News

Introductory speech at EU Heads of Mission meeting

Oslo, 9th September 2014

[09.09.2014]

"I am very glad to be here because European cooperation is so important to us, both economically and politically. The EU and EU member countries are among our closest partners. The geopolitical crisis in Ukraine has reminded us how important it is to stay together and defend our values", said Minister of Finance, Siv Jensen.

Countercyclical buffer unchanged

[27.06.2014]

The Ministry of Finance has today decided to keep the level of the countercyclical capital buffer for banks unchanged. This is in line with advice from Norges Bank. The Financial Supervisory Authority has stated that it concurs with the advice.

The Expert Group on investments in coal and petroleum companies invites to a stakeholder meeting

[03.06.2014]

The Ministry of Finance has appointed an expert group to assess the Government Pension Fund Global's (GPFG) appropriate use of policy instruments and investments in coal and petroleum companies. The Storting (the Norwegian parliament) has asked the government to establish the group, which will evaluate whether the exclusion of coal and petroleum companies is a more effective strategy for addressing climate issues in the management of the GPFG than the exercise of ownership and exertion of influence.

The IMF presents views on the Norwegian economy

[23.05.2014]

Today a mission from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) presented its views on the Norwegian economy and Norwegian economic policy. The mission’s report is supportive of the government’s fiscal policy and suggests that changes to the Norwegian tax system could further boost both productivity and economic growth.

The Revised National Budget 2014 - A budget for growth

[14.05.2014]

- The Government took the first steps towards a change in policy direction in the amended fiscal budget for 2014. In the revised budget we continue along this path. Targeted tax reductions, high priority on infrastructure and other measures to stimulate productivity and employment, are important to stimulate growth of the Norwegian economy, says the Finance Minister Siv Jensen.

Regulation and decision on systemically important financial institutions

[12.05.2014]

The Norwegian Ministry of Finance has today adopted a regulation on the identification of systemically important financial institutions in Norway. This is a follow-up of the capital requirements legislation adopted by the Storting (the Norwegian Parliament) last year.

Resilient Economies and Inclusive Societies

OECD Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris on 6-7 May

[07.05.2014]

State Secretary Paal Bjørnestad took part in the 2014 OECD Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris on 6-7 May. State Secretary Hans Brattskar from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also took part. The key theme of the meeting was «Resilient Economies and Inclusive Societies». The ministerial was chaired by Japan to commemorate the country’s 50th year as an OECD member.

A sound and responsible management of the Government Pension Fund

[04.04.2014]

"The Government is today presenting a report to Parliament (Storting) on the management of the Government Pension Fund in 2013. - The Fund has served us well and it gives important contributions to the financing of our welfare state", says Minister of Finance Siv Jensen.

The Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global - a financial investor, not a political policy tool

[04.04.2014]

Over the last few months Norway has witnessed a political debate about whether the Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG) should divest from all coal or petroleum companies. Today we announce that we have asked an Expert Group to look at how we should address the issue of climate gas emissions from coal and petroleum companies. The Expert Group's conclusions will be presented in Autumn 2014. However, independently of its recommendations, the GPFG will continue to be a well-diversified, global financial investor and not a policy tool, says Minister of Finance Siv Jensen.

Expert group on investments in coal and petroleum companies

[04.04.2014]

The Ministry of Finance has appointed an expert group to assess the Government Pension Fund Global's (GPFG) appropriate use of policy instruments and investments in coal and petroleum companies.