Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said it straight: The budget conference takes place in the midst of “the most serious security policy situation since World War II”. “It’s a heavy message,” said Støre. Heavy message: The serious security policy situation will characterize next year’s state budget, according to Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap). Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB Together with Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg, he met today the press ahead of the Government Conference, where the most important priorities for next year’s state budget are placed. “The heading for this budget conference is to contribute to safe financial management,” the prime minister said. Disorders surrounded by smiling government colleagues outside Klækken Hotel at Hønefoss, Stoltenberg is prepared for mood change in some when the two -day budget conference ends tomorrow. – Also in Norway, which has a solid economy, a budget conference is demanding. All ministers have wishes, which exceed what we can get in place in a single budget, Stoltenberg said. Disapseers: Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg surrounded by happy ministers knit sweaters. The question is whether the smiles are just as wide when the budget conference is over. Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB In advance, it was clear that increased expenses for defense and preparedness as well as extra transfers to Ukraine through the so-called Nansen program are the main priority. Last week, the parties in the Storting agreed on an extraordinary contribution to Ukraine of NOK 50 billion for this year. Previously, NOK 35 billion has been allocated in Ukraine this year. This is now increased to NOK 85 billion for 2025. In his introduction to today’s press conference, the finance minister came into what he himself describes as a “gloomy backdrop”. – We create a budget where we are on the introduction to a comprehensive trade war, with major consequences for the Norwegian economy. That’s the slightly gloomy backdrop. Stoltenberg said he has never been involved in making a state budget for a more uncertain time than now. – We knew in many ways what was the answer to a demanding coronary epidemic. It was a vaccine, but we do not have a vaccine against war. We do not have a vaccine against increased customs walls. We do not have a vaccine for increased security policy risk. So we are in a situation where we create a budget in a very uncertain time. This is what people in the Porsgrunn the ruling should spend money on: Ellen MjeldeI think they have to spend less on roads and stuff. I’m afraid they get money from school and nursing homes, and I’m not right. School is very important. Nursing homes and hospitals are also important. It is always more important than cars. Not cars first. People first.Tony the second club regulation has to raise money from the defense budget, because they have quite a lot. The defense is on many millions, so they can give up something. There are probably only wages, and then they are the conscripts who are there. I’m afraid they pick up the money from those who are poor, then. Those who need help with homes and such.wenche Haagenrude are afraid the government takes money from the wrong places. They always think of the old ones, but there are always those who are going to suffer, and maybe on our children, then. We in the middle layer here, we are doing very well. We feel too good, to put it that way. You think about everything, and you have newspapers, as you read. That everything should go well for those who come after us.Marie Engelstad Heggebomjeg thinks there is a lot going on from both culture and from the administration. Before it comes out to the people, I think there is a lot of money for unnecessary things there. After all, I have worked a little in nursing homes. And I have seen during the very short time I worked there, it was a little over a year, so I saw the way they cut the budget a little bit and a little. I saw the conditions get worse and worse. I can only expect it to go down even more, and I think it’s sad. I study to become a nurse now, I can’t expect things to look brighter in the future. Stretch in the bill? Stoltenberg also entered the increased inflation in February and said the figures show that it is not easy to get the price increase down to the target of 2 per cent. – There is no straight line on the road down to 2 percent. It emphasizes the importance of pursuing a responsible and orderly economic policy, Stoltenberg said. After all, he added that the situation is better than it was a couple of years ago, when future inflation was estimated to be up to 7 percent. The question of price growth can cause the notified interest rate cuts to be pushed out in time was also set during the press conference afterwards. P4’s reporter wanted to know if yesterday’s figures for price growth were a “line in the bill”. Say no: Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg (Ap) on his way to a budget conference at Klækken Hotel. Photo: NTB – That’s higher than most estimates suggested, and forecasters expected. Of course, that’s not good news, but at the same time it doesn’t change the main picture, said Stoltenberg, who added that wages grow more than the prices do. When asked by TV 2 if it is not time to cancel the interest rate cut, Støre replied as follows: – I have not said. I have said that it is Norges Bank’s job. We will do our part of the job of safe financial management, the Prime Minister said and continue: “It is Norges Bank’s responsibility, and they will have their meetings and make their assessments, Støre said. Growth of 2 per cent The government estimates that growth in the Norwegian economy will increase from 0.6 per cent last year, to around 2 per cent both this year and next year. In addition, unemployment is still expected to stay low – while real wage growth is expected to increase further, so that the purchasing power strengthens for most people. – People are getting better advice. Last year, real wage growth became the strongest in more than ten years. The good development seems to continue this year and next year, says Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg. The government expects increased purchasing power to increase consumption of more than 5 per cent during 2025 and 2026. At the same time, a boost is expected in housing construction from this fall. When asked by news about the large sums that will be set aside for Ukraine and Norwegian emergency preparedness this year and next year means that there will be little left for other initiatives, Stoltenberg replies as follows: – We will be able to accommodate both support for Ukraine and for many other important purposes. We must remember that supporting Ukraine is in our security interest. The Minister of Finance added that money allocated to Ukraine does not represent increased pressure on Norwegian ecomomia and thus does not in the same way affect the room for other initiatives. Published 11.03.2025, at. 08.54 Updated 11.03.2025, at. 11.44
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