The 2½-hour seminar will be followed by a reception in the Eidsvoll Gallery, hosted by the President of the Storting, Olemic Thommessen.

Watch the seminar live (in Norwegian)

Three lectures and a panel debate

After a few words of welcome by Anniken Huitfeldt, Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, the day’s programme will include three lectures and a panel debate. 

The panel debate, featuring Anniken Huitfeldt, Kåre Willoch, Bjørn Tore Godal and Einar Steensnæs, all current or former chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committee, will examine and discuss the Storting’s role in foreign policy. The debate will be hosted by Christian Borch, one of Norway’s most recognizable and respected political journalists.

Relationship between the Storting and the government

The year 2017 marks the centenary of the Storting’s decision to set up a select committee for foreign affairs. This select committee was the precursor to today’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence. Behind such a move was the wish to involve the Storting more closely in foreign affairs decisions. 

The object of the seminar is to enlighten and debate the relationship between the Storting and the government in foreign policy questions within a historical, political and constitutional perspective.