Norwegian recipe - strong society as precondition for consolidated democracy

Gjelstad spoke to the EWB website on the occasion of 206 years of Norway’s Constitution, celebrated in the country as the most important national holiday – Constitution Day or Syttende Mai (17th of May).

On Wednesday he emphasised the Norwegian support to Serbia, North Macedonia and Montenegro in combating the COVID-19 pandemic "focusing on how to strengthen capacities to save lives".

He said that the high-quality clinical respirators for the intensive care units would minimize the risk of secondary mortality due to other causes.

Gjelstad also said that the cooperation with NGOs in those three countries was the Norwegian embassy priority.

The ambassador told the EWB  he believed that “the resolve and capacity to create trust between citizens and their institutions are key for any societal development. In this sense, independent institutions, inclusive parliamentary procedures, media freedom, anti-corruption, equality, innovation and environmental protection are the fundamentals for this trust-building.“

“And these fundamentals are still the most challenging issues between the EU and the countries of Serbia, North Macedonia and Montenegro,” Gjelstad said.

He added that “there are still some miles to go for all these countries in order to reach full convergence with EU principles and values, to which Norway fully subscribes.”

Still, Gjelstad said he was happy to see there was political will among those countries to accept the bloc’s rules and values, and that he would like to see that process accelerated “and politically even more focused than we have seen so far.”

Gjelstad also said that the cooperation with NGOs in those three countries was the Norwegian embassy priority.

Asked about the situation with media freedom in Serbia, Gjelstad said the EU and the OSCE, Norway had assisted Serbia’s Government in developing the New Media Strategy.

“Norway believes indeed that a free and competent press will serve as the cornerstone of any democratic system. Every society needs high-quality, pluralistic, independent and responsible media that can hold the authorities accountable, provide adequate information and contribute to increased transparency,” Gjelstad told the EWB.

He stated seven reasons why Norway topped the list of the most media free country in the world: a robust Public Regulatory Agency; the necessary independence of Governing Bodies or Boards of Public Broadcasters; the importance of public media service also to take part in investigative journalism; the necessary empowerment of the Press Council, given its essential role in facilitating self-regulation of the media itself; full transparency when it comes to media ownership and funding; the availability of financial funds to secure minor media outlets which contributes to a pluralistic and independent media structure; and last, ensuring non-discriminatory and equal access to all political parties without preferential treatment during an election campaign.