The Norwegian Government is taking an active approach to ensure Norway's long term interests in the northern areas. In the Revised National Budget the Government proposes to allocate 65 million Norwegian kroner (NOK) to strengthen Norway's efforts in the northern areas.

- In my opinion the northern areas will become one ofEurope's most important petroleum provinces. Norway has great opportunities in these areas, says Thorhild Widvey, Minister of Petroleum and Energy.

The management of the northern areas has gained increased international focus over the last years. From an economic point of view these areas have become more important than. The northern areas possess renewable and fossil resources, which give a potential for value creation, employment and settlement along the northern coast of Norway.

- In order to ensure a knowledge-based resource management the geo-scientific understanding of the northern areas must be enforced. Therefore the Government will allocate NOK 20 million to geological mapping and research co-operation, says minister Widvey.

Geological mapping activities will increase the Norwegian presence in the northern areas. This effort is reinforced by the fact that the Government will allocate NOK 40 million to promote nuclear safety and co-operation with Russia, and NOK 5 million to mapping of the marine environment in the northern areas under the inter-disciplinary Mareano-program.