Norwegian Postal Administration seeks European partners (Aftenposten)

The Norwegian Postal Administration is currently holding talks with more than one of the four largest mail companies in Europe with a view to forming an alliance. Europe’s mail companies are gearing up for the complete liberalization of the postal market. The EU has decided that in the period 2003 to 2009 the sector will be gradually opened up to competition. Among the preparations currently underway are acquisitions and alliance-building. The Norwegian Postal Administration has confirmed that it is having discussions with one or more of the four largest players in Europe, but declined to say when it expects the talks to reach a conclusion. However, it is clear that any collaboration will not include parcel post. An alliance with one of the four major mail companies will give the Norwegian Postal Administration access to an international distribution network, which in turn could lead to faster and cheaper services – though primarily for the Administration’s larger customers.

2,000 jobs disappearing each month (Nationen)

The strength of the Norwegian krone has led to the loss of almost 2,000 jobs per month in the export industry – with outlying communities hardest hit. The value of the Norwegian krone has appreciated by over 10 per cent since the euro was launched in 1999. This costs Norwegian industry NOK 11 billion a year. And the impact is now being felt. The number of bankruptcies in the first half of this year was 14 per cent higher than last year. And many companies fear that they will have to temporarily lay off staff or shut up shop completely by the end of the year. The chief executive of the Federation of Norwegian Engineering Industries says that this trend is something the politicians have wanted. A large and growing public sector ensures that the Norwegian economy is under pressure. Analyses conducted by Statistics Norway show that in 15 years’ time 10,000-20,000 industrial workers will have made the transition to the service sector.

Ready for battle over tomorrow’s pensioners (Klassekampen)

Just as the Pensions Commission prepares to hand its first report to the Government, Anders Folkestad of the Confederation of Higher Education Unions, Norway (UHO) has called for those opposed to the privatization of the National Insurance Scheme to join forces. "The union movement must mobilize to influence the choice of direction which will soon be made," said Mr Folkestad. "The financial experts could get a bloody nose. I believe people want the security provided by the state rather than the risk inherent in the stock market," he said. According to Labour leader Jens Stoltenberg, the question of pensions reform is the most important issue to be dealt with by the Storting during the present parliamentary term. The Government has now asked for a status report from the Commission, which is headed by Sigbjørn Johnsen. Its conclusions will have an impact on the work to develop a proposal for next year’s national budget.

Norway’s coastal communities could be devastated (Dagbladet)

The Socialist Left Party has asked the Attorney General to investigate whether Fisheries Minister Svein Ludvigsen’s fisheries policy is in breach of the guidelines laid down by the Storting. Mr Ludvigsen is proposing to introduce a scheme of government grants to encourage owners of fishing boats smaller than 28 metres to sell their vessels for scrap and get out of the fishing industry. He also wants to permit the trading of fishing quotas. "Mr Ludvigsen’s fisheries policy will result in the cannibalization of the industry. If he succeeds in what he has set out to do it will devastate coastal communities, lead to the depopulation of outlying districts and result in the depletion of fish stocks which are already under severe pressure," said Øystein Djupedal, deputy leader of the Socialist Left Party. The Storting has declared that Norway shall pursue a sustainable fisheries policy, which shall ensure the continued population of coastal communities. The industry shall operate profitably and provide employment in outlying areas.

Minister dismisses prospect of lower alcohol taxes (Aftenposten)

Agriculture Minister Lars Sponheim says that lowering Norwegian taxes and customs duties on alcoholic beverages and tobacco to reduce the amount of goods being brought in from Sweden is out of the question. Each year Norwegians spend more than NOK 10 billion in Sweden where the price of tobacco and cigarettes is half that in Norway. Taxes on wine and spirits in Sweden are falling steadily due to pressure from the EU, which is also pushing for the abolishment of Sweden’s state-owned retail monopoly on wine and spirits, Systembolaget. Mr Sponheim has promised that this pressure will have no effect on Norwegian policy with regard to taxes and customs duties. "It is not the policy of this Government to make any changes in taxes and duties on alcohol," Mr Sponheim told Aftenposten.

Jagland: Labour will be the leading left-wing party (Dagsavisen)

The Labour Party’s executive committee yesterday gave its support to the leadership’s policy of collaboration with other political parties. "There was complete agreement on the line which has been chosen. I think it is important for us to make a clear, unambiguous stand confirming the Labour Party’s position on the left in Norwegian politics," said outgoing party leader Thorbjørn Jagland. In keeping with his successor Jens Stoltenberg, Mr Jagland believes it is important to establish a broader alliance. The executive committee meeting marked the end of the political holidays, but Mr Jagland underlined that the Labour Party is not seeking office at this time. "The Christian Democrats have made their choice. It is not our objective to topple the Government during this parliamentary term. We aim to build up an alternative," he said.

Valgerd faces difficult clerical choice (Vårt Land)

Local vicar and writer Per Arne Dahl is the winner of the first round of voting for the position of Bishop of Tunsberg. But close on his heels follows another Dahl, the Reverend Laila Riksaasen Dahl. No woman has previously received such strong support in an election for bishop as Ms Risaasen Dahl, who comes from Romerike. The Government will in all likelihood appoint a Dahl to succeed Sigurd Osberg as Bishop of Tunsberg. The question is whether it will be a woman or a man with this surname. Church Affairs Minister Valgerd Svarstad Haugland has indicated strongly that she would like to appoint a woman as bishop if she had the chance.

Worth Noting

• The Christian Democrats have made the biggest gains according to MMI’s August opinion poll. After dropping more than three percentage points on MMI’s poll from December to January, and continuing to fall steadily ever since, today’s 2.1 point jump has been met with broad smiles. The party now has the backing of 10.6 per cent of the electorate.
  (Dagbladet)
• The Labour Party has suddenly surged ahead of the Progress Party, and is once again the country’s largest party. The embattled Labour Party scores 25.5 per cent on Norsk Gallup’s August poll for VG and TV2. The Progress Party has the support of 22.5 per cent of the electorate.
  (Verdens Gang)
• A majority of the Centre Party’s branch chairmen are in favour of Labour leader Jens Stoltenberg’s plans for a red-green coalition government. They are therefore at odds with Centre Party deputy leader Aslaug Haga, who has warned against including the Socialist Left Party in such a coalition. Most of the branch chairmen also agreed that they can do without the Christian Democrats.
  (Nationen)
• A Norwegian HIV test is to be used in an international campaign against Aids. This means major revenues for Bionor, based in Skien. The Norwegian HIV test was selected by the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the face of fierce competition from similar tests from other countries.
  (Aftenposten)
• The value of Norwegian furniture exports fell by nine per cent in the first six months of the year. The drop is particularly strong in relation to the two most important export markets, Denmark and Sweden. At the same time imports of foreign furniture to Norway are growing.
  (Dagens Næringsliv)
• 16.8 millimetres of rain falling from 10 km high rain clouds caused chaos in Oslo yesterday. Weatherman Dag Kristoffersen of the Meteorological Institute told Aftenposten that the rain clouds were high enough to produce enormous quantities of water in just 15-30 minutes.
  (Aftenposten)

Today’s comment from Dagsavisen

It is extremely important for both businesses and private individuals that the post is delivered to the right place at the right time. Those who run businesses and live in outlying areas should not be penalized by having to pay higher prices for their postal services. Even though many post offices have been closed down, Norway still has a state-run postal service that works. There is therefore no reason to introduce competition in the postal market any faster than the EU’s own timetable, as has been suggested by the Norwegian Post and Telecommunications Authority.