Norway has an obligation to contribute to the fight against international terrorism. This means that we have committed ourselves to enact criminal provisions and prosecute terrorism-related activities in Norway, even in cases where Norwegian interests are not necessarily the target of such activity. PST carries out key functions that enable the Norwegian authorities to discharge our international obligations in this area.
International treaties
Suppressing terrorism is a huge challenge for the global community. Terrorism can only be combated through broad and long-term deployment of resources, and the use of a range of means, including international treaties and resolutions. Under the auspices of the UN, ten international conventions and two protocols dealing with different types of terrorist acts have been adopted. Norway is party to all of them. Hijacking, security at airports, offences against international protected persons, abduction, physical protection of nuclear material, maritime security, security in facilities on the continental shelf, suppressing terrorist bombing and suppressing the financing of terrorist activities are subjects covered by these international instruments.
State parties to the UN conventions accept an obligation either to prosecute the relevant offences, or to surrender the suspects to another state party who submits an extradition request. The conventions put states under a heavy obligation to prevent the financing and other support to terrorism, as well as to prevent their territory from being used as a haven for terrorists.
Norway has entered into an agreement with the EU regarding its participation in the Schengen co-operation, and separate co-operation agreements with Europol (the EU body that deals with policing) and Eurojust (European prosecuting authorities). We also co-operate with other European countries on counter terrorism matters through these schemes.
Co-operation between domestic agencies in discharging our international obligations
PST plays a key role in discharging Norway's international obligations regarding counter terrorism, but it is not the only Norwegian institution involved in this work.
The Norwegian Intelligence Service (which is part of the Norwegian military) has, e.g., the responsibility for “the provision of intelligence on international terrorism” under section 3 g of the Intelligence Service Act.
The Norwegian National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime (Norwegian abbreviation: Økokrim) plays a vital role in preventing terrorist activities in other parts of the world from being financed from Norway, not least through its role as the national anti-money laundering authority. The National Criminal Investigation Service (NCIS - Norwegian abbreviation: Kripos) plays a key national role in the co-ordination at an operational level of Norway’s participation in the Schengen co-operation. Økokrim and Kripos are under the authority of the National Police Directorate (POD), and participate on the same footing as PST in the development of international police co-operation.
Foreign policy strategy for combating international terrorism
In September, 2006 the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) published a document entitled "Foreign policy strategy for combating international terrorism". The purpose of the publication is to present the Norwegian Government's counter-terrorism efforts, which are based on a strategic, comprehensive and broad national approach, on international cooperation with the United Nations in the lead, and on the fundamental values that the Norwegian authorities wish to defend. The publication is available on the MFA's website.