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.

We are living in a society that is changing increasingly rapidly, and in order to deal with this we need a firm foundation of ethical values combined with the ability to think afresh. The government’s values are based on the principles of democracy and the rule of law and on our Christian and humanist cultural heritage. Respect for the individual, for human rights and human dignity, is of fundamental importance.

The government will intensify the fight against poverty, both in Norway and abroad. The government will provide safety and security for its citizens and maintain its strong commitment to international peace and reconciliation.

The government will pursue an active environmental policy based on the principle of sustainable development.

The government will improve the quality of education, health care and care of the elderly. The government will continue to pursue an active regional policy.

The government will strengthen the position of the family and give families better opportunities to care for their members.

The government attaches importance to freedom of choice and voluntary work.

A willingness to think afresh and to adapt is essential in order to achieve the goal of greater wealth creation and the further development of welfare goods. New challenges require new solutions. The government is therefore carrying out a comprehensive programme of modernisation.

Job creation and job security are main priorities for the government. Unemployment will be combated on a broad front.

Norway’s oil and gas resources open up great opportunities, but also entail great responsibilities in terms of management. We must ensure that future generations are also able to benefit from these assets.

Norway is facing great challenges in the field of pension policy. The Pensions Commission will submit its final report before the end of the year, and the government will follow up these efforts. The objective is to devise a reform that will ensure both security for the individual and economic sustainability for the National Insurance Scheme.

Over time, developments in the mainland economy will determine our welfare. The main foundation for value creation is high labour force participation and a high standard of expertise in the labour force.

The fight against unemployment requires all parties to show moderation. The government will invite the social partners to continue their co-operation on income policy with a view to keeping wage growth within responsible limits and strengthening the international competitiveness of the Norwegian business sector.

In the course of the autumn, the government will evaluate the agreement on a more inclusive workplace together with the social partners. Including more people in the workplace, reducing sickness absence, and raising the actual retirement age are important both for the individual and for society as a whole.

The Working Environment Act is to be reviewed with a view to intensifying health promotion efforts and simplifying its provisions and making them less stringent.

The ability to think along new lines is of crucial importance for development in the private sector. The government will introduce a plan for a coherent innovation policy. The bodies responsible for promoting innovation and internationalisation in Norway will be brought together in a new agency from the end of this year.

The government is working on a reform of the taxation system, with the aim of establishing a stable and predictable system.

The government will submit a white paper to the Storting on shipping policy.

The efforts to increase value creation in the marine sector will continue. Priority will be given to efforts to safeguard ecosystems and ensure sustainable management of marine resources.

The government will ensure economic development and secure the supply of collective goods in the agricultural sector. At the same time the efforts to develop new businesses and attractive places to live in rural districts will be intensified.

A long-term perspective will be applied to the management of energy resources. The petroleum sector will be further developed within environmentally sound limits, taking into account the needs of other industries that are based on managing marine resources.

The government’s aim is to ensure a secure energy supply, with sufficient power at acceptable prices. Important elements of energy policy are renewable energy sources, the environmentally sound use of natural gas and efficient energy use. The government will submit a white paper to the Storting on the security of electricity supply.

A national survey and monitoring programme for biodiversity is to be established so that we can achieve the goal of halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010.

The government will submit white papers to the Storting on the management of large carnivores and cultural heritage policy.

The government will develop public services that are user friendly, easy to use and efficient. Key elements of the modernisation process are greater room for manoeuvre for municipalities, delegation of authority and improvement of first-line public services.

The government will follow up the Storting’s decision to examine a number of different models for setting up a new agency combining Aetat, the national insurance administration and the social services.

A bill on competition will be introduced, together with measures to strengthen competition policy and the independent status of the competition authorities.

The process of simplifying rules and regulations relating to the private and municipal sectors will be continued, and a new version of the plan of action “A Simpler Norway” will be presented.

The government will propose amendments to the Planning and Building Act so that the planning system is made more effective and flexible and easier to use for both municipalities and individuals.

The government will submit a white paper to the Storting on the quality of primary and lower secondary education. A national quality assurance system will be established. A school system characterised by diversity and greater local freedom of action is an important priority for the government. The campaign against bullying will be intensified.

The standard of Norwegian research will be raised and greater priority will be given to research. The government has begun work on a white paper on research. The new system for financing state universities and colleges will be further developed, among other things in order to encourage higher standards in Norwegian research.

