NORWAY

Norway: The royal funeral that united a nation in grief

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – This year marks the 30 years since King Olav V died and his son took over as Norway’s new king. The official announcement of King Olav’s death, on January 17 1991, was given by the King in Extraordinary Council of State at the Palace at midnight. On January 18, King Harald gave his first speech as monarch, in which he remembered his father and asked for the support of the people in the duty that now lay before him. A few days later, on 21 January, King Harald gave his oath to the Constitution.

In the days before the funeral of King Olav, heads of state and royals from all over the world arrived in Oslo. Heads of state from over 150 nations were represented at the funeral. Royals from all monarchies around the world were represented. From Great Britain, The Prince of Wales and The Princess Royal participated; they were personal guests of Crown Prince Haakon and lived at Skaugum during their time in Norway in 1991. The Danish and Swedish royals lived at the castle in Oslo. The then King of Spain, Juan Carlos, even flew the plane that took him and Queen Sofia to Oslo. From the Soviet Union came the nation’s vice president, Gennady Yanayev.

On 30 January 1991, King Olav V was laid to rest. A large crowd followed King Olav to his final resting place. More than 100,000 Norwegians stood along the streets in Oslo while the King’s coffin was taken forward slowly. The participants have since said that they have never experienced such a sad atmosphere before or after. The whole of Oslo was quiet, the only thing you could hear were horseshoes against the ground, the church bells and cannon shots in the distance.

The funeral took place in Oslo Cathedral, where Bishop Andreas Aarflot officiated. Prime Minister Gro H. Brundtland said in her speech during the funeral: “King Olav was the king of the whole people. He became a role model for us all through his tireless efforts, through his secure leadership and through his true warmth. The children have said it so simply, he was the kindest king in the world.”

After the ceremony, the coffin of the monarch was brought to the Castle Church at Akershus Fortress, where the final burial took place. King Olav was then laid to rest in the Royal Mausoleum, by his wife’s side. He and Crown Princess Martha are now in the same sarcophagus. In the sarcophagus next to it are his mother and father, King Haakon VII and Queen Maud.

Losing King Olav was a great sorrow for the Norwegian people. King Olav was a much-loved monarch, largely due to his efforts for Norway during World War II. Otherwise, King Olav was very traditional and old-fashioned in many ways. All school children in Norway were gathered in auditoriums that day and watched the funeral on national television. When the funeral was going on, all traffic in Norway was stopped. Cars stopped on the side of the highways and heard the funeral on the radio while buses, trains and planes were halted in respect for the King. All churches all over Norway rang their bells, both the day after King Olav’s death and the day he was buried. All shops in Norway were closed in respect between 11am and 2pm on the day of the funeral.

From the day King Olav died until the funeral, the King’s Flag was flown at half mast and mourning ribbons were attached. After the ceremony at Akerhus Fortress, the royals returned to the palace in Oslo. According to old tradition, the mourning ribbons were removed and the flag of the King was raised to the top the moment King Harald came out on the balcony with his family. It was a powerful and poignant moment, showing that King Olav’s reign was officially over and that King Harald’s time had begun. When the royals came out on the balcony, people spontaneously started shouting “Long live the King” before singing the national anthem and then the royal anthem.

Norway: Crown Prince Haakon speaks of inclusivity on anniversary of racist murder that shocked Norway

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – Crown Prince Haakon has commemorated the murder of Benjamin Hermansen, twenty years after his racial killing shocked Norway. The Crown Prince sent a digital message on the 20th anniversary of his death.

Benjamin Hermansen was killed in the infamous “Holmila-murder” on January 26 in 2001. He was just 15 years old and he was killed because he was black. Two Norwegian neo-Nazis were later convicted of the murder. Benjamin’s death had a deep impact across Norway and is considered to have had a major effect the on the Norwegian anti-racism movement.

