1. Welcome to Norway! By Finn C. Brevig

2. Norway - Where are we?
“A trip to Rome”
Far North – and East

4. Norway - some statistics
About 2500 km Coast line
(ca 1560 miles)
2 % Habited area
4 % Agriculture area
37 % Forest
45 % Open land – Bare mountains
5 million citizens

5. Mountains
Galdhøpiggen 2469 m
More than 100 mountains over m

6. Industries Oil sector Merchandising Public sector, ca 30 %
Many smaller companies
What about fishing?

7. Oilindustri 1958: “No oil” 1970: Det second poorest economy in Europe
The Government Pension Fund
8.450 bill. NOK
1.000 bill. USD
72 countries
9000 companies
1,4 % Listed companies W.W.
2,4 % in Europe

8. Statistics
20 % of BNP
45 % of Export
25 % Government income

9. Historical background
880 Norway One United Kingdom
790 – 1066 Viking Age
1066 Stamford Bridge / Hastings
1349 Black Death – 60 % dead
1380 – 1905 Unions with Denmark / Sweden
1814 Our Constitution – 17th of May
1905 Totally independent

10. The Constitution 1814 Montesqieu: Separation of Powers
Constitutional Monarchy
Parliament
Prime Minsiter - Government
Supreme Court

11. Local Authorities We were
19 Counties
427 Municipalities
«The Municipality Reform» - Where will it end?

12. The Municipality Law § 23: «The City Manager is the manager (CEO) of the total services in the municipality»
Responsibilty
Education (Prmiary and Secondery School)
Kindergarten
Primary healthcare
Community Planning
Social Services etc.
The authorizations varies a little, but normally the CM:
Hire and fire all employees, even the directors
Wide authorizations when it comes to do budget transfers
All employees act on behalf of the City Manager
The Major has more or less none authorizations
Oslo City – One of a few exceptions with a parlamentary model

13. Welcome to Norway
I wish you all a nice stay
Finn