New rules after Tampa affair (Aftenposten)

The UN and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) have decided to introduce new rules for refugee boat people. The move follows pressure by Norway in the wake of the Tampa affair. The MS Tampa and Norway hit the headlines in August when a bitter dispute over the fate of a boat-load of Afghan refugees was played out in the waters off Christmas Island. According to the IMO there are "contradictions, gaps, vague terms and other weaknesses’ in the current rules. The apportionment of responsibilities between maritime and coastal nations will now be clarified.

Conservative majority want Progress Party to join coalition (Dagsavisen)

According to a recent opinion poll, a slight majority of Conservative voters say they would like the Progress Party to join the governing coalition. As many as nine out of ten Progress Party voters are convinced the party should be part of the Government. Christian Democrat voters reject Progress Party participation in the Government, but feel it is ‘alright’ to carry on at the mercy of Carl I. Hagen.

Public sector should grow, says Minister (NTB)

The public sector should be responsible for just as many services as it provides today, according to the Conservative Party’s modernization minister, Victor D. Norman. He says that the gradual elimination of the divide between private and public sector employees must be brought about if the modernization of central and local government services is to be successful. "Tearing down the wall between being employed in the private or public sector is a goal in itself. This divide will become less clear as the public sector gradually gains more independence. It must become more natural to switch between private and public sector jobs," said Mr Norman.

More speed expected from Foss (Dagsavisen 24.12)

Siv Jensen (Progress Party), chairman of the Storting’s Finance Committee, is hoping for new political signals from Finance Minister Per-Kristian Foss (Con) in the year ahead. "We must hope that the Bondevik government picks up speed. So far we have seen little renewal from that quarter compared to the Stoltenberg government’s policies," said Ms Jensen.

Foreign takeovers forecast (Dagens Næringsliv 24.12)

A number of Norwegian companies will be taken over by foreign investors next year, according to Dagens Næringsliv’s panel of experts. When the Government reduces its stake in such companies as Telenor, Den norske Bank and Norsk Hydro the shares will end up in foreign hands. But at the head of the list of potential takeover candidates are a number of smaller companies.

Long queues to change GP (Aftenposten 24.12)

Every month 30,000 people change their GP. Moving to a different local authority explains some of the changing, but many people want to switch GPs because they are unhappy with the doctor’s availability, long waiting times, as well as difficulties in obtaining emergency treatment. Health Minister Dagfinn Høybråten believes the fact people wish to change their GP could be a positive thing. "It shows the scheme is working," he said.

NOK 22 million in the Christmas collection plate (Vårt Land 24.12)

Christmas Eve is the big collection plate day in Norwegian churches. We give a total of NOK 22 million, 10 times more than normal. However, this is still chicken feed compared with the other things we spend our money on in December. Most of the collection plate donations go to pay for the activities of the charity, Norwegian Church Aid.

500 violations suspected by Oslo Stock Exchange (Aftenposten 22.12)

This year the Oslo Stock Exchange has sent 528 cases of suspected illegalities to the Banking, Insurance and Securities Commission – four times as many as last year. Two out of three cases concern alleged breaches of the insider trading rules, which require board members and senior managers of listed companies to notify the stock exchange when they buy and sell shares. One reason for the huge increase is that the stock exchange has improved its surveillance capability through partial automation.

Worth Noting

1. A number of researchers and organizations are critical of Norway’s performance as a member of the UN Security Council. We are too lily-livered, they complain. Norway’s image in the Middle East conflict has come under particular fire. (Dagsavisen)
2. "I have wondered whether Norway’s MPs understand the consequences of the EEA Agreement," said outgoing president of the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA), Knut Almestad. During his term of office the ESA has become one of the most powerful institutions in Norwegian public life. (Aftenposten)
3. A Norwegian survey of children who grow up with two women concludes that their lives are like those of most children. The fear of bullying and stigmatization of these children could therefore prove to be unfounded. (Aftenposten)
4. Norwegian men and women have less difficulty accepting immigrants as both family members and co-workers than homosexuals. (Dagbladet 23.12)
5. Norwegian motorists are increasingly aggressive behind the wheel. So far this year 95,000 motorists have been fined for speeding, while 5,500 have lost their driving licences. Young men who have recently passed their test and who have a fast car top the list of offenders. (Aftenposten 23.12)
6. The Government plans to liberalize the lottery law since many people and organizations have been refused permission to run a lottery. Christian schools and organizations have lost revenue following the introduction of the new law at the start of the year. Almost 5,000 organizations are planning to apply for permission to run a lottery next year. (Vårt Land)
7. Fear of terrorism has not led to packed churches this Christmas. Only one in three Norwegians will attend church services during the holiday season, according to a survey by Sentio/Norsk Statistikk. This is the same level as for previous years. (Nationen 24.12)
8. Never before has Norsk Kjøtt, the Norwegian meat cooperative, sold so much meat in the run-up to Christmas. Several shops ran out of the traditional Christmas pork ribs on Christmas Eve, and the warehouses were emptied of Christmas products. (Nationen)
9. Dagbladet’s jury was in no doubt. Finance Minister Per-Kristian Foss is Norway’s most powerful man. "Being given such a title makes me feel quite humble," said Mr Foss in response. (Dagbladet 24.12)

Today’s comment from Dagsavisen

‘Modernization Minister’ Victor D. Norman is difficult to place in a tight-fitting political box. And a good thing too, because too many MPs and ministers are completely predictable mouthpieces for various interest groups. As an economics professor Mr Norman was a powerful exponent of market liberalism in the Norwegian mixed economy, and a breath of fresh air in the public debate. The Minister believes that the public sector should be responsible for at least as many services as today. He refuses to accept the complaint of the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry (NHO) and others that we in Norway have an over-inflated public sector. In order to prove themselves as men of action to the Storting and the voters, Mr Norman’s predecessors succumbed to the temptation of resorting to simple measures and symbolism. But he believes it is important to take one’s time and be patient. The most visible evidence of modernization will not come in 2002, but in subsequent years. Before the 2005 election, at a guess.