Nansen Support Programme extended

The cross-party support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people’s fight for freedom reflects the broad support for Ukraine among the Norwegian population.

Ukraine is fighting a battle not only for its own freedom, but also in defence of values and interests that are of fundamental importance to Norway. All the parties in the Storting have emphasised that Norway will continue to support Ukraine’s fight to defend itself and contribute to the reconstruction of the country for as long as it takes.

When it was first launched, the support programme was to provide a total of NOK 75 billion over a five-year period from 2023 to 2027, with an annual disbursement of NOK 15 billion each year. The support was designed to be flexible and used in line with Ukraine’s needs.

Since the support programme was established, the annual financial framework has been increased several times. In 2023 and 2024, funding amounted to a total of NOK 20 billion and NOK 27 billion, respectively.

The parties in the Storting view Ukraine’s situation as more critical than when the support programme was first launched. There is a need for additional, more rapid assistance in the form of both military and civilian support.

This is why the political parties have now agreed to extend and expand the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine. A minimum allocation of NOK 15 billion per year is being established. This means that allocations exceeding this in any given year will not be deducted from the overall funding framework, as was previously the case. Any increase in an annual allocation will be provided in addition to the overall funding framework. The support programme will also be extended by three years, to run through 2030. This will help enable Ukraine and its international partners to take a longer-term approach.          

The political parties have differing proposals for increased allocations in 2025, over and above the annual minimum disbursement of NOK 15 billion. Some of the parties have based their proposals for increased allocations on their alternative budgets for 2025 and this will determine how they vote. This in no way undermines the broad consensus among the parties on the importance, focus areas and duration of the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine.

In connection with talks between the various parliamentary leaders this autumn, all the parties in the Storting agreed to allocate a minimum of NOK 35 billion in funding to Ukraine in 2025.

Of the total amount for 2025, NOK 22.5 billion will be allocated as military support and NOK 12.5 billion as humanitarian and civilian support. Norway will give priority to providing support to the Ukrainian defence industry and for energy security. The support is intended to strengthen democratic institutions, the rule of law and civil society in Ukraine.

A number of political parties have called for the re-establishment of a support scheme for developing countries that have been affected by the ramifications of the war. The parties all agree that Norwegian assistance must be based on the humanitarian principles. The increase in civilian support to Ukraine will not be at the expense of Norwegian efforts in other crisis situations. Each of the parties will clarify the level of funding available for other aid efforts in their own aid budgets.

The Government and the political parties will maintain regular contact regarding the situation in Ukraine and the follow-up of the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine both through the ordinary consultation process between the Government and the Storting and through meetings between the Government and the parliamentary leaders. This is in line with the political agreement on the support programme. The Government will initiate talks with the parties in connection with the work on the 2025 revised national budget.

All the parties stress the importance of effective control and auditing procedures in cases such as this, where such large amounts of funding are being provided to a country that is at war and has significant corruption-related challenges. The Government will present the Storting with further details of relevant financial control efforts and will assess further measures in consultation with the Storting.