Despite strict infection control measures, several hundred candles had been lit by a bust of the killed 15-year-old which has been erected at the place where he was killed. The Crown Prince wanted to participate in person in the commemoration but due to the strict infection control rules he had to take part remotely. In his digital message, Crown Prince Haakon said: “I want to thank all of you who every day stand up for a better society. A society that is safe and inclusive for all.”

The murder of Benjamin made a deep impression on an entire nation. Following the murder in 2001, Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Princess Martha Louise, along with many thousands of others, took part in torchlight processions through the streets of Oslo to commemorate the young boy and to show that Norway will not accept racism and violence. More than 40.000 people participated in the torchlight procession in 2001. In 2002, Crown Prince Haakon met Marit Hermansen, Benjamin’s mother.

After the murder of Benjamin Hermansen at Holmlia at the end of January 2001, King Harald was asked what we should all do now to avoid a similar killing in the future. Of course, no precise answer could be given, but he encouraged everyone “to look at their own actions”, to think about whether there is something each and every one has done that could have contributed directly or indirectly to the basis of hate, and to ask ourselves what we can do to remove the basis for something similar to happen again. In 2011, His Majesty King Harald visited Holmlia School during events to remember Benjamin on the 10th anniversary of his murder in 2011.

Photo by Simen Sund / The Royal Court

Norway: On this day 30 years ago: King Harald takes his oath to the Constitution

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – On this day, January 21, 30 years ago, King Harald took his oath to parliament. On the evening of 17 January 1991, King Olav V died. At the same time, Crown Prince Harald became Norway’s new king, King Harald V.

When one monarch passes away, the next takes over at the same moment. Hence the expression “The King is dead – Long live the King”. However, the transition is also accompanied by a number of ceremonial elements, of which the King’s oath to the Constitution is the most important.

King Harald took his oath to the Norwegian Constitution in front of the Norwegian parliament in accordance with Section 9 of the Constitution on 21 January 1991. The Norwegian constitution from 1814 is the second oldest constitution in the world that is still in use today. Only the US Constitution is older. Article 9 of the Constitution states the following about the change of monarch: “As soon as the king, as an adult, takes over with the government, he makes this oath to the Parliament: “I promise and swear that I will rule the Kingdom of Norway in accordance with the constitution and the laws, so help me God Almighty and omniscient! ” If no Parliament is convened at that time, the oath is given in writing to the Prime Minister, and the King solemnly takes the oath when the Parliament is seated.“

Like his father and grandfather, King Harald took the motto: “Everything for Norway”. President of the parliament Jo Benkow, read the announcement of King Olav’s death, before the King took the oath. Pressident Benkow said among other things: “Your Majesty. King Olav V, the king of the whole people, has passed away. Today, the whole of Norway stands together in grief. The message of the death came late in the evening and spread across the country through a night when everyone was awake. The king’s death has given us all an intense experience of compassion and fellowship. A King like this had the national power to bind people together. A force we could always rely on when he lived, but such an act may well continue to live after his death.”

The ceremony was short but dignified. All were strongly affected by King Olav’s death. King Olav was a much loved and respected King. Queen Sonja was present during the ceremony and, according to tradition, she was dressed in mourning costume. His Majesty King Harald`s oath was as followed: “I promise and swear to rule the Kingdom of Norway in accordance with its constitution and laws, so help me God Almighty and omniscient!”

Then 13 years later on the same date, January 21, Norway’s future queen was born. Princess Ingrid Alexandra, daughter of Crown Prince Haakon and Mette Marit, the King’s granddaughter, was born on January 21 2004, 13 years into her grandfather’s reign as monarch.

Norway: Crown Prince Haakon, thirty years as heir

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – Though King Harald and Queen Sonja are marking 30 years on the throne this year, there’s another anniversary in Norway to commemorate as well: Crown Prince Haakon’s 30 years as the heir apparent to the throne.

Born on 20 July 1973, Haakon has been destined for the Norwegian throne since birth, as absolute primogeniture had not yet taken effect in Norway until 1990 (otherwise, his older sister, Princess Märtha Louise, would have been the heir). In his early years, Haakon attended royal functions only as necessary, but as he became the Crown Prince of Norway in 1991, his role and responsibilities have increased.

