Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki believes Norway is indirectly benefiting from the Ukraine war. Norway is now responding.
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It was during the National Youth Dialogue Congress on Saturday that the Polish Prime Minister stated that a small country like Norway, with five million inhabitants, is left with a surplus from oil and gas of over one hundred billion euros – and that Norway therefore indirectly benefits from the war in Ukraine, writes Polish TVN24.
– Something is wrong. Write to your young friends in Norway. They should share this surplus, the gigantic surplus, the Prime Minister urged the youth present.
He also addressed Norwegians directly.
– Dear Norwegian friends. It’s not normal, it’s not fair. You are indirectly benefiting from the war caused by Putin. Coincidentally, of course, for the war in Ukraine is not Norway’s fault, but you are indirectly profiting from the war, said the Prime Minister, adding a final call:
– They should share quickly. I am not saying that it is necessary for Poland, but for Ukraine, for those most affected by this war.
Get an answer from Norway
VG has asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to respond to the criticism from the Polish Prime Minister. State Secretary Eivind Vad Petersson generally replies in an e-mail that increased oil and gas revenues mainly go straight to the Government Pension Fund Global (the Petroleum Fund) for future generations.
– Although petroleum revenues have increased as a result of the war in Ukraine, the value of the fund has fallen. The value of the fund has decreased by around NOK 550 billion since the new year, partly because the stock market has fallen, says Petersson.
He also says that the Norwegian economy and Norwegian consumers will be affected by increased prices for electricity and petrol.
– But Norway has contributed significantly to support Ukraine and we will contribute significantly more.
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Berit Lindeman, professionally responsible for the Helsinki Committee’s work with human rights in Europe, tells VG that it is not clear that a large part of the Norwegian development assistance budget will be used to finance the management of the refugee flow to Norway, while Norway’s oil and gas revenues can be six times higher than what the government had previously estimated.
– Norway can afford to accept refugees, we can boast of extra income as a result of the war, there are many countries that can not, she says to VG.
She believes that the government must reverse the plan to cut funding for human rights work, which may be a consequence of Norway spending increased funding on the handling of refugees.
On Wednesday, VG mentioned that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was worried that a consequence of this is budget cuts for key UN organizations.
– Poland has a point, and they have a certain moral right to comment on this as Ukraine’s neighbor, Lindeman says.
Since the war began in late February, Poland has received millions of Ukrainian refugees.
Lindeman emphasizes that Norway not only makes money from the war that is taking place in Ukraine, but also other conflicts.
– Norway makes money on conflict all the time because oil prices are affected by war and peace, what makes this sensational is that they cut aid to human rights and the UN at the same time.
300 million kroner
On Sunday 8 May, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a press release that Norway will increase its support for Ukraine by a further NOK 100 million.
– Ukrainians are fighting a heroic battle for their freedom and for their country. Norway is now increasing our contribution to the Ukrainian state to NOK 300 million, said Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt (Labor) then.
–I mars ble key leaders of the Green Party (MDG) agreed to propose in the Storting that Norway will give the money we earn as a result of the war to Ukraine.
– We can not enrich ourselves on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. When the world discovers how much Norway earns from the war, we can be seen as war profiteers. We can not profit from a humanitarian catastrophe, MDG leader Une Bastholm told VG.
She referred to calculations of what increased oil prices are estimated to mean for Norwegian earnings as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Today’s business has previously mentioned that Norway’s oil and gas revenues in 2022 could be NOK 1,750 billion – six times higher than what the government had previously estimated.
– Norway is facing a major choice: How to spend this money. When Ukraine is bombed and millions of people are on the run, then we must move away from the discussion in Norway about what we should spend the money on in Norway.
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