See photos from the visit on Flickr. All photos may be freely used provided they are correctly credited.

“In times of major political uncertainty, interparliamentary cooperation is more important than ever. The refugee crisis, faltering EU collaboration and a new security scenario are now presenting Europe with such challenges. These are challenges that transcend national borders and consequently require common European solutions,” said Olemic Thommessen.

The President of the Storting is on an official visit to the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Accompanying him is a delegation of Members of the Storting comprising Ingjerd Schou (Conservative Party), Marianne Aasen (Labour Party) and Jan Arild Ellingsen (Progress Party). In the Czech Republic the delegation met the Prime Minister, Bohuslav Sobotka, and the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Jan Hamáček, as well as the chairs of several parliamentary committees.

Discussed the refugee crisis with Sobotka

The ongoing refugee crisis was one of the most important items under discussion during the meeting with Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka. Ingjerd Schou (Conservative Party) is the head of the Storting’s delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), an organization that actively works to promote democracy, human rights and the principle of the rule of law. Schou considered it to be rewarding meeting, but also pointed out that Norway and the Czech Republic have widely diverging approaches to the refugee crisis.

“The refugee crisis is an issue that concerns Europe as a whole, but Norway and the Czech Republic have different views on how to apportion responsibility. As Mr Sobotka pointed out, border controls are an important aspect of controlling an extremely challenging situation, but all European countries must take their share of the responsibility and recognize the value of having an open and inclusive society,” she said.

The Czech Republic has pursued a restrictive policy on the refugee crisis. In addition to taking in very few refugees, it has also opposed the EU’s proposal on refugee quotas, supporting the view that quotas should be voluntary rather than compulsory.

“We must all ask ourselves how we can contribute to a democratic, open and safe Europe,” added the President of the Storting.

A strong bilateral relationship

During the meeting between the two presidents of parliament, both Thommessen and Hamáček stressed the good bilateral ties between Norway and the Czech Republic. We share a common stake in wanting a strong, stable and efficient Europe; have mutual interests as NATO member states; and take part in plenty of cultural exchange. Norwegian literature has been sought after ever since Henrik Ibsen and Knut Hamsun first became popular in the Czech Republic, while Prague is a popular destination for tourists and students alike.

Mr Hamáček thanked Norway for the economic support his country has received from the European Economic Area (EEA) grants scheme and underlined the significance of the new EEA funding treaty that has been agreed between the EU and the EEA for the years 2014-2021. The treaty is due to be ratified in the Storting on 8^th June.

Equality measures

The aim of the EEA grants scheme is to reduce social and economic disparity in Europe. From 2014-2021 Norway has agreed to contribute approximately 2.8 billion Euros, which is 97.7% of the total amount. During their trip to the Czech Republic the delegation visited three separate EEA-funded projects – the Khamoro festival, the Průhonice Park and the Strahov Monastery.

At the Khamoro Festival – Central Europe’s largest festival for Roma culture – the President of the Storting opened an art exhibition by the painter Emily Rigová. The Roma population makes up a sizeable minority in the Czech Republic.

“Protecting the rights of minorities is a fundamental value in a modern democracy,” Thommessen said. “Roma culture is dynamic, warm and open; it’s an important contributor to European culture,” he added.

Also of interest

About the EEA grants scheme