The case in summary: The government is considering introducing restrictions for foreign nationals to own property in Norway in order to secure the Defense against espionage. Several new measures from the government are on the way, and a new study will assess measures to limit the possibility of using properties and foreign-owned companies for espionage. Russian property purchases and attempts to acquire companies in Norway have caused controversy over several years. Norway looks to Finland, which has introduced prior approval for foreigners when buying property, and is considering a total ban on Russian citizens owning property. The Ministry of Justice and Emergency Preparedness confirms that several restrictions for foreigners in the property market are under consideration. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. The government is considering several measures around foreigners’ purchases of property in Norway to increase the security of Norwegian defense facilities and socially critical infrastructure. – If the Norwegian Armed Forces receives information about the use of a property for security-threatening activities against the Norwegian Armed Forces’ facilities, and the Norwegian Armed Forces cannot protect itself against such activity, it may result in measures from the authorities, such as expropriation. This is according to State Secretary in the Ministry of Justice and Emergency Services John-Erik Vika (Sp) to news. Norway looks in particular to Finland when they consider new measures against what the government believes is a growing espionage threat from Russia, or: – A new security political reality, as Vika describes it as. Several new measures from the government are on the way, writes Nationen. Already in the autumn, a new investigation will consider measures to limit the possibility of using properties and companies for espionage against Norwegian national interests. At the same time, the measures may make it more difficult for Russians to own property in Norway, especially in the vicinity of defense facilities and other civilian facilities of importance to national security. In March 2021, Russians tried to buy the defense company Bergen Engines, which, among other things, produces gas turbines for use in larger naval vessels. Photo: Alrik Velsvik Russian property purchases in Norway Over several years, Russian property establishments and acquisitions have caused controversy in Norway. In 2022, it became known that the Russian Orthodox Church had established a church right near the naval base Haakonsvern. The acquisition had already been completed in 2017, without the Norwegian authorities reacting. In 2021, the Solberg government stopped the sale of the defense company Bergen Engines, north of Bergen, after a Russian acquisition attempt. In April this year, TV 2 revealed that Russians, connected to Putin’s inner circle, had bought cabins near Bardufoss air station and Heggelia military camp. In 2017, a Russian Orthodox congregation established a church on the property of the old Søreide Bedehus with a view of the Haakonsvern naval base in Bergen. In 2022, the Vardø municipalities shelved plans to make a municipal plot available to build a Russian Orthodox church not far from the Globus II radar at Vardø. In 2021, the government stopped the sale of the Bergen Engines plant north of Bergen after it became known that the Russian company, which wanted to buy the plant, belonged to Putin’s inner circle. In April 2024, TV2 revealed that several cabins, in a cabin field overlooking Bardufoss military airfield and Heggelia military camp, were owned by Russians with ties to the Putin regime. Listening to Sweden and Finland Over several years, Finland has experienced an increase in the acquisition of properties and housing by Russian citizens and companies. Several acquisitions have also taken place in the vicinity of critical infrastructure and military areas. From 2016, after the first Russian real estate purchases were discovered, constant tightening of legislation has attempted to limit Russian acquisitions in the country. Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen wants a total ban on Russian citizens owning property in Finland. Photo: Jonas Løken Estenstad Finland: Considering a total ban on Russians owning property The Finns have introduced prior approval for foreigners when buying property. The new law has already stopped several Russian property purchases at defense facilities in the country. – When it comes to the assessment of whether we should introduce a law like the Finnish one, which requires prior approval of certain property purchases, this is something that is being assessed, says John-Erik Vika to news. Earlier this year, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen proposed to ban all sales of property in Finland to Russian citizens. The Swedish authorities are also considering the same ban. – The Ministry of Justice and Emergency Preparedness is in dialogue with the Finnish authorities to learn from their experiences, says Vika. John-Erik Vika, State Secretary in the Ministry of Justice and Emergency Preparedness, says the government is in close dialogue with the Swedish and Finnish governments on measures against Russian property purchases. Photo: Rune Kongsro Assessing new restrictions on property rights The Ministry of Justice and Emergency Preparedness confirms to news that the government will investigate the following proposal, but clarifies that no conclusion has yet been reached: Prior approval for property purchases for foreigners, from outside the EEA area. How property registration can ensure that the Norwegian authorities have sufficient control over the ownership of property in Norway. Restrictions on foreigners buying property near military installations. It has not been decided whether the government will propose introducing a general ban on Russian citizens owning property in Norway, as Finland and Sweden are considering. This is in addition to measures the government has introduced in the past year, aimed specifically at Russian citizens’ access to Norway. There will be restrictions on selling property near critical infrastructure of importance to national security. Such as at the gas plant at Nyhamna on Aukra in Møre and Romsdal. Photo: Øyvind Sandnes / news Luftfoto Several new property measures implemented The changes in the Security Act from June last year have already given the authorities legal authority to expropriate properties near socially critical activities. On Friday 14 July this year, several of the changes to the Security Act came into effect. Among other things, the King in Council can adopt measures to stop businesses and ongoing establishments “which may entail a not insignificant risk of national security interests being threatened.” In addition, the obligation to report when selling property near civil and military critical infrastructure is to be enforced more strictly, and in dialogue with the real estate industry. Furthermore, it “results in a not inconsiderable risk that national security interests are threatened”. Thus, the government in the cabinet can, as early as this week, decide that the acquisition of properties near military facilities must be stopped. – The armed forces, which own the object worthy of shielding, must protect themselves against all forms of security-threatening activity, including properties they have identified as being of security importance, says John-Erik Vika to news. news has been in contact with the Russian embassy for a comment on possible upcoming restrictions for Russians to own property in Norway. The embassy replies in an e-mail that they do not wish to comment on measures that have not yet been introduced. Geir Ulfstein is professor emeritus of international law at the University of Oslo. Photo: Johan Moen / news Can deny Russians ownership of property Professor at the Department of Public Law at the Faculty of Law at the University of Oslo, Geir Ulfstein, is an expert on international law and human rights. He basically believes that Norway can prohibit certain foreigners from owning real estate in Norway. – Norway has a sovereign right, by virtue of our sovereignty, to prohibit foreigners from owning real estate in Norway, says Ulfstein to news. – There may nevertheless be a question under international law as to whether there are exceptions based on international treaties Norway has signed. He points, among other things, to the fact that Norway and Russia have signed a separate agreement on mutual protection of investments in each other’s countries. John-Erik Vika says that the regulations must be adapted to the new reality. The government will therefore look at how the Norwegian authorities can ensure sufficient control over the ownership of real estate. – We will initiate a concept selection investigation (KVU) to investigate how compulsory owner registration can give the Norwegian authorities sufficient control over ownership of real estate, says Vika. Published 22.07.2024, at 05.02
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The government announces new measures to stop espionage against Norwegian defense facilities – news Troms and Finnmark
