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Meld. St. 12 (2010–2011) Report to the Storting (white paper) Published by: Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Assistance to Norwegians abroad Internet address: www.government.no Printed by: 07 Xpress AS 08/2012 Meld. St. 12 (2010–2011) Report to the Storting (white paper) Assistance to Norwegians abroad Translation from the Norwegian. For information only. Contents Summary and main message ..................... 5 5.2 Illness .............................................. 22 5.3 Theft ................................................ 23 1Introduction.................................. 7 5.4 Arrest and prosecution .................. 23 1.1 Background to the white paper .... 7 5.5 Serious criminal cases ................... 24 1.2 What are consular services? ........ 8 5.6 Piracy ............................................... 25 1.3 Other kinds of assistance to 5.7 Serving a sentence abroad ............ 26 Norwegians abroad ........................ 8 5.8 Assistance to minors ...................... 26 2Principles and practice ............. 9 6 Administrative assistance ......... 31 2.1 International legal framework ...... 9 6.1 Passports and other Norwegian 2.2 No legal right to consular travel documents ............................ 31 assistance ........................................ 9 6.2 Registration in the National 2.3 Resources for dealing with consular Population Register ........................ 32 matters ........................................... 11 6.3 Surrogacy ........................................ 33 6.4 Adoption ......................................... 34 3 International cooperation in 6.5 Solemnisation of marriage ............. 34 the consular field ........................ 14 6.6 Deaths ............................................. 35 3.1 Nordic cooperation in the 6.7 Other assistance ............................. 36 consular field .................................. 14 3.2 Consular cooperation with the EU 15 7 Assistance in a crisis ................ 37 7.1 Assistance from the Norwegian 4 Who is entitled to assistance, authorities ....................................... 37 and where and when is it 7.2 International cooperation on crisis provided ....................................... 16 preparedness and management .... 39 4.1 Who is entitled to assistance ........ 16 4.2 Where and when assistance is 8 Reimbursement of expenses .. 41 provided .......................................... 17 4.3 Openness and information to the 9 Looking ahead ............................. 42 general public ................................. 18 4.4 Notification of suspected benefit Appendix fraud ................................................ 20 1 List of ministries, agencies and organisations consulted in 5 Assistance in critical situations 21 connection with the preparation 5.1 Accidents ........................................ 21 of the white paper ........................... 43 Assistance to Norwegians abroad Meld. St. 12 (2010–2011) Report to the Storting (white paper) Recommendation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dated 1 April 2011, approved by the Council of State on the same date. (Stoltenberg II Government) Summary and main message Norwegians are travelling abroad more and more The assistance provided by Norwegian authorities frequently, and an increasing number of Norwe- to Norwegians abroad is based on the principles gian citizens are taking up residence in other of individual responsibility and self-help. The most countries. This has resulted in more, and more important thing people can do to help themselves complex, requests for consular assistance, combi- is to ensure that they have adequate travel insu- ned with high, and at times unrealistic, expecta- rance. tions as to the assistance and support the Norwe- Most consular assistance is provided by Nor- gian authorities can provide to Norwegians way’s 95 embassies and consulates-general. Assis- abroad. tance is also provided by the Foreign Ministry in This white paper discusses the scope and Oslo, for example by the Foreign Service nature of Norway’s consular services today, iden- Response Centre, and the some 380 Norwegian tifies key trends and challenges, and provides gui- honorary consulates, which are spread over large delines for how these activities should be carried parts of the world. The Foreign Service uses an out in the future. It also touches briefly on a num- estimated 200 person-years to assist Norwegian ber of specific problems that arise in connection citizens abroad. with crises abroad where Norwegians are affec- The Nordic countries cooperate closely in the ted. consular field, for example by acting on each The Storting has dealt with individual consular other’s behalf in countries where they do not all cases and various aspects of Norway’s consular have a diplomatic or consular presence, and in cri- efforts on a number of occasions, but has not pre- sis situations. The Government will seek to estab- viously considered Norwegian consular services lish even closer consular cooperation with the as a whole. other Nordic countries, and with the EU in cases In order to reduce the gap between the servi- where this is considered expedient. ces offered and the public’s expectations, it is In this white paper, a distinction is made bet- important that there is general agreement on and ween assistance in emergencies on the one hand, acceptance for the kind of consular assistance that for example in connection with accidents, illness, should be provided and who should be eligible for death, theft and arrests, and more administrative such assistance. support on the other, for example issuing pass- Norwegians abroad are subject to the host ports, solemnising marriage, assistance in adop- country’s legislation. This imposes clear require- tion cases, etc. ments on the individual traveller and sets limits Priority will continue to be given to acute and for the consular assistance that may be provided. serious matters where human life or health is at 6 Meld. St. 12 (2010–2011) Report to the Storting (white paper) 2010–2011 Assistance to Norwegians abroad stake, and to cases that could involve violations of try’s operating budget, whereas the individual human rights and those involving minors. concerned is responsible for covering his or her The Government will seek to ensure that, inso- own expenses. Exceptions may be made in com- far as possible, the consular services provided in plex, acute crises. The Norwegian authorities may different parts of the world are as equivalent as also require that their expenses are refunded in possible in comparable cases. However, this is not exceptional cases involving gross negligence and always possible for both formal and practical rea- where preventive considerations weigh heavily. sons. In the Government’s view, higher priority The white paper does not contain proposals for should be given to assisting Norwegians on short any major changes in the consular services that trips abroad than those who are permanently resi- are currently provided. The Government will give dent in the host country. priority to further developing Norway’s consular In accordance with current practice, the For- services so that they continue to be as professio- eign Service’s expenses in connection with consu- nal, effective and efficient as possible in the lar assistance are covered over the Foreign Minis- future. 2010–2011 Meld. St. 12 (2010–2011) Report to the Storting (white paper) 7 Assistance to Norwegians abroad 1 Introduction 1.1 Background to the white paper time consular matters are attracting more and more attention, both in the media and among the Every year Norwegians make more than 7 million general public. We have also seen cases of people trips involving overnight stays to other countries, using media coverage to try to get more assis- while some 80 0001 Norwegian citizens are regis- tance from the Norwegian authorities. tered as permanently resident outside Norway. An The Storting has also shown interest in the increasing number of Norwegians are travelling way consular matters are dealt with, particularly abroad and spending longer periods of time out- after the tsunami in 2004, but also subsequently. side the country due to increased trade and inter- This has taken the form of written and oral ques- national cooperation, greater spending power, tions, debates and parliamentary documents such cheaper air tickets and stronger promotion of as Recommendation S. No. 306 (2008–2009), cf. tourism in many places. This trend is expected to the white paper on the main features of Norwe- continue in the years ahead. gian foreign policy (Report No. 15 (2008–2009) to The vast majority of trips abroad proceed with- the Storting). The Storting has drawn attention to out any problems. A small percentage of those the importance of providing professional consular who travel abroad need assistance, but are able to services and emphasised that this is a key task for resolve their problem with the help of their insur- the Norwegian Foreign Service. The Storting has ance company, fellow travellers, friends or rela- been concerned that consular services should be tives. There are many reasons why Norwegians consistently of high quality, but at the same time may need assistance; theft and illness are among made it clear that Norwegian citizens cannot the most common. Only a small percentage of expect to receive the same standard of social wel- those who need help contact the Norwegian fare services abroad as in Norwegian territory. In authorities.

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