The government will propose a greater degree of equalisation between state and private educational institutions.

A white paper on the modernisation of the State Educational Loan Fund will be submitted to the Storting.

The quality of municipal health and social services will be improved, and the government will give priority to extensive co-operation with the municipalities in order to achieve this.

The government will promote equal status for persons with disabilities and seek to improve access for this group.

The efforts to prevent poverty and help people out of poverty, including efforts to combat homelessness, will be intensified. A white paper on housing policy will be submitted that will focus on people who are disadvantaged in the housing market and the special challenges in high pressure areas.

The government will strengthen the health care and treatment facilities for substance abusers.

The efforts to improve the mental health sector will be further intensified. The government will implement a separate strategy for promoting the mental health of children and young people.

A white paper on a financing system for specialised health services will be submitted to the Storting.

Preventive health efforts will be strengthened.

The government will draw up a national strategy for dealing with the challenges in cancer care.

The work in the field of biotechnology will be based on respect for human dignity and on the precautionary principle.

The efforts to promote gender equality will be continued.

The government will follow up the agreement on day-care centres that was reached in the Storting, and will ensure that there are enough places to satisfy the demand and that parents’ fees are lowered.

Measures to combat violence and abuse, particularly against women and children, will be given priority. The crisis centres will be put in a better position to help children who have been subjected to violence.

The government will introduce a system of approval for child welfare institutions and regular monitoring of their operation.

The government believes in the importance of art and culture for the individual and for society and will follow up the main policy lines set out in the white paper on cultural policy.

The government will take steps to maintain an open, inclusive national church, among other things by strengthening religious education for children and young people.

The government will pursue a humane refugee and asylum policy and considers it very important to safeguard the institution of asylum. Asylum-seekers will receive differential treatment in accordance with international conventions.

The government will make it easier for immigrants to take part in working life and society, among other things by introducing obligatory instruction in the Norwegian language and in civics.

The government will submit a white paper to the Storting that clarifies political control of matters relating to immigration. A white paper on multicultural Norway will also be submitted.

A white paper on freedom of expression will be submitted to the Storting.

The government will introduce further measures in the Prison and Probation Service that will meet the need for more capacity.

The efforts to reduce the vulnerability of our society and strengthen civil emergency planning will continue.

The government’s goal is to ensure settlement, value creation and viable local communities throughout the country. Satisfactory alternatives to the differentiated employer’s contribution to the National Insurance Scheme will be introduced for those areas and activities that will be affected by the changes in this arrangement as from 2004.

The government will fulfil Norway’s international obligations as regards indigenous peoples and national minorities. The development of Sami industries and the Sami language will be promoted.

A new national transport plan for the period 2006-2015 will be presented in the spring of 2004. A goal will be to enhance the competitiveness of the business sector and take steps to ensure a more environmentally friendly transport system.

The number of road accidents must be reduced. This will be the basis for a far-reaching effort to promote traffic safety. The government will also seek to improve safety in coastal waters.

The government will introduce a system that provides incentives for growth in public transport services in urban areas.

The government will continue its strong international engagement and actively support a key role for the United Nations.

The World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg will be followed up, especially through Norway’s national Agenda 21. Active use will be made of the Norwegian chairmanship of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development in this connection.

The government will continue to pursue a pro-active human rights policy.

The government will continue to increase development assistance to the world’s poorest. We will support the global campaign against poverty by continuing to promote debt relief and better trade conditions for developing countries.

The government will take an active part in the World Trade Organisation in order to promote a fairer trading system.

The government will pursue an active European policy as regards the EU and in the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe. We will also seek to safeguard Norwegian interests through the EEA Agreement, the Schengen co-operation and the foreign policy dialogue with the EU.

Norway will continue to participate actively in the fight against international terrorism. High priority will be given to the fight against transnational crime, especially trafficking in women and children.

The government will continue with the restructuring of the defence forces with a view to creating a more up-to-date and flexible structure.

The government will further develop the transatlantic ties and promote co-operation between NATO and Russia.

Norway’s security will continue to be based on NATO co-operation, at the same time as NATO is adapting to the new security policy challenges.

I pray that God will bless the deliberations of this Storting, and I hereby declare the 148 ^th> session of the Norwegian Storting to be opened.

Given at the Royal Palace in Oslo on 26 September 2003