SEFO needs beefing up (Dagsavisen)

The workload of the Special Police Investigation Commission (SEFO) in Oslo has become so heavy that its leaders are asking the Ministry of Justice to appoint additional bodies to investigate charges against the police. 252 cases were sent to the SEFO in Oslo for investigation last year. The number of cases they are handling is no greater, but individual cases are demanding much more work, according to SEFO spokesmen.

Socialists could block immigration proposal (Dagens Næringsliv)

The Socialist Left (SV) is prepared to oppose a Government proposal which would liberalize occupational immigration. If SV carries through on its threat, the Government’s proposal will not make it through the Storting. "I’ve got a message for Erna Solberg. She is absolutely right – the Socialist Left is all for more open borders. But for us to support her proposal, the Government will have to change its labour market policies substantially," says SV MP Karin Andersen.

Labour supports government gender equality bill (Verdens Gang)

Labour deputy chairman Jens Stoltenberg pledges full support for Trade and Industry Minister Ansgar Gabrielsen’s proposal to use the force of law to boost the number of women in business. "Labour is positive to the application of statutory measures. Business is one of the areas in which gender equality is lagging furthest behind," says Mr. Stoltenberg. A draft amendment sent out by the Stoltenberg Government for legislative consultations last July was very similar to Mr. Gabrielsen’s proposal.

Church commision proposes break (Aftenposten)

The Church of Norway’s own State/Church commission now proposes a far-reaching constitutional amendment that could spell the end of the 500-year relationship between the Church of Norway and the State. The commission’s proposal would remove a number of ecclesiastical provisions from Norway’s Constitution. Among other things, authority to appoint bishops would be transferred from the King in Council to an body of churchmen. A break between Church and State cannot take place before 2010, however.

New round of uncertainty for Norwegian agriculture (Dagsavisen)

Norwegian agricultural interests could be sacrificed in Norway’s efforts to obtain full access for fish exports to all EU countries. Neither Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik nor Foreign Minister Jan Petersen would rule out the possibility of a link between fishing and farming in the upcoming negotiations with the EU. In response to direct questions, they could not give Norwegian farmers any assurances yesterday.

Local authorities building in Spain (Aftenposten)

Norwegian municpalities are queuing up to build health and residential centres for the elderly in Spain. Many old folks would like to spend a few weeks in southern climes during the winter months, and there are many health personnel who would like to fly south with them. Central government should foot the bill, in the view of the municipal sector. The Norwegian State Housing Bank has already provided financing for 63 places costing a total of NOK 22 million, and applications for another 280 places are currently on the waiting list. "For now, the State Housing Bank cannot grant loans for any more projects. For that, our funding base is too small. These projects will not be given any priority within the framework of the action plan for geriatric care," says senior architect Eli Tufto of the Norwegian State Housing Bank.

Limited results of work for benefits programme (Vårt Land)

An arrangement whereby welfare recipients can work for certain types of benefits was introduced in 1993. However, a recent study – the first of its kind in Norway – indicates that it has not produced the intended results. It does not seem to have brought the recipients of these benefits any closer to the ordinary labour market. The author of the study would not characterize the programme as a failure, however.

Traffic pollution linked to cancer (Dagsavisen)

Heavy discharges of pollutants from motor vehicles and wood-burning stoves may cause 25 cases of lung cancer every year in Oslo. The risk of cancer is five times the level considered acceptable by the Norwegian health authorities. These figures were published in a recent report from the Norwegian Pollution Control Authority (SFT). "The level of these discharges must be brought down," says Per Schwarze of the National Institute of Public Health. By comparison, in all of Norway, 50 persons die each year of cancer linked to passive smoking.

Confederation of labour planning new conflict measures (Dagsavisen)

The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) is working out ways to give strikes a much greater impact on employers than they do at present. One measure is to take workers in other labour federations and unions out on sympathy strikes. Moreover, the LO will not hesitate to file a complaint with the ILO if the Government orders compulsory arbitration on repeated occasions.

Worth noting

• The Bondevik Government would do well to put the EU membership issue aside, says Socialist Left party leader Kristin Halvorsen in a comment on the Government’s European policy. (Dagsavisen)
• The Labour Party’s national executive committee spent five hours yesterday discussing political and organizational tactics for pulling the party out of its crisis. But party leaders gave no indications as to who they will choose to lead the selection committee or who should be the party’s deputy leaders. (Aftenposten)
• There is no reason why Norway should offer the EU lower duties on farm products in order to keep intact the free trade arrangements on fish with the EU’s applicant countries. In the view of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions and the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry, higher duties would be a violation of the WHO agreement. (Nationen)
• Minister if Education Kristin Clemet suggests courses in leadership for school principals as one course of action in the effort to improve the schools. But only 6 of the 19 ministers in the Bondevik Government have any kind of formal leadership training. (Dagsavisen)
• Minister of Trade and Industry Ansgar Gabrielsen’s gender-quota proposal for corporate boardrooms has received a cool reception in the business community and in his own party. (Dagens Næringsliv)
• The Rema 1000 supermarket chain is distributing NOK 30 million in bonuses to its employees after setting new records in 2001. Last year’s sales volume was the highest in Rema 1000’s history, producing overall profits of between NOK 350 and 400 million. (Verdens Gang)
• Norway has passed up an offer to replace its fleet of worn-out Hercules aircraft with new American cargo planes. This could cost us dear – as much as a billion kroner. (Aftenposten)
• The biggest Norwegian victory in Salt Lake City was was not in the biathlon nor any alpine events. No, indeed. The big winner was Dale, a Norwegian manufacturer of wool knitwear which won contracts worth NOK 150 million.

Today's comment (Aftenposten)

In the wake of the Salt Lake Winter Olympics, it is now possible to put top athletes into one of two categories – those who realize that deliberate, hazardous infractions must be penalized, and those who just don’t get it. The scandals that have flourished at this year’s Winter Games are a disaster for recruitment to sports. If the fight against doping is not successful, the cloud of suspicion will also shadow winning athletes who turn in top performances by fair and honest means. The only way to deal with the situation is to keep up the pressure. Sooner or later, even numbskulls should eventually get the message that the Olympic drug experts are one step ahead of the cheaters and that the risk of being caught is so great that honesty really is the best policy. Ideally, ethics alone should be enough, but apparently this is too much to ask of people who think the most important thing is to win.