Ministers, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure for me to welcome you all to Norway and Bergen, to this Fifth International Conference on the Protection of the North Sea.

My Government is indeed honoured to be the host of this important event.

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The city of Bergen was, as you know, also the venue for the Intermediate Ministerial Meeting on the Integration of Fisheries and Environmental Issues in 1997.

Bergen is an old Hanseatic town which for centuries has served as Norway’s gateway to Europe.

On the exact spot in which we are sitting today – on the old wharves “Bryggen” of Bergen – there has been a lively trade in fish and fish products dating back as far as the 14 ^th> century.

Several of the 18 ^th> century buildings here have been conserved and restored, and “Bryggen” is on UNESCO’s world cultural heritage list.

Bergen is today one of the leading centres for marine research in Europe.

So it is by no means a coincidence that we have chosen this city as venue for the North Sea Conference.

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The North Sea, this shallow and narrow part of the world’s oceans, is surrounded by some of the most developed nations of the world.

Industrial activities and maritime transport have to co-exist with fishing and recreational interests.

Our nations are all dependent upon the oceans and its resources.

It is our common duty to protect them for future generations.

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This region has clearly been in the forefront in adopting ambitious environmental goals for pollution and other human impacts.

The North Sea Conferences have indeed played an important role in the protection of the North Sea environment.

This has been so since the first conference took place in Bremen almost 20 years ago, followed by the North Sea Conferences in London, the Hague and Esbjerg.

The Conferences have been a driving force in setting goals and priorities for the protection of the North Sea.

These goals have later been adopted in national regulations as well as in the framework of legally binding international conventions.

The North Sea Conferences have also played an important role in influencing environmental management decisions in a much wider context.

The adoption of the precautionary principle at the London Conference in 1987 is one of the most important results emanating from the North Sea Conferences.

And there is still room for new ambitious initiatives.

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Let us make sure that the North Sea region in the future can serve as a model for the rest of the world.

Much progress has been achieved since the last North Sea Conference.

But there are still many remaining challenges.

Main concerns are the environmental impacts of fisheries, the discharges of hazardous substances and nutrients, the effects of climate change on the marine environment and questions related to the protection and conservation of ecosystems and biodiversity.

I note with satisfaction that all these issues and others are covered in the draft Ministerial Declaration.

This is the first time that the promotion of renewable energy solutions is to be addressed in the framework of the North Sea Conferences.

I welcome the initiative to encourage such developments as a means to tackle the challenge of climate change, and the effects that this can have on the oceans.

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Over the last decade there has been an increasing awareness that not only pollution, but also other impacts of human activities on the ecosystems are critical to the marine environment.

Establishing an ecosystem approach to the management of the North Sea is a very promising new concept, which I believe will be a success factor for the future.

Radioactive discharges from Sellafield, and the possible transport of radioactive materials between European countries and Japan through the North Sea and the Northern Sea Route, causes much concern in the coastal population of Norway. I do hope we can find acceptable solutions to these problems.

Norwegian coastal communities are strongly dependent on the utilisation of living marine resources.

Any increases in radioactive pollution or pollution risks are therefore a reason for concern.

The responsibility to reduce radioactive discharges and pollution risks lies with the North Sea states themselves.

This conference therefore provides an opportunity to address these important issues and give direction to further work within the appropriate fora, such as OSPAR.

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Introductions of alien species via ships ballast water and possible introductions of genetically modified organisms are other important problems that need to be tackled.

The irreversible effects of the spreading of alien species into the marine environment are frightening.

Also in this area should North Sea states take the necessary precautionary action.

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Other questions related to shipping and navigation are also highly relevant to discuss further.

The invitation from Sweden to arrange a Ministerial Meeting on the integration of shipping and environmental measures, is warmly welcomed by the Norwegian government.

A proposed new working method, with stronger involvement of local and regional stakeholders, is an interesting approach that should be encouraged.

It’s a growing recognition that the problems of the oceans only can be tackled in an integrated way.

This has also been a driving force behind the new Norwegian Marine Environment Strategy – (“ Rich and Healthy Seas”) – which my government presented as a white paper to the Parliament last week.

The goal has been to develop a holistic and forward looking policy that will make us capable of protecting the oceans in order to secure the needs of future generations.

The further development and implementation of the ecosystem approach and environmental quality objectives will help us achieve this goal.

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Norway is heavily dependent on both the offshore oil and gas industry and the fisheries.

Our challenge is to strike the right balance between these different interests within the concept of sustainable development.

And we believe it is possible to do that.

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One of the main proposals of our white paper is to develop a comprehensive management plan for the Barents Sea.

The Barents Sea is still a relatively undisturbed sea area.

This plan will give us a better possibility to take considered decisions with regard to further developments in this fragile sea area.

The white paper also describes clean-up strategies for polluted sediments, which is a problem in many Norwegian fjords and harbours.

It further initiates a broad research programme on the long term effects of the discharges to sea from petroleum activities.

A challenge for the offshore petroleum industry will be to further develop new technologies for the reduction of the volume of produced water discharged into the sea.

Marine protected areas and the further integration of environmental consideration in fisheries management aquaculture are other important areas covered by our new strategy.

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Turning then to the global stage:

Later this year world leaders will gather in Johannesburg for the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

Ten years after the Rio Conference it is time to take stock of achievements and to decide on how to tackle the remaining and the new challenges.

Our ambitions for Johannesburg should be high, - reflecting real political commitment for sustainable development.

The need for integration of environment and sustainable development perspectives into all sectors of society, at home as well as internationally, must be addressed.

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There have been important developments on the global stage on issues related to oceans and coast since the Rio Conference.

Most notably the 1982 UN Convention on Law of the Sea entered into force in 1994.

The Convention provides the only comprehensive global legal framework for the protection and preservation of the marine environment.

Focus should now be put on the implementation of part XII of the Convention on protection and preservation of the marine environment.

The results from this Conference should be taken forward to the preparatory process for the World Summit.

The North Sea states have indeed adopted ambitious goals that could be valuable inputs to the global community.

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Ladies and gentlemen, you have many interesting topics to discuss during these two days in Bergen.

I can only encourage you to be innovative and really take a big step forward in our joint efforts to conserve, protect and restore the marine environment of the North Sea.

I can assure you that the expectations for a successful outcome are great here in Norway, and I believe in other North Sea countries as well.

I wish to express my best wishes for a successful Conference.

Thank you.