Foreign affairs
The main tasks of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are to promote Norway’s interests internationally and provide assistance to Norwegian nationals abroad. An important part of the Ministry’s work is to make sure that Norway ‘speaks with one voice’ in international forums. In this context, the Ministry works to coordinate the efforts of other ministries and give guidance.
Major effort to combat the coronavirus pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic’s economic and social ramifications will be dramatic. Poor countries with weak health systems and vulnerable population groups will likely be the hardest hit in terms of lives lost and economic damage.
What the EEA Agreement covers
Norwegians have the same rights and obligations as other EEA citizens when it comes to trade, investments, banking and insurance, and buying and selling services. They also have the same right to work, study and live in other countries in the EEA.
Program to Combat Marine Litter and Microplastics
In 2018, the Norwegian government launched a new development programme to combat marine litter and microplastics. The programme is intended to contribute to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14.1 which states that by 2025, the world should prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds.
Related topics and insights
What's new
Afghan representatives invited to talks in Oslo
21/01/2022: Norway has invited representatives of the Taliban to Oslo on 23–25 January 2022 for meetings with the Norwegian authorities and representatives of the international community, as well as with other Afghans from a range of fields within civil society.
Norway promoting disarma-ment and non-proliferation
17/01/2022: The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is the cornerstone of the global disarmament and non-proliferation regime. In today’s challenging security environment, where there is increasing global polarisation and countries such as China and Russia are behaving in a way that encourages an arms race, it is crucial to support the NPT and promote effective measures that countries can unite behind.
Latest news
- US-Europe Joint Statement on Afghanistan News story 27/01/2022
- International Holocaust Remembrance Day on 27 January News story 27/01/2022
- Statement in the Security Council meeting on Afghanistan Speech/statement 26/01/2022
- Afghanistan talks in Oslo have concluded: Beginning of an important dialogue News story 25/01/2022
- Afghans in Norway: Joint statement after meeting in Oslo News story 25/01/2022
Documents
Norway’s Role and Interests in Multilateral Cooperation
Rules-based international cooperation makes the world safer and more stable. Norway’s security, economy and prosperity depends on it. At the same time, international cooperation is under pressure. The white paper on Norway’s role and interests in multilateral cooperation will guide Norwegian multilateral policy in the coming years.
2019-2022
Guidelines to Work on Women, Peace and Security
The Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security sets out Norway’s policy for following up the resolutions on women, peace and security. These Guidelines are an aid for the foreign service missions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Norad – a tool that will help to translate policy into practice. The Guidelines supplement the Action Plan and must be read together with it.