Only 17 when his father ascended to the throne, Haakon began the traditional royal route for an heir to the throne: military service and higher education. He joined the Royal Norwegian Navy and studied at the Norwegian Naval Academy before spending a year at sea aboard missile torpedo boats and other naval vessels. His current military ranks are Admiral in the Royal Norwegian Navy; and General in both the Norwegian Army and the Royal Norwegian Air Force.

Haakon attended the University of California in Berkley, graduating in 1999 with a political science degree, and followed that up with coursework at the University of Oslo and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (taking the civil servant introductory course) in 2001. He was also a trainee with the Norwegian delegation to the United Nations, and in 2003, he received a Masters of Science in Development Studies, focusing on international trade and Africa, from the London School of Economics.

Crown Prince Haakon has focused his work in the following areas: sport and outdoor activities; oceans, the environment and sustainability; youth; trade, industry and innovation; and international activities pertaining to development and poverty.

In an interview with Norway’s TV2 this past December, Haakon spoke about his future reign, saying that he doesn’t yet feel prepared and that “I have to do it my way. I must not try to be anyone other than myself, then it will be a little easier. I have many bad sides. It is not like people do not know. I can be a little distant. There are definitely things that could have been better.”

About telling his father about his plans for his reign, Haakon said, “In a way, we talked a lot about this in the 90s as well. He is very aware of the things and is very good to see my situation so that he facilitates it to go as well as possible.”

Norway steps up efforts to combat non-communicable diseases in low-income countries

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — Norway will contribute an additional USD 133 million to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases in low-income countries from 2020 to 2024. “Non-communicable diseases are the leading killers of our time. As is so often the case, the world’s poorest and most vulnerable bear the heaviest burden,” said Norway’s Minister of International Development, Dag-Inge Ulstein.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardio-vascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, respiratory diseases and mental illness, are the leading causes of death and disability in the world. More than 15 million people under the age of 70 die annually, the major part in low- and middle- income countries. People who are living with NCDs also have increased risk of becoming severely ill or die from Covid-19.

“The NCD crisis has been ongoing for several decades. The death toll is rising year by year. NCDs are often chronic diseases, resulting in high health costs for individuals, families and societies. As is often the case, people in vulnerable situations bear the heaviest burden,” said Ulstein.

Norway launched the strategy “Better Health, Better Life” to combat non-communicable diseases (NCDs) as part of the international development assistance last year. The Norwegian government has decided to allocate an additional NOK 1.2 billion (app. USD 133 million) to this work from 2020 to 2024.

“Non-communicable diseases is one of the world’s greatest health threats, preventing us from reaching Sustainable Development Goal number one: No poverty by 2030. Not only can poverty increase the risk of death and disability from non-communicable diseases, but we also know that developing an NCD increases the risk of falling into poverty,” Ulstein said.
The strategy has three main points: Strengthening primary health care; prevention targeting leading risk factors for NCDs like air pollution, tobacco and alcohol consumption as well as unhealthy diets; and strengthening health information systems and other global public goods for health.

“These actions are important also in the battle against Covid-19. We need to strengthen health systems in low income countries in order to fight the pandemic. We need to prevent and reduce risk through multisectoral measures. And we need to increase the access to health data and health information,” said Ulstein.

The strategy will support the SDG 3 targets of reducing premature deaths from NCDs by one-third by 2030 (SDG 3.4), and Universal Health Coverage (SDG 3.8) as well as targets for reducing deaths from air pollution, strengthening tobacco control and preventing harmful use of alcohol.

“Norway is the first donor country with a strategy focusing on NCD-action in developing countries. I hope other donor countries will follow. There is a huge need for funding. Despite the enormous death burden in low- and middle- income countries, NCD efforts only receive between one and two per cent of all global health-related development aid. The funding gap comes with a consequence, and too often the victims are the most vulnerable,” Ulstein added.

