Mr. 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 of benefit to our country.

The values of the coalition government are based on the principles of democracy and the rule of law and on our Christian and humanist cultural heritage. Respect for the individual is fundamental. The government will seek to promote human rights and human dignity.

The government’s aim is to utilize Norway’s great potential. This calls for a willingness to think afresh in political terms. The government will intensify the fight against poverty, both in Norway and abroad. We will pursue a family policy that emphasizes freedom of choice and the best interests of the child. We will pursue a pro-active environmental policy based on the principle of sustainable development. The government will renew and improve its regional policy. The government will improve the quality of education, health care and care of the elderly. The overall tax level will be reduced.

Norway is a rich country and a good place to live in for most of the population. This puts us under an obligation to help the poor and the persecuted. The government’s aim is to increase development assistance to 1 per cent of GNI by 2005. The government will follow up the Action Plan for Combating Poverty in the South.

Norway is fortunate enough to have large petroleum revenues. Nevertheless, our welfare will ultimately depend on our capacity for value creation in the mainland economy.

An expanding and productive business sector is the basis for income and employment for the whole country.

The government will continue to develop the welfare society and strengthen the basis for voluntary work.

The foundations for a child’s sense of security and personal development are laid in the family. Our policy is based on the principle that parents have the main responsibility for their children. The government will present a Report to the Storting on family policy.

The government will facilitate the implementation of the Storting’s decision on day-care policy, with a view to ensuring enough places for all children who need them, lower fees for the parents and equal conditions for private and public day-care centres. Parents will continue to have the option of using the cash benefit scheme.

The government will increase the local authorities’ room for manoeuvre in the school sector. The government will implement measures to improve the content, quality and organization of basic education. Instruction in mathematics, reading and languages will be strengthened. A national quality assessment system will be introduced to ensure that the educational goals are reached.

Pupils will be taught about the positive values inherent in our cultural heritage. All schools will be invited to participate in programmes to prevent bullying and problem behaviour.

It will be easier to establish independent schools.

The quality reform of higher education will be fully introduced by autumn 2003.

Greater priority will be given to research with a view to bringing Norway at least up to the OECD average by the end of 2005.

In order to simplify and renew the public sector, the government will delegate responsibility and authority within the state and will delegate tasks to the municipalities.

The government will pursue an active competition policy and will intensify efforts to simplify rules and paperwork for the business sector.

In cooperation with the social partners, the government will seek to promote a more inclusive working life. The government’s policy is designed to promote a labour market where people are ensured the necessary qualifications and are rapidly absorbed into the labour market.

Wage growth in Norway has got out of step with that in competitor countries and the krone exchange rate has appreciated against other currencies. Lower wage growth would improve the situation of the internationally exposed business sector. The government has invited the social partners to cooperate on this.

There is a lack of manpower in many industries. The government will change the disability pension scheme and make the legislation governing occupational immigration more flexible in order to increase the supply of labour and ensure that as many as possible remain in employment.

The state will set an example as an employer by recruiting occupationally disabled persons and persons with an immigrant background.

The government attaches great importance to ensuring that recently arrived refugees get jobs and become integrated into the community as rapidly as possible by means of an introductory programme.

The government will improve the basis for value creation. The overall tax level will be gradually reduced in order to enhance the competitiveness of the business sector, make it easier for people to live on their income and give people more freedom of choice.

The government will continue its efforts to reduce the level and improve the quality of state ownership in the private sector. The conditions for broad-based private ownership will be improved. A committee will consider how the management of state ownership in the private sector should be organized.

Business policy measures will be revised in order to strengthen the capacity for innovation in all parts of the country.

The government will continue its efforts to increase the proportion of women on boards to at least 40 per cent and to increase the proportion of women in leadership positions in the public administration.

A long-term approach will be taken in the management of our oil and gas resources. Natural gas, renewable energy sources and the efficient use of energy are all important in order to ensure an environmentally sound energy supply. The government will encourage the domestic use of natural gas in accordance with sound environmental principles.

The government will continue its efforts to establish a national quota system for greenhouse gas emissions for the period 2005-2007, and to influence international climate policy.

Priority will be given to protecting our remaining wilderness areas in order to conserve biological diversity and maintain opportunities for outdoor recreation.

The government will present a Report to the Storting concerning a policy on cultural monuments.

The government will improve public transport and make it more attractive, particularly in the largest towns.

The hospital reform was implemented at the beginning of the year. The regional health authorities will ensure that the entire population has access to high-quality health services of the same standard, and that waiting time is reduced.

The plans to increase capacity in the mental health sector and cancer care will be implemented.

A new ceiling for user charges for health services that are not part of the current fee exemption scheme will be proposed.

The government will present a Report to the Storting on public health policy with a focus on preventive measures. The government will propose additional measures to combat smoking.

A plan of action to combat substance abuse will be submitted.

The government will present a Report to the Storting on measures to combat poverty in the course of the autumn.

The plan of action for the care of the elderly will be completed.

The need for an Act prohibiting discrimination against the disabled will be examined.

The government will present a Report to the Storting on the organization of Aetat, the national insurance administration and the social services.

The Pensions Commission’s preliminary report on a new, coordinated pension system provides a good basis for discussion pending the Commission’s final recommendation.

Art and culture have an intrinsic value. The government will submit a Report to the Storting based on this perspective.

The government will submit a matter to the Storting on the question of regulating gambling and lotteries.

The government wishes the Church of Norway to continue to be an open, inclusive national church. Religious education by the Church will be strengthened.

The government will give priority to measures to combat violence, particularly violence in the home that especially affects women and children.

The government will actively combat organized crime and money laundering.

The government will improve civil emergency preparedness. The efforts of voluntary organizations will continue to be a central feature of rescue and emergency preparedness.

The government will seek to maintain current settlement patterns, economic growth and viable local communities in all parts of the country.

A regional commission will be appointed to study ways of renewing and improving regional policy measures.

A dynamic agricultural sector is vital for Norway. The government will continue its efforts to secure the financial situation of and recruitment to this important sector.

The government will seek to promote higher growth in the marine sector.

The government attaches great importance to the opportunities and challenges presented by the larger towns and will submit a policy proposal for the development of the large urban regions. A report will be submitted to the Storting on housing, which proposes measures for dealing with the problems in the housing market.

The government will put road construction projects out to tender and will reorganize the construction activities of the Public Roads Administration as a state-owned limited company.

The government will pursue a humane refugee and asylum policy and will safeguard the institution of asylum and seek to prevent its abuse.

It is important to combat racism and ethnic discrimination in Norwegian society. The government will also combat the violation of human rights represented by the practices of forced marriage and genital mutilation.

The government will fulfil Norway’s international obligations with regard to indigenous peoples and national minorities. Efforts will be made to facilitate the development of Sami industries and the Sami language.

The government will follow up its strong commitment to peace and reconciliation. Norway will continue to participate actively in the UN.

The fight against international terrorism will continue, using a broad range of instruments. The government will give priority to humanitarian assistance and other support to Afghanistan, and to participation in the multi-national ISAF force and the military operation “Enduring Freedom”.

Norway’s security will continue to be firmly anchored in our cooperation in NATO. At the same time we recognize that NATO must be adapted to new security policy challenges. Norway supports the broadest possible enlargement of NATO.

The restructuring of the defence forces will improve our capacity to carry out tasks both in Norway and abroad in close cooperation with our allies.

The government will pursue an active European policy in which Norway fully utilizes the possibilities provided by, among other things, the EEA Agreement. The Agreement safeguards important Norwegian interests. Closer cooperation in areas such as research, the environment, education and social policy is also yielding good results.

The forthcoming enlargement of the EU will contribute to security and stability in our part of the world.

The government will further develop and strengthen the transatlantic ties and will seek to maintain the strong community of interests between Europe and the USA.

The government will intensify cooperation with Russia. President Putin’s official visit to Norway this autumn will be important in this context.

Norway will encourage more countries to actively support the International Criminal Court.

The government will participate actively in the current negotiating round in the World Trade Organization.

The government will follow up the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg with active efforts at national and international level. A national plan of action for sustainable development will be presented.

I pray that God will bless the deliberations of this Storting, and I hereby declare the 147 ^th> session of the Norwegian Storting to be opened.

Given at the Royal Palace in Oslo on 27 September 2002