Stricter controls for cargo ships (NTB)

Following three shipping accidents in Norwegian waters within a few days, the Norwegian Maritime Directorate feels that safety levels must be improved. "We will step up our existing programme of unannounced inspections. As a result of these accidents we will also carry out a thorough review to find out how we can motivate the shipping industry to take greater responsibility for complying with the restrictions and limitations that are in force," says Odd N. Skaug, the Norwegian Maritime Directorate’s safety director in an interview with NRK, the Norwegian national broadcasting company. Rolf Sæther, chief executive of the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association, admits that self-regulation within the industry has been inadequate.

NSB needs extra NOK 60 million in government hand-outs (NTB)

NSB’s plans to raise fares more than the general level of inflation were rejected by a majority in the Storting. As a result, the Government will probably have to give the national railway company an additional NOK 60 million next year. The Government has agreed to cover NSB’s costs in connection with keeping open certain unprofitable lines which the Government does not want to see closed. According to the national broadcasting company NRK, NSB has also been given the green light to cut 40 services a day from 7 January. The cuts have been made necessary by a shortage of train drivers.

Forget lower interest rates (Dagens Næringsliv)

The message from the governor of the Norwegian Central Bank Svein Gjedrem is crystal clear: interest rates will stay where they are. He does not see interest rates coming down for three to four years. Mr Gjedrem made his predictions at a press conference yesterday in connection with the publication of the Central Bank’s report on inflation. Mr Gjedrem’s objective is to keep inflation under the two per cent target for EU countries. And that is why, despite the expectations of the market, there will not be any cuts in interest rates.

Stoltenberg wants to reform Norway – before easter (Vårt Land)

Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg is planning to stay in office, seemingly regardless of the outcome of next year’s general elections. He wants to stay in order to reform Norway. Recent opinion polls have been more favourable for the Labour Party, but the Prime Minister does not have many successes to boast about. Only when pressed does he name three benefits his government has bestowed on the people: increased teachers’ pay, a responsible budget and improved funding for hospitals and care of the elderly. The Prime Minister was much more eager to explain what he and his government will be doing next year, when he held his traditional half-yearly press conference yesterday.

Jens Stoltenberg looking forward to the new year (Nationen)

Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg was looking on the bright side yesterday when he met the press for his half-yearly press conference. With an upturn in the opinion polls and new reforms in his pocket, the PM can enjoy the Christmas break a satisfied man. Mr Stoltenberg put a special emphasis on the budget and the Labour Party Conference’s go-ahead for major reforms of the hospital system and oil policy when he summed up the last six months.

Experienced police officers on the streets (Aftenposten)

Justice Minister Hanne Harlem wants to get more skilled and experienced police officers out of their offices and onto the streets. "Experienced officers are better at handling conflicts. They also know the people involved in criminal activity better than others," she points out. The Oslo police force supports Ms Harlem’s suggestion and promises to have more experienced police officers on the streets by the spring.

Kværner under suspicion (Dagens Næringsliv)

Aker Maritime suspects Kværner of forming an alliance with the investor Kristian Siem in the battle between the two companies. Aker Maritime chief executive Sverre Skogen sent a letter to Kværner yesterday demanding to know if any unlawful activity has taken place and asking 40 pointed questions about Kværner’s treatment of Aker Maritime as a shareholder. Kværner’s chief executive Kjell Almskog replied by wishing his opponent a happy Christmas.

IT bosses fall along with share price (Dagens Næringsliv)

Over 30 Norwegian senior executives have quit their jobs in that most turbulent of industries, the IT sector. Terje Foyn Johannessen, chief executive of Customas, is the latest victim so far. He leaves the top position in the company he started four years ago. A common factor for many is that they have been force out of companies they themselves have founded. Following this autumn’s IT massacre on the world’s stock markets, the value of most IT companies’ shares has been slashed by half compared to their peak.

Worth noting

• An opinion poll carried out for Nationen by market research companies Din Mening/Norsk statistikk shows that 52.6 per cent of the population are opposed to EU membership, 38 per cent are in favour and 9.4 per cent don’t know. (Nationen)
• Publishers Aschehoug have reported that sales of Norwegian literature are up more than NOK 13 million compared to last year. Rivals Gyldendal are also "raking it in", but for the publishing industry as a whole the situation is more patchy. (Aftenposten)
• The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) is gearing up for a major battle between two of its members. The Norwegian Union of Municipal Employees (AOF) is demanding the right to organize all employees working in companies that carry out services for the public sector. LO’s largest private sector union, the Norwegian United Federation of Trade Unions, strongly protests.
• Everyone is to have a primary GP, but some people will not get the doctor they want or the one they have today. It will cost you NOK 70 to take your medical records to a new doctor,. "This is a minor disadvantage with the primary GP system," says Health Minister Tore Tønne. (Aftenposten)
• Organized gangs steal, rob and terrorize passengers as they wait for buses, trains and trams in the area around Oslo’s Central Station. NSB and the police are now warning all passengers travelling to or from Oslo. (Dagbladet)
• Today NSB will set a new record. Never before have so many people departed from Oslo’s Central Station. Between 3 o’clock and 5 o’clock this afternoon around 120,000 passengers will be carried to their destinations in more than 200 trains. NSB has been planning the Christmas rush since the summer, and all available trains have been pressed into service. (NTB)
• According to the Norwegian Golf Association, golf is growing in popularity at such a rate that the country will need 100 new golf courses, the equivalent of 35,000 acres, over the next four years. The prospect of substantial profits means that farmers, too, are flocking to the Association’s offices in the hope of joining the green gold rush. (Nationen)
• The Ministry of the Environment has given the paddle steamer "Skibladner" permission to dump sewage and other water effluent into Lake Mjøsa, ensuring that the ship, dubbed the Mjøsa’s white swan, will continue to traffic Norway’s largest source of drinking water trailing a brown wake behind it. (Dagsavisen)

Today’s comment from Dagbladet

The Norwegian Central Bank does not hold out much hope of a cut in interest rates next year. We will have to wait another 12 months before we can expect cheaper loans, says the Bank, putting an end to most experts’ predictions of an early cut in interest rates. It is Central Bank Governor Svein Gjedrem who decides interest rates, so he is the one we had better believe. This is not good news for the Government which was obviously hoping to get a bit of help from a cut in interest rates. But it should be remembered that Mr Gjedrem is working to meet a highly ambitious target for inflation. If inflation is to be brought down to two per cent, interest rates must stay high. But inflation in the euro area is also higher than expected and is significantly above previous forecasts. It would be fairly meaningless for Norway, with unemployment approaching zero, to have a more ambitious target for inflation than an area where the unemployment rate is almost 10 per cent.

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The editors wish all their readers a Happy Christmas from a snow-free Oslo!

NOREG