Sponheim too passive (Nationen)

Former Agriculture Minister Bjarne Håkon Hanssen is not particularly impressed with the measures his successor, Lars Sponheim, has implemented to reduce the amount of cash Norwegian consumers spend across the border in Sweden rather than in Norwegian shops. "It is astonishing that he is not concerned about this cross-border spending," he said. An survey commissioned by Nationen shows that during the summer months a third of Norwegian adults have crossed the border to shop in Sweden.

Norway has taken 10 years to follow up Rio conference (Aftenposten)

Ten years ago Norway pledged to develop a national strategy for sustainable development. Yet it is only today, ten days before a new environmental summit, that the main lines of that strategy are to be announced. Environmental organizations are worried that the strategy, work on which started last autumn under the Stoltenberg government, will be marred by the haste with which it has been put together. "It would have been better and more honourable of Norway to go to the Johannesburg meeting without such a document. Many people see the work which has gone on during the past few months as being nothing more than a superficial exercise so delegates can have a piece of paper to wave about," said Morten Eriksen, leader of the Forum for Development and the Environment, an umbrella organization made up of 60 voluntary groups.

Bondevik warned over gas production in Barents Sea (Dagbladet)

UNEP’s executive director, Dr Klaus Töpfer, has warned the Bondevik government about the environmental consequences resulting from the start of oil and gas production in the Barents Sea. The Government, backed by a parliamentary majority, decided last winter to develop the Snow White field off the coast of Hammerfest in the very north of the country. "I know that the Government has decided to carry out a thorough impact analysis of the dangers ensuing from the start of oil and gas production in the Barents Sea. That is good. But I would also warn against any intervention in this marine environment, which is very sensitive to pollution," said Dr Töpfer.

State profits from steep business charges (Nationen)

The Brønnøysund Register Centre is a cash cow for the Government. Steep charges resulted in a net profit of NOK 150 million last year. In total the state has raked in NOK 715 million over the past five years. Trade and Industry Minister Ansgar Gabrielsen has promised to cut the fees charged by the Centre, but not until 2004. The Brønnøysund Register Centre charges fees for a variety of services, including the registration of companies and self-employed workers in the Register of Business Enterprises, as well as the registration of mortgaged moveable property and prenuptial agreements. The Centre also charges for supplying information and printouts from its various registers.

Norwegian fishing industry cut to only 30 players in 10 years (Dagbladet)

"In 10 years around 30 individuals or limited companies will own all the fishing rights in Norway," claims fishing boat owner Tore Hillersøy. Mr Hillersøy from Askvoll in Sogn and Fjordane County is shocked and dismayed by the latest proposals from the Bondevik government. "What they are planning will kill off local communities along the coast, from Rogaland in the south to Finnmark in the north. And just so a tiny minority can get rich," said Mr Hillersøy. "Many fishermen will sell up, so that the ones with sufficient capital will end up owning all the fishing rights."

Confusion over alcohol taxes (Aftenposten)

According to Finance Minister Per-Kristian Foss, alcohol taxes will be reduced. Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik has hinted that the Government has cut them enough. At the same time Labour’s Jens Stoltenberg has criticized ministers for contradicting each other and sowing doubts about the Bondevik government’s ability to govern. Yesterday Mr Bondevik himself helped to muddy the waters with regard to the Government’s views of alcohol taxes – after Agriculture Minister Lars Sponheim had sparked controversy by telling Aftenposten that it was "not this government’s policy to make any changes in taxes and duties on alcohol".

Norwegian Air Shuttle still looking for backer (Aftenposten)

The day before the country’s new cut-price airline starts selling tickets, Norwegian Air Shuttle is still searching for the cash it will need in the longer term. The company "believes and hopes" that it will have NOK 150-200 million in the bank before the first flights take off in just over two weeks. Chief executive Stig Willassen is not promising to refund ticket-holders if the investment money is not forthcoming and the company folds. The Consumer Council is advising passengers to pay for their tickets as near as possible to their departure time.

