher education, the capacity in the various disciplines will be adjusted so as to meet our society’s need for manpower with these qualifications. At the same time the Government will seek to ensure that as many applicants to educational institutions as possible are admitted to a programme of their choice. Universities and colleges will be given the necessary freedom to meet expectations and demands.

A plan of action for continuing and further education will be completed in consultation with the social partners. A system for documenting and recognizing adults’ non-formal learning will be developed. Support schemes where enterprises and educational institutions cooperate on developing programmes tailored to the needs of adult employees will be introduced.

Information technology will be utilized to promote an open, accessible and effective public administration. The general public, the business sector and the public administration will have access to information and services through public information services on the Internet.

The Government will submit a proposal for a general revision of the Gender Equality Act and wishes to expand the rules on the equal representation of both sexes on boards, councils and committees.

A Norway characterized by solidarity entails a commitment to more equitable distribution, justice and human rights – both here in Norway and internationally. The Government will intensify its efforts to promote more equal living standards.

The aim of Norwegian foreign and security policy is to secure our freedom and independence, safeguard Norwegian interests and promote peace and democracy all over the world. The Government attaches great importance to strengthening the United Nations and will support UN efforts to promote international peace and development.

Norway will participate actively in the forthcoming WTO negotiations. Poor countries must also be enabled to take advantage of the opportunities provided by a more open world economy.

The Government supports the efforts to enhance the European capability for crisis management and is seeking to safeguard and further develop our close transatlantic ties, not least through our cooperation in NATO.

We give priority to further developing our cooperation with Russia, both at the bilateral level and through regional cooperation arrangements and international organizations. Norway will participate actively in the leadership troika of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

We will continue our humanitarian and political commitment to peace and reconstruction in the Balkans, for example through our participation in the peacekeeping force in Kosovo.

The Government is intensifying efforts to combat poverty and to improve the coordination of development cooperation internationally. We will increase our support for democratic development and the fight against corruption.

A refugee policy characterized by solidarity will ensure that people fleeing their country are given protection. The Government will seek to combat racism and discrimination. An independent board will be established to serve as an appeals instance in matters falling under the Immigration Act.

The Government will take steps to improve the living conditions of the disabled and introduce measures that promote the goal of full participation in society and equal status for the disabled.

The Government will review Norway’s obligations vis-à-vis national minorities and consider how to ensure that these groups are given an equal opportunity to participate in society and to preserve their language and culture. The Sami parliament will be given more influence in matters in which the Sami population has a special interest.

Rapid changes and signs of social disintegration call for a more secure Norway.

A strong Norwegian defence with the capability to contribute to international peacekeeping operations is one of the cornerstones of the Government's security policy. The procurement of new frigates and combat aircraft will help Norway to maintain a credible defence.

The Government will intensify efforts to prevent and combat organized crime, violent crime and economic crime. The establishment of a separate directorate for the police will be proposed. The Government will take steps to speed up the administration of justice.

The necessary measures will be taken to prevent computer problems in connection with the transition to the year 2000.

The municipal and county authorities are to be ensured sufficient revenues to supply basic social services. The municipalities will be given greater autonomy. The Government will encourage closer intermunicipal cooperation in preference to mergers between municipalities.

A proposal to extend family allowance to cover children up to the age of 18 will be submitted. The Government gives high priority to the continued expansion of day-care facilities, and will submit a report to the Storting outlining strategies for providing day-care places for everyone who needs them and for continuing to improve the quality of day-care facilities. A proposal to introduce an independent right to a parental grant for fathers will be presented.

The Government will intensify efforts to ensure public access to the shoreline. Higher priority will be given to financing reasonably priced housing through the State Housing Bank, and procedures for dealing with building applications will be simplified.

The Government will provide a framework for an active cultural sector based on individual participation. The Government will work to strengthen local voluntary organizations, with particular emphasis on ensuring the availability of facilities for children's and young people's activities in their local community.

The efforts to improve mental health services and the care of cancer patients and to procure necessary hospital equipment will be followed up, as will the plan of action for the elderly, so that the goals set by the Storting can be reached. A bill providing for greater independence for hospitals will be put forward. The Government will take the initiative for a broad debate on the ethical values underlying the health and care services.

All immigrants are to be assured an opportunity to receive instruction in Norwegian and job training. Particular attention will be paid to the situation of immigrant women.

The Church of Norway will be given the freedom and resources to serve as a confessing, evangelizing and diaconal national church. Other religious communities will be provided with favourable working conditions.

I pray that God will bless the deliberations of this Storting, and I hereby declare the 144th session of the Norwegian Storting to be opened.

Given at the Royal Palace in Oslo on 24 September 1999.