EU membership: 54% in favour, 46% against (Aftenposten)

Supporters of EU membership seem to have returned to the offensive among Norwegian voters. 54 per cent of voters now say they would have voted to join the EU if there had been a referendum on Norwegian membership now. When market researchers Opinion carried out their regular EU poll in February the population was split down the middle over the issue of Norwegian EU membership. But in the April poll a clear majority of those who had made up their minds said they were in favour of joining the EU. The majority in favour of Norwegian EU membership is larger than the majority against at the 1972 and 1994 referenda on the issue. One in four opponents of EU membership say that an Icelandic application to join would increase their support for a corresponding Norwegian application.

Knife ban to come into effect by the summer (Aftenposten)

A change in the legislation to give the police greater powers to prevent knife-attacks looks set to be adopted during the spring session. The Government’s strategy for resolving the problem is clear. Police officers will be permitted to stop and search individuals without having probable cause. They have the right to do this today, under temporary provisions included in the Police Act, but the new proposals would make this right permanent as well as allowing them to carry out searches of motor vehicles. On Saturday night two doormen died after being attacked with a knife at a bar in Moss.

Police chief slams immigration policy (Verdens Gang)

Following the death of two doormen at a bar in Moss on Saturday night, the head of the National Bureau of Crime Investigation, Arne Huuse, has publicly criticized Norway’s immigration policy. "The price of integrating foreigners into Norwegian society is starting to get too high," he said. Mr Huuse made his surprising comments the day after four people of immigrant descent were charged in connection with a knife-attack in Moss in which two doormen died.

Jens has a plan (Dagbladet/Saturday)

Under the leadership of Jens Stoltenberg the Labour Party will find a new identity. But the task is not being made any easier by the fact that the very backbone of the party – the county branches – are paralyzed by internal dissent and conflict. "This does not worry me. We need discussion and differences of opinion if the party is to renew itself and be perceived as dynamic. But we need to put a stop to destructive bickering," said Mr Stoltenberg.

Norwegian soldiers comply with Norwegian laws (Aftenposten/Sunday)

The Norwegian Defence Command has guaranteed that Norwegian special forces operating in Afghanistan are complying with Norwegian law and the international conventions to which Norway is a signatory. In recent days the Armed Forces’ leadership has come under heavy fire for not providing adequate information about what the Norwegian special forces under US command are actually doing in Afghanistan.

No to gas, yes to wind and water (Dagbladet)

The Norwegian people prefer wind and water power. Opposition to gas-fired power stations is in fact so great that many people say they would prefer to pay ten per cent more for their electricity than buy power from gas-fired power stations. "This poll documents clearly what the majority of people perceive as the most environment-friendly power source. They want wind and water power. It is therefore high time that the Storting put the framework in place so that we can actually exploit the vast opportunities afforded by an upgrading and modernisation of today’s hydro-electric power stations," said Axel Collett of the Norwegian Electricity Industry Association (EBL).

200,000 face interest rate shock (Dagsavisen)

Almost half of those who have financed their studies with a loan from the State Educational Loan Fund face a substantial increase in their repayments from 1 July this year. This is when the first of the three-year fixed-interest agreements expires, affecting over 200,000 borrowers. "It will be dramatic for those students who will now have to enter into a new agreement, whether it be a new fixed interest agreement or one based on floating interest rates," said Dag Harlem Stenersen of the Norwegian Students’ Union.

Almskog blames predecessors (Dagens Næringsliv)

Former Kværner CEO, Kjell Almskog, has made a merciless attack on those who led Kværner into the Sea Launch project. "This investment, more than any other, must be given the blame for much of Kværner’s subsequent fate," said Mr Almskog. He feels Kværner’s former management should make a public apology.

Worth Noting

• The leaders of Norway’s small companies can only dream of the megabucks pay checks received by their corporate executive counterparts. With an average salary of NOK 260,000 they are angry over the sweeping criticism of business leaders from the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO). (Verdens Gang)

• Norwegian students cannot make up their minds. One in four new students quits during their first year of study, according to a recent survey. The researchers behind the survey blame a lack of an adequate advisory service at upper secondary schools for the large number of student drop-outs. (Dagsavisen/Sunday)
• Thorbjørn Jagland (Lab) has accused his successor as Foreign Minister, Jan Petersen (Con) and the Government of being pompous. The attack came after the Government refused to cooperate with the Labour Party in bringing about Middle East peace negotiations in Oslo. The Labour leadership is now planning to go it alone in inviting peace negotiators from the Middle East to Norway. (Verdens Gang/Saturday)
• "Tall and thin. Definitely committed. Definitely idealistic. Not afraid to say that I am a Liberal, or to stand up for what I believe in." this is how Jennie Johnsen, new Liberal Party deputy leader describes herself. (Vårt Land)
• Following the deaths in Moss on Saturday night, the number of killings in Norway this year has climbed to 16. Last year a total of 37 people were killed. (Dagsavisen)
• They are beaten, hit and raped, but they have neither the strength to report the incidents to the police, nor any faith that there is any point in doing so. At least 37 prostitutes in Oslo were the victims of violence last year. At least 25 were raped. Only 11 of the incidents last year were reported to the police. (Dagsavisen)
• This season’s catches off the Lofoten coast have been considerable, while prices for salted fish are low. These factors have tempted fish processing companies to hang up so much fish for drying that the banks have begun to get worried. Fish worth NOK 337 million is currently hanging out to dry in the wind in anticipation of the arrival of buyers from Italy this autumn. (Dagens Næringsliv)
• Fish worth NOK 550 million has been caught during this year’s fishing season off the coast of Lofoten, compared to NOK 475 million last year. (Dagens Næringsliv)

Today’s comment from Dagbladet

Much of the interest in the Liberal Party’s annual conference was linked to Lars Sponheim’s future as party chairman. The conference itself did not debate the leadership issue, but Mr Sponheim’s position dominated the agenda outside the conference hall. He admitted as much himself when the conference closed yesterday. He also said that he would have resigned as leader if he had been close to dividing the conference in two. But he assured listeners that he had not told the party’s branch chairmen of this before the vote was taken. He had therefore not given delegates an ultimatum, and they were under no official pressure. Mr Sponheim survived the vote. Previous Liberal leaders have received a far larger number of spoiled ballot papers without resigning. And we will never know how many delegates wanted to spoil their ballot papers, but did not do so out of consideration for the party.

The Press Division would like to remind readers that the deadline for applications for accreditation to the Royal Wedding in May is 20 April. Further details can be found in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website, and accreditation will be arranged via www.akkreditering.mfa.no. Please note that hotel accommodation in Trondheim could be difficult to come by as the date approaches. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs still has some vacancies at its two hotels.