Today in Norway: A roundup of the latest news on Thursday
A potential tourist tax, Norway's NATO plans and the return of high energy prices are among the headlines on Thursday.
Norway and Germany want a NATO hub for undersea infrastructure
Germany and Norway want to start a NATO-led alliance to protect critical underwater infrastructure following two explosions on gas pipelines in the fallout from the Ukraine war.
"We are in the process of asking the NATO Secretary General to set up a coordination office for the protection of underwater infrastructure," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told a press conference in Berlin.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said the alliance would be "an informal initiative to exchange between civilian and also military actors", with NATO providing "a centre, a coordination point".
Underwater cables and pipelines were "arteries of the modern economy" and it was necessary to create "a coordinated joint effort to ensure security for this infrastructure", he said.
Health authorities to try and ease medicine shortages
The Ministry of Health and Care Services has submitted a proposal for emergency medicine storage. The plans would aim to reduce shortages of several medicines.
This year the anti-inflammatory Prednisolone, Mirtazapine, an antidepressant, and several cough syrups, including Cosylan, and Cyanocobalamin, which is used to treat vitamin B deficiency, have been in short supply.
"During the pandemic, the Norwegian Medicines Agency was authorised to introduce rationing of medicines. It was to ensure access and fair distribution of medicines," Sayeh Ahrabi at the Norwegian Medicines Agency told the newspaper Aftenposten.
Tourist tax may be introduced
The Norwegian government will submit a proposal for a tourist tax next autumn as part of its budget agreement with the Socialist Left Party (SV).
The proposal will be submitted concerning the state budget for 2024.
"We have to investigate this and see how such a tax can be designed, both practically and legally. But the idea is that the local communities should be able to be left with more," state secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Lars Vangen, told Norwegian newswire NTB.
In 2024 tourists may be required to pay additional tax on hotels, souvenirs, and activities such as boat trips, among other things.
Higher energy prices in December
Following lower energy prices in October and November, the cost of energy is expected to rise once more in December.
"The forecasts say that we will have 14 days of really cold weather throughout the Nordics. The temperatures will be far below normal, and there will be no precipitation," Sigbjørn Seland, chief analyst at Storm Geo Nena, told the newspaper Bergens Tidende.
This would contribute to people using more energy and thus drive up the price of electricity.
Comments
See Also
Norway and Germany want a NATO hub for undersea infrastructure
Germany and Norway want to start a NATO-led alliance to protect critical underwater infrastructure following two explosions on gas pipelines in the fallout from the Ukraine war.
"We are in the process of asking the NATO Secretary General to set up a coordination office for the protection of underwater infrastructure," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told a press conference in Berlin.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said the alliance would be "an informal initiative to exchange between civilian and also military actors", with NATO providing "a centre, a coordination point".
Underwater cables and pipelines were "arteries of the modern economy" and it was necessary to create "a coordinated joint effort to ensure security for this infrastructure", he said.
Health authorities to try and ease medicine shortages
The Ministry of Health and Care Services has submitted a proposal for emergency medicine storage. The plans would aim to reduce shortages of several medicines.
This year the anti-inflammatory Prednisolone, Mirtazapine, an antidepressant, and several cough syrups, including Cosylan, and Cyanocobalamin, which is used to treat vitamin B deficiency, have been in short supply.
"During the pandemic, the Norwegian Medicines Agency was authorised to introduce rationing of medicines. It was to ensure access and fair distribution of medicines," Sayeh Ahrabi at the Norwegian Medicines Agency told the newspaper Aftenposten.
Tourist tax may be introduced
The Norwegian government will submit a proposal for a tourist tax next autumn as part of its budget agreement with the Socialist Left Party (SV).
The proposal will be submitted concerning the state budget for 2024.
"We have to investigate this and see how such a tax can be designed, both practically and legally. But the idea is that the local communities should be able to be left with more," state secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Lars Vangen, told Norwegian newswire NTB.
In 2024 tourists may be required to pay additional tax on hotels, souvenirs, and activities such as boat trips, among other things.
Higher energy prices in December
Following lower energy prices in October and November, the cost of energy is expected to rise once more in December.
"The forecasts say that we will have 14 days of really cold weather throughout the Nordics. The temperatures will be far below normal, and there will be no precipitation," Sigbjørn Seland, chief analyst at Storm Geo Nena, told the newspaper Bergens Tidende.
This would contribute to people using more energy and thus drive up the price of electricity.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.