- Relieve Støre from the High North

Chief Editor Amundsen agrees with the conclusions in an internal memo from the Ministry of Foreign Affaires. As reported by BarentsObserver this week, the memo concludes that Norwegian High North policy is strong rhetorically, but lacks substance. In Amundsen’s opinion, Foreign Minister Støre’s ministry should not be responsible for the High North measures. He argues that the Governments strategy for the region must be filled with contents which are visual for the people living in the region.

Instead it should be the Prime Minister’s office that should be responsible for the strategy and the budget allocations directed towards the High North. The promises from foreign Minister Støre has so far resulted only in unrealistic expectations on extra grants for new roads, modernized harbours and other infrastructure initiatives.

Norway’s national infrastructure plan for the period between 2010 and 2019, consists of no new initiatives to promote High North policies. In Amundsen’s opinion the plan, as it is written today, has most resemblance to an obituary notice for the Government’s High North policy. If the strategy and the Government have any hope of surviving next years Norwegian election, there will have to be fundamental changes in the government budget which will be presented in October.