Greater and more long-term support to Ukraine
Press release | Date: 28/11/2024 | Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
All political parties in the Storting (Norwegian parliament) today reached agreement on expanding and increasing the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine, which was established to support Ukraine’s fight for freedom. There is agreement between the political parties to extend the support programme for a further three years, and to provide an allocation of minimum of NOK 35 billion (EUR 3.0 billion) to Ukraine next year.
‘Norway stands firm in its support to Ukraine. We are extending our support through 2030, and next year we will provide at least NOK 35 billion in funding. It is crucial for Ukraine that our support is sustained across multiple years, and that there is broad political agreement behind it. We want the people of Ukraine to know that Norway’s support will continue. I would like to thank all the parties in the Storting (the Norwegian parliament) for their constructive cooperation,’ said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
Expanding the programme
The Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine was launched in February 2023. At a meeting of the Storting held today, the political parties agreed to expand and extend the programme.
- In 2025, the allocation to the support programme is to be at least NOK 35 billion (EUR 3.0 billion). Of this, 22.5 billion (EUR 1.9 billion) will be allocated as military support, and 12.5 billion (EUR 1.1 billion) as humanitarian and civilian support.
- The support programme will be extended by three years, to run through 2030. The overall funding framework will be increased to a minimum of NOK 154.5 billion for the programme period.
- A minimum allocation of NOK 15 billion per year is being established. This means that allocations exceeding this in any given year will not be deducted from the overall funding framework, as was previously the case.
Giving priority to military support
‘The situation in Ukraine is more critical now than when we first launched the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine. I am therefore pleased that the programme will be extended for a longer period, and that we have agreed on an amount for the minimum annual support. This means that if we choose to allocate more funding one year, it will not affect the support to be provided in subsequent years. We have agreed to have discussions with the parties in the Storting in advance of the revised national budget next spring,’ said Mr Støre.
The Government is in close dialogue with Ukraine on how best to target the support being provided.
‘Support to Ukraine is to be used in areas where it is needed the most. Next year we will direct NOK 22.5 billion towards military support, and NOK 12.5 billion towards civilian and humanitarian support. When it comes to military support, we will give priority to providing support to the Ukrainian defence industry. The Russian regime is bombing Ukraine’s power infrastructure, and we will also provide funding for efforts to secure adequate access to electricity for the Ukrainian population,’ said the Prime Minister.
Facts about the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine
- The support programme was first launched on 16 February 2023 by the parliamentary leaders, Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and President Zelensky.
- The Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine has been endorsed by all the political parties in the Storting.
- When it was first launched, the support programme was to provide a total of NOK 75 billion over a five-year period from 2023 to 2027, with an annual disbursement of NOK 15 billion each year.
- Since the support programme was launched, the annual financial framework has been increased several times. In 2024, support amounted to a total of NOK 27 billion in funding.
- The parties in the Storting have now reached agreement on expanding and extending the support programme.