Pensions trouble for Bondevik (Dagens Næringsliv)

Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik believes it will be difficult to win broad, cross-party support for pensions reform. Labour’s Jens Stoltenberg has rejected the Conservatives’ pensions dream, and a fierce battle is brewing. The chances of winning broad, cross-party support for a reform of the state pension scheme faded after the Labour Party’s incoming leader, Jens Stoltenberg, declared his firm opposition to allowing individuals to decide how their pension contributions should be managed. The governing coalition parties, particularly the Conservatives, want people to save for their future supplementary state pensions in individual funds, with decisions about how those funds should be invested (including whether to buy unit trusts) being left up to the people concerned.

Call for more pay for everyone (Dagbladet)

The Norwegian Civil Service Union (NTL) is demanding a pay hike for all civil servants. "The gap between central government pay levels and those in the private sector has been increasing slowly but steadily since the new pay scheme was introduced in 1991, and has accelerated in recent years. Efforts have been made to compensate for the difference in salary between the civil service and the private sector when it comes to the most senior positions. But the rest of the system has been lagging behind," said NTL deputy president Tor-Arne Solbakken. The NTL represents around half of Norway’s civil servants. Mr Solbakken describes the increased pay gap with the private sector as ‘unfortunate’.

Worth Noting

• Eva Joly, best known for her efforts to root out corruption in French public life, has been offered a gilt-edged agreement with the Norwegian authorities which nets her almost NOK 900,000 in basic pay, plus free furnished accommodation in Oslo. No other senior police officer earns more than her.
  (Dagbladet )
• Norwegian unit trust investors lost a total of NOK 11.8 billion in June and July as a result of plummeting share prices, according to recent figures from the Norwegian Mutual Fund Association. Norwegian investors seem largely to be hanging on to the unit trusts they already have, but are unwilling to invest additional cash in unit trusts.
  (Aftenposten)
• Åslaug Haga (Centre Party) has reversed her position and now says she is open for a collaboration with the Socialist Left Party in a future red-green coalition government. The Centre Party’s leadership is now united behind a coalition stretching from the left to the political centre.
  (Nationen)
• The export price of salmon leapt sharply last week, according to figures from the Norwegian Seafood Export Council. A further price rise is expected. Sales volumes also increased.
  (Aftenposten)
• Storebrand’s chief executive, Idar Kreutzer, offered to resign following the breakdown of merger negotiations with Den norske Bank (DnB). "I think it was natural to discuss that possibility, and was given the full confidence of the board," said Mr Kreutzer. He denies that he is on his way out of the top position at Storebrand. "I am keen to continue and have no intention of resigning," he said.
  (Dagens Næringsliv)
• The general insurer, If, is losing customers in Norway, and the company continues to bleed financially. The company recorded a loss of SEK 1.1 billion in the second quarter.
  (Dagens Næringsliv)

Today’s comment from Dagbladet

The Conservatives have agreed to make EU membership a non-issue as long as they are part of the Bondevik government. This is a key issue for the party, but if the Conservatives put it on the political agenda the Government will disintegrate. Now the incoming Labour leader, Jens Stoltenberg, has followed suit. He intends to put the question of EU membership on ice until 2009. He cannot afford to alienate the Socialist Left Party or the Centre Party and risk them pulling out of the broad coalition he is putting together. Joining the EU will not be proposed again until public opinion is ready for membership. It is thankfully rare to experience such a demonstration of political cowardice on such an important issue. Who is going to change public opinion if those in favour of membership refuse to debate the question? The European Movement in Norway and the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry (NHO) have proved their incompetence for a generation, and the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) now opposes membership. We are probably facing a major expansion of the EU which will change the political map of Europe. Yet party politicking will prevent us from discussing our place in this new reality for another seven years. Thorbjørn Jagland has realized the seriousness of the situation and warned against such cynical tactics. But he will be neither party leader nor deputy leader in the time ahead.