Major Focus on Defense: Ordinary People along the Russian Border Feel Forgotten
View of Kirkenes, Norway.
MP Siren Julianne Jensen (Green Party) is calling for funding for civil society in Finnmark. Even within the Labour Party’s own ranks in the county, there is little enthusiasm for the proposals in the national budget.
BACKGROUND
“The government talks a lot about the importance of Finnmark. That needs to be reflected in the budget. The people living here are our most important emergency preparedness resource, so we need to invest more in them.”
That is what Siren Julianne Jensen (Green Party) says regarding the proposed national budget for the coming year.
Although free kindergarten services are being continued and the government plans to allocate an extra NOK 54 million to combat the invasive pink salmon, Jensen believes the funds earmarked for various defense projects represent a case of misplaced priorities.
“I fear the government is confusing increased defense budgets with regