Strengthening civil emergency preparedness

‘Russia's attack on Ukraine has created a new security policy situation which will also have consequences for civil society in Norway, meaning that there is a greater need for awareness and preparedness. The Norwegian Government wishes to increase the security of the Norwegian population and Norwegian interests, and we will act quickly,’ says Minister of Justice and Public Security Emilie Enger Mehl.

The Norwegian Government will increase its efforts to counter intelligence operations, sabotage, and influence from foreign states, and proposes the allocation of NOK 57 million to the police and the Norwegian Police Security Service for personnel and equipment. This will increase our operational capacity and presence, especially in our northernmost counties.

The Norwegian Government also proposes granting a further NOK 200 million for increased digital security in 2022. The National Security Authority (NSM) is Norway's primary service working to prevent and stop digital attacks. The Norwegian Government wishes to allocate NOK 15 million to strengthen NSM's ability to combat digital attacks, as well as NOK 40 million for more organisations to introduce digital intruder alerts that notify NSM.

Norwegian municipalities are attractive targets for digital attacks, and the inhabitants would be badly affected if power or water supply, or computer systems, are interrupted. The Norwegian Government is therefore proposing to impose stricter digital security measures on the municipalities, with the Government covering the costs of this. NOK 50 million has been allocated for this measure.

The Norwegian Government is also granting NOK 200 million to improve civil emergency preparedness. This funding will be used to improve Civil Defence staffing and to upgrade materiel. The Norwegian Government will establish a modern public warning service, so that notifications can be sent to all mobile phone users nationwide using the mobile phone network in a matter of seconds. The Norwegian Government also wants to propose that volunteers, who play a critical role in saving lives throughout the country, receive greater funding to operate 2 000 new emergency network terminals.

‘The security situation in Norway has been clear and predictable for a long time. Times have changed, and there are other, higher demands on civil protection and emergency preparedness. The Norwegian Government is now securing Norway in these new times,’ says Ms Mehl.