Facts and figures

Non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory disease, diabetes and mental health disorders cause more than 70% of all deaths worldwide. With respect to mental health, some 800,000 people a year die from suicide.

Worldwide, far more people die from non-communicable diseases each year than from infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, polio, Hiv/Aids and Ebola.

Of premature NCD-related deaths, some 86% occur in low- and middle-income countries – where there is a lack of capacity and awareness about prevention measures as well as access to diagnosis and treatment. This is also where we see the fastest rate of increase in overall NCD mortality.

The most important NCD risk factors are tobacco, air pollution, harmful use of alcohol, lack of physical activity and unhealthy diets with too much salt, sugar and trans-fat/saturated fat.
Large-scale global efforts could save millions of lives, contribute to healthier populations and economic growth in low-income countries. This will be crucial for achieving several of the sustainable development goals.

Currently about 1-2 percent of the world’s total health-related development assistance goes toward combating non-communicable diseases.

Pressekontakt: Tuva Bogsnes, tuva.bogsnes@mfa.no, mob.:+47 93 23 18 83

Source: regjeringen.no

Norway: Stay at home, have as little social contact as possible

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – Norway stands at the beginning of the second wave of infection. The virus is spreading rapidly and all counties now have outbreaks of infection. The Government is therefore introducing new national infection control measures.

“My message to the Norwegian people is: Stay at home as much as possible. Have the least possible social contact with others. Together we can reverse the alarming trend in infection rates, but it requires all of us to be a part of this huge effort in the coming weeks,” says Prime Minister Erna Solberg.

She emphasises that the most important thing is that everyone follows the basic advice of keeping your distance, keeping your hands clean, staying at home when you are sick, and keeping down the number of people you meet.

“We are now seeing a sharp increase in people who are testing positive. The situation is very serious, and it is challenging for many municipalities to track the infection. We don’t have time to wait and see if the measures we introduced last week are sufficient. We must act now to avoid a new shutdown like we had in March,“ says Prime Minister Erna Solberg.

There has been a significant increase in the spread of infection in recent weeks. At the beginning of August, there were 300 new infections per week. The number of cases has jumped significantly since then, and in the last week of October, 3,000 new infections were registered. In the last three weeks, Norway has seen more than 6,000 new infections. The curve is becoming steeper with each week.

“If this trend continues, it will create major challenges for the health service, as we see happening in country after country in Europe. We are therefore introducing new measures that are adapted to the infection situation we are now in. It’s especially important to target the measures so that we reduce social contact and travel to and from abroad,” says Minister of Health and Care Services Bent Høie.

Below are key recommendations and advice that currently apply.

Recommendations for everyone across the country Social contact

  • Recommendation that everyone in the coming weeks must stay at home as much as possible and limit social contact with other people. (New)
  • The number of guests at social gatherings in private homes, gardens or cabins should not exceed five, in addition to the household members. If all the guests come from the same household, more than five guests are permitted. Two families with many children can still meet.
  • The restriction limiting social gatherings to five guests does not apply to day care centre or primary school cohorts.
  • Young people and adults who have been with friends and in other situations where they have not been one metre apart, should stay two metres away from people in the risk group. (New)
  • In addition to the recommendations, there will be a new rule for how many people can be at private gatherings and events, see under rules for the whole country.

Travel

  • Avoid unnecessary domestic travel. Work travel that is considered necessary and trips to leisure properties that can be carried out without contact with others are exempt. (New)

Schools and education

  • All universities, university colleges and vocational schools must assess whether in the period ahead they can reduce teaching and other activities that contribute to increased mobility, including pressure on public transport. (New)
  • Upper secondary schools and lower secondary schools must prepare for the fact that the level of measures may turn red, if the infection rate continues to rise. (New)

Rules for everyone throughout the country
Private gatherings and events

  • Limit of up to 20 people at private gatherings in public places and in rented venues and 50 people at indoor events without fixed seats. Indoors, there can be up to 200 people at events where everyone in the audience sits in fixed seats. The change will enter into force at midnight, Monday 9 November. (New)

Nightlife

  • National ban on serving alcohol after midnight. Restaurants with a licence to sell alcohol cannot let in new guests after 22.00. This will take effect from from 00:01 Saturday November 7th. (New)

Quarantines and travel

  • Work travellers who have been in an area where the level of infection is particularly high during the 10-day period before their arrival in Norway will no longer be able to be exempted from the duty of quarantine during work hours on the basis of undergoing a test for Covid-19 once every three days, see Section 6c of the Covid-19 regulations. The general requirement to go into quarantine on entry to Norway will therefore apply in principle to all workers arriving from these areas.
  • For workers who may make use of the exemption from the duty of quarantine set out in Section 6c of the Covid-19 regulations, the following amendments to the rules have been made: workers who are allowed to work but must be in quarantine during leisure time are to be tested once every three days and must be given accommodation in a single room for the first 10 days of their stay in Norway The employer must ensure that it is possible to maintain social distancing when workers are undergoing quarantine during leisure time. There is no longer any exemption to the requirement to go into quarantine on entry to Norway during leisure time.
  • Travellers from red countries must present a certificate of a negative Covid-19 test when they arrive in Norway. The test must have been taken less than 72 hours before entry. If the person does not present such a test, he or she may be refused entry. This will be implemented from midnight, Monday 9 November. (New)
    • The requirement will not apply to Norwegians, persons who reside in Norway or persons in transit.
    • The requirement does not apply to people who regularly come to Norway from Sweden and Finland to work.
    • The requirement applies to health personnel who commute to Norway and who have been outside Norway for more than seven days.
    • Personnel with jobs critical to society may be exempted when necessary to avoid danger to life and health.
  • Persons who come to Norway must have a permanent residence in the country, or the employer or client must provide a guarantee of a suitable place of residence upon arrival in Norway. Persons, including tourists and visitors, who do not have their own residence or employer or client in Norway must stay in quarantine hotels and get tested during the quarantine period. This also applies to family members who come to visit relatives in Norway. The Norwegian Directorate of Health has been tasked with studying how these requirements can be introduced. Until this is established, border controls will be strengthened in accordance with existing regulations. (New)

New measures in regions with widespread infection
The Government is adding several measures that municipalities in residential and working regions with high contagion pressure should consider introducing.

The Norwegian Directorate of Health and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health will assess exactly which measures are relevant in different regions of the country, so that it is clear which measures are necessary to assess when the infection situation develops. Municipalities in a residential and working region that introduce measures should make them the same and coordinated as possible. The circular with proposals for local measures will be updated in accordance with the changes.

  • Halt in recreational sports for adults
  • Consider a halt to recreational sports for children and young people under the age of 20
  • Additional restrictions on restaurants, such as a complete stop to serving alcohol or closing at 22.00 to reduce the number of visitors during an evening
  • Additional restrictions on the size of various events
  • Recommendation on the use of face masks in taxis when their use is recommended in public transport
  • Red level in upper secondary schools. Lower secondary schools should prepare for the red level
  • Two metres distance for indoor physical activities
  • Mandatory home office
  • Stronger recommendation to avoid public transport
  • Close or restrict operations and activities that have a high potential for spreading infection, such as swimming pools, gyms, sports halls, bingo halls, museums, libraries, event venues without fixed seats and other public places where many people meet indoors

Work in progress:

  • The Norwegian Directorate of Health is tasked with studying whether rapid testing should be recommended or adopted at a national level before employees go to work in nursing homes and care homes, and the use of face masks in such places.
  • The Norwegian Directorate of Health is tasked with updating professional advice that will protect vulnerable groups in the health and care services. The Norwegian Directorate of Health shall also prepare guidelines and guidance material that will ensure necessary services for service recipients living at home and their next of kin.
  • The Norwegian Directorate of Health is tasked with revising guidelines on infection control in public transport and introducing stricter measures. This also applies to school buses.

More information about the measures introduced last week.

Featured image: Pexels

Norway’s revised National Forestry Accounting Plan for 2021-2025 finalised

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — Land use, land use change and forestry are key parts of the agreement between EU, Norway and Iceland on joint fulfilment of our 2030 emission targets. Norway has submitted its revised National Forestry Accounting Plan, including the forest reference level to the EFTA Surveillance Authority.

A National Forestry Accounting Plan is required under the EU regulation on land use, land use change and forestry. Norway published its draft National Forestry Accounting Plan in March 2019, and formally notified the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) on 12 March 2020, the day after the agreement on our joint fulfillment of the 2030 emission targets entered into force. The plan proposed a forest reference level in managed forests for the period 2021-2025. The construction of the forest reference level is based on the continuation of the management practices in Norwegian managed forest land, as observed in the reference period 2000 – 2009.

During spring 2020, Norway and Iceland’s draft National Forestry Accounting Plans were subjects to a revision led by the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA). ESA issued a Decision on 26 June 2020 (Decision No: 068/20/COL) with an assessment and technical recommendations to the National Forest Accounting Plans.

Norway has revised its National Forestry Accounting Plan and forest reference level according to the technical recommendations from the EFTA Surveillance Authority. The forest reference level is in average 26,1 mill. ton net removals of CO2 per year in the period 2021-2025, including harvested wood products.

The definitions, methodologies and data used to calculate the forest reference level are consistent with the methods used to estimate emissions and removals in the National greenhouse gas inventory report reported under UNFCCC, including the National Forest Inventory. The reference level is fulfilling the Paris Agreement’s principles of transparency, accuracy, completeness, comparability and consistency.

Background

The agreement on joint fulfilment of our 2030 emissions target means that Norway is part of EU’s climate legislation for 2030. This includes EU’s regulation on land use, land use change and forestry (no. 2018/841). According to regulation, countries shall record changes in removals and emissions from managed forests on the basis of a forward-looking reference level. The reference level is the core element in the national forestry accounting plan and is subject to a final technical assessment by the EFTA Surveillance Authority before it is finally adopted.

 

Source: regjeringen.no

Norway: The Corona situation: More information about quarantine hotels

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — In order to limit import infection, on 5 November 2020 the Government introduced arrangements involving quarantine hotels, effective from 9 November 2020. Further information about who has a duty to stay at the quarantine hotels and how the quarantine hotels will be operated are regulated in a new circular.

The introduction of the arrangements involving quarantine hotels does not lead to any changes about who must be in entry quarantine. Moreover, the quarantine period is still 10 days. Everyone who must be in entry quarantine must stay at a quarantine hotel during the quarantine period. This also applies to Norwegian citizens. However, there are three important exceptions:

-people who reside in or own a home in Norway, and who stay in their home or another suitable place
-people who have come to Norway to perform work or an assignment, and who have an employer or contractor who has arranged suitable accommodation with a private room during the quarantine period
-asylum seekers and resettlement refugees who have separate arrangements

Reside
The term “reside in Norway” means people who are registered in the National Population Register as residing in Norway, or who have reported moving to Norway in this register. When entering Norway, people must be able to document that they reside in Norway, e.g. by referring to information about their registered place of residence for tax purposes.

Own a home
Anyone who owns a home in Norway must be able to document this on entry. The term home covers holiday homes such as cottages, but not caravans and boats. Renting a home is insufficient. If people from the same household are travelling together, e.g. spouses or cohabitants and children, it is sufficient that at least one of the travellers owns a home in Norway.

Work
People must provide documentation that they will perform work or an assignment and that their employer or contractor has arranged suitable accommodation with a private room. This documentation can, for instance, be an employment contract or assignment agreement and a declaration from the employer or contractor about accommodation.

Svalbard
People who reside in Svalbard, and who cannot document a suitable place to stay on the mainland, must stay at a quarantine hotel.

Minors
Minors travelling alone, who are not covered by these exceptions or the exception below relating to children travelling to have contact with their parents, will have the opportunity of having caregivers present at the quarantine hotel.

Quarantine hotel
People staying at a quarantine hotel must pay a set charge of NOK 500 per night for private individuals and NOK 1,500 per night for employers. The remaining expenses will be covered by the municipalities who in turn will be reimbursed by the state.

People staying at a quarantine hotel will have the opportunity to be tested for Covid-19. However, even if the person tests negative for Covid-19 during the quarantine period, the duration of the quarantine period will not be reduced.

Any breaches of quarantine duty observed will be reported to the Police who will consider criminal prosecution.

Groups who are completely exempt from entry quarantine, both during working hours and in their leisure time:

-people who can document that, in the space of the past six months, they have had confirmed case of Covid-19 infection
-people who are coming to Norway to be with children as part of access and contact arrangements between parents and children, or those returning to Norway after fulfilling such access and contact arrangements abroad
-people invited by the Norwegian authorities for important foreign policy reasons

HERE you find information about corona produced by the Norwegian health authorities translated into foreign languages, sorted by language.

Source: regjeringen.no

Norway: Continuation of controls at the internal borders

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet — On 16 March, Norway reintroduced controls at the internal borders as a measure to limit the spread of Covid-19. The Government has decided to continue these measures and will, in line with our obligations, notify the EU of this.

Owing to the rising level of infection in Norway and Europe, the Government has decided to continue the controls at the internal borders that were introduced in March. It is important to emphasize that these border controls involve checking whether travellers are permitted to enter Norway, and whether they can present documentation of a negative Covid-19 test taken no later than 72 hours prior to entry and fulfil the requirement of a suitable place to stay during the quarantine period for those covered by this requirement.

The regulations concerning who is permitted to travel to Norway are assessed continually and remain subject to change even though controls at the internal borders are now being extended.

 

Source: regjeringen.no

Norway has responded to the European Commission concerning the regulation of digital platforms

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – The Norwegian Government has submitted Norway’s contribution regarding the EU’s announced regulation of digital platforms, the Digital Services Act. The contribution makes it clear that Norway supports the EU’s initiative to develop a new regulatory framework for digital platforms.

The EU has begun the task of regulating digital platforms, such as Facebook and Amazon. The planned regulation, the Digital Services Act (DSA), will form an important part of the EU’s new digital strategy.

The aims of the regulation are to facilitate the safe use of digital platforms and other digital services, and assess the platforms’ responsibility for their content, their role as a gatekeeper, freedom of expression and consumer rights. The first step in putting forward proposals for common EU regulation is a public consultation.

The Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation has carried out a process which has resulted in the provision of collective contribution from Norway to the EU concerning the DSA. A digital contribution meeting has been held with relevant stakeholders. There have also been a number of written submissions.

Stakeholders that have submitted written contributions are Telenor, the Norwegian Media Businesses’ Association, Schibsted, the Consumer Council, NRK, the Norwegian Consumer Ombudsman, the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO), Abelia, ICT Norway, the Norwegian Board of Technology, the National Parents’ Committee for Primary and Secondary Education, the Norwegian Association for the Blind, and the National Association for the Hard of Hearing.

Norway supports the EU’s initiative to develop a new regulatory framework for digital platforms, and the view that the new framework should be built on the fundamental principles of the current Electronic Commerce Directive.

Among other things, this entails the continuation of the principles of limited liability for service providers when acting as intermediaries, and a requirement for the rules applicable in the country of origin to be followed.

The Norwegian contribution further underlines the importance that the new regulatory framework must not lead to disproportionate regulatory burdens for small and medium enterprises. However, the contribution also refers to the importance of addressing relevant safety concerns and the need to combat crime.

Norway also believes that no obligations should be introduced for digital platforms which could cause content from edited media to be censored and freedom of expression to be harmed. Norway also recommends stronger protection of consumer rights on digital platforms. In addition, the need for universal design within digital solutions and measures to prevent hate speech against people with disabilities is underlined.

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