The Speech from the Throne by His Majesty the King on the Occasion of the Opening of the 142nd Session of the Storting

Translation from the Norwegian

Madam President, Representatives of the People,

I greet the Storting as it takes up its solemn responsibilities with the wish that the fulfilment of these duties will be to the benefit of our country.

The Government bases its policy on the ideals of equality, freedom and solidarity. The Government will work to promote a greater sense of community at the local, national and international levels.

The Government attaches great importance to fostering contact and dialogue with people from different walks of life, as has been done through consultation and meetings.

The vision of the House of Norway, with its windows open to the world, will continue to be a basis for social planning. It underscores that society is a community where there is room for everyone and everyone has a responsibility. The foundation for this is economic and ecological sustainability.

Increases in government expenditure must be curbed in order to avoid price inflation, weakened competitiveness and high interest rates. The increase in petroleum revenues will be used to build up reserves in the Government Petroleum Fund.

The Petroleum Fund will be administered in a responsible manner and in a long-term perspective, in such a way as to yield a favourable rate of return that can subsequently be used to finance social welfare when the oil revenues begin to decline and the proportion of elderly in the population increases.

The continuation of income policy cooperation based on the "solidarity alternative" is a necessary condition for universal employment and for the further building of social welfare. A monetary policy based on a stable rate of exchange must be pursued.

The Government considers it very important to improve the qualifications of the occupationally disabled and those in a weak position in the labour market in order to further reduce unemployment. Active use will be made of the employment services in order to counteract the shortage of manpower.

Growing globalization and increasing international competition require an active industrial and competition policy. The Government will ensure active ownership, environmental restructuring in business and industry and the development of renewable energy resources by reinvesting some of the state's assets.

The Government will help to ensure that the opportunities for utilizing information technology are equitably distributed.

Transport policy is an important part of overall industrial and regional policy. Greater emphasis will be placed on environmental considerations, child safety and the integration of the disabled.

The Government will work to promote a strong, active and competitive agricultural sector. Agriculture and forestry will continue to play an important role in the efforts to ensure the sound use of land and to maintain settlement patterns. Efforts to ensure high food standards and consumer safety will be intensified within the framework of the international cooperation in which Norway takes part.

In the fisheries and aquaculture sector the Government intends to develop profitable, ecologically sustainable industries that will boost growth along the coast. Renewal of the fishing fleet and expansion of fishing harbours will be encouraged.

The goals of regional policy will continue to be the maintenance of the main features of settlement patterns, and the development of viable regions in all parts of the country.

The revenues accruing to municipalities and counties will be such as to contribute to equitable living conditions throughout the country.

In order to encourage an environmentally sound economic trend, the Government will propose a taxation reform with a greater emphasis on green taxes and lower taxes on labour.

In the climate negotiations the Government advocates an ambitious agreement which includes a commitment to quantified emissions reduction based on equitable burden-sharing and a cost-effective implementation of the agreement, for example by means of projects for joint implementation together with other countries. The Government will draw up a plan outlining the ways in which Norway will fulfil its obligations.

The efforts to limit the loss of biological diversity, ensure the ecologically sustainable use and protection of threatened and vulnerable species and habitats, and maintain cultural landscapes are an important aspect of sustainable development.

The Government will submit a plan of action for the country's future energy supplies. The goal is that in a normal year Norway will produce electricity from renewable resources corresponding to total domestic consumption.

The Government will pursue an exploration and recovery policy that ensures long-term management of petroleum resources. The industry will continue to be supplied with electric power on competitive terms.

The United Nations is the most important global instrument for the promotion of peace, human rights, environment and development. Norway will continue to be actively involved in the work of the organization. The Nordic proposals for enhancing the quality and effectiveness of UN activities will be followed up.

The Government will further develop Norway's transatlantic ties and intensify efforts to enhance security in Europe, among other things through our membership of NATO and the OSCE, and by increasing our contact-building activities in the northern areas. The Government will follow up efforts in connection with the process of NATO enlargement.

Norway will increase its support for the Baltic countries in their efforts to become more closely integrated into European and Euro-Atlantic cooperation.

The efforts to obtain the broadest possible support for a total ban on anti-personnel mines will be intensified, in keeping with the results of the conference held in Oslo in September.

Assistance to developing countries will be gradually increased.

The Government will ensure that people who have been forced to flee their homes are given protection, in keeping with the provisions of the UN Convention relating to the status of refugees.

As set out in the forthcoming long-term report concerning the Defence Establishment, a policy based on national defence against invasion, allied assistance, total defence and general conscription will continue to be pursued.

Subsequent to the decision taken at the EU summit to incorporate the Schengen cooperation into the EU at a future date, the Government will negotiate an agreement that ensures satisfactory institutional solutions that will permit the continuation of Norwegian participation in this cooperation. This is necessary in order to maintain the Nordic passport union and intensify efforts to combat international crime.

The Government attaches great importance to the fact that Norway has ensured broad cooperation with the European Union through the EEA Agreement and the Schengen cooperation.

In building the welfare society, the Government has three main objectives, which will be followed up from year to year.

1) To create a health service and care services for the elderly that provide security and freedom of choice

With regard to care of the elderly, the whole chain of services will be improved, from home help and sheltered housing to nursing homes that can offer single rooms.

Treatment services for people suffering from mental illness will be improved, and a new plan of action for psychiatric care will be submitted.

The expansion and reform of the health service will continue. The focus will be on the patient. Performance-related funding will be used as a tool to achieve reorganization and increase the number of patients who receive treatment. Proposed new legislation has been circulated for comment. The introduction of a scheme whereby every citizen will have his or her regular doctor, with special arrangements for municipalities in which the number of doctors fluctuates, will contribute to a secure, stable medical service.

2) To continue investing in the education of children and young people. To prepare for a reform of higher and further education

The Government will follow up and ensure the quality of the reforms in primary and secondary education. Particular attention will be focused on vocational training and the situation of apprentices. Through cooperation with the employers' and employees' organizations, the Government will consider new incentives so that by the autumn of 1998 apprenticeship contracts will be available to everyone who wants one.

The Government will submit a Report to the Storting on higher and further education. The aim is, in cooperation with the employers' and employees' organizations, to raise the standard of education of the entire population and to provide equal opportunities for all adult employees.

The Government will improve basic teacher training by means of new curricula and by investing in further education for teachers.

The high intake of new students to universities and colleges will be maintained. This is especially important for programmes in the health, education and day-care sectors, and in the field of information technology. Support for student welfare will be provided in the form of more student housing.

The Government attaches importance to the significance of research and development for innovation and growth. Business and industry, in particular, should contribute to greater efforts in this area.

3) To invest systematically in culture and a secure environment for children to grow up in

Participation and communication are important elements in an active cultural policy. It will be easier for NGOs to hire staff, and the lower limit for having to pay value added tax will be raised. A greater share of the profits of state lotteries will gradually be transferred to the voluntary sector.

The Government will support local projects of special cultural significance, and will submit a Report to the Storting on a new opera house.

The conditions under which children grow up will occupy an important place in the further building of social welfare. An action plan for creating better conditions for children will promote greater participation by children and young people. Efforts to combat bullying, violence, crime, substance abuse and racism among children and young people will be intensified.

Places at day-care facilities will be available to everyone who is interested by the year 2000.

The Government's distribution policy entails that those who have most must give something to help those who have least. Support for single parents and people on a disability pension with dependent children will be increased. Housing support will be increased in such a way as to ensure reasonable housing expenses for old-age pensioners with low incomes and other low-income groups.

The Government will attach importance to combating crime and enhancing the safety of the general public, for example by means of a visible, decentralized police force. Sanctions must be imposed quickly on those who have violated the law, and the status of victims must be improved. In order to prevent recidivism and thereby prevent new crimes, rehabilitation and after-care will be emphasized.

The Government will combat racism and discrimination and promote the integration of immigrants. Priority will be given to the teaching of Norwegian and to qualifying this group for entry into the labour market.

The efforts to promote gender equality will be continued. Both women and men will have the opportunity to combine education and jobs with children and family life.

In cooperation with the Sami Assembly, the Government will continue to support the Sami language, culture and way of life.

The Government will propose that a study be conducted on power and democracy in Norway.

The Government will submit a Report to the Storting that will provide a basis for a comprehensive debate on the principle of freedom of information in the public administration.

By means of a purposeful church policy in which values are in the forefront, the Government will provide favourable conditions for active involvement in and renewal of the Church of Norway.

I pray that God will bless the deliberations of this Storting, and I hereby declare the 142nd session of the Norwegian Storting to be opened.

Given at the Royal Palace in Oslo on 3 October 1997.