On June 16th, the Norwegian Government presented its new white paper, entitled "Hjarte for heile landet" ("A Heart for all") on rural-and regional policies to the Storting.
In presenting the paper, Ms Åslaug Haga, the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development, underlined that the main ambition of the white paper was to give people in Norway the choice to live where they want.
In order to achieve this, the government will strengthen the economy of local municipalities: – Differentiated payroll taxes will thus be reintroduced. Furthermore, increased attention will be given to transport and infrastructure, she added.Trade and industry, research and education, bio-energy, culture, health and welfare, housing, the development of local communities, the establishment of public institutions as well as land-use will all receive special attention in the white paper, as will efforts to maintain shopping-facilities in small communities.
New government support will primarily be given to localities located far from urban centres, characterized by a declining population, and which have a particular vulnerability in respect of attracting jobs and income.
Ms Åslaug Haga also emphasized that the new white paper represented a concerted effort from a united government, and that the government had appointed a special committee for district-and regional-politics in Norway, adding: – In fact, we are the first government ever to appoint such a committee.
Odd Iglebaek