Parliament adopts new sanctions law – it will now be easier for Norway to adopt sanctions

A nearly unanimous Norwegian parliament (Storting) voted in favor of making it easier for Norway to adopt sanctions. 

On Monday, the government’s proposal to revise the Sanctions Act is being discussed in the Storting.

Until now, Norwegian support for sanctions from the UN and the EU, respectively, has been authorized through various laws. The new law will gather these under one umbrella.

The Labor Party (AP), the Conservative Party (H), the Center Party (SP), the Socialist Left Party (SV), the Liberal Party (V), and the Christian Democrats (KRF) supported the new law. The Progress party (FRP) was against it, as it believes it goes too far.

The FRP also referred to comments by the Attorney General, who has stated, among other things, that the law, in reality, gives the government broad powers to introduce anti-competitive and anti-market measures for companies and individuals.

More efficient

One of the main reasons for the new law is to ensure faster and more effective implementation of EU sanctions in Norwegian law. 

The new law will also make it easier to implement sanctions against individuals.

The existing legislation is limited to the implementation of measures aimed at “states or movements” and does not cover individuals or entities without affiliation to a specific state or movement, a joint Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee noted in its recommendation.

The new Sanctions Act will also authorize the government to implement sanctions adopted by intergovernmental organizations or which have broad support among like-minded states.

Norway needs a legal basis that gives the government a quick and effective possibility to support these measures and implement them in Norwegian law, a majority of the Committee believes.

Right of appeal

However, the new law requires Norway to make an independent assessment of each individual sanction or restrictive measure aimed at individuals and entities.

This may mean that those on the sanctions list have a certain right to appeal and possibly push the case through the Norwegian judiciary. 

However, the right of appeal is limited to persons with a certain connection to Norway.

In addition, three special laws on the implementation of sanctions aimed at Iran, Yugoslavia, and Zimbabwe, respectively, have been repealed.

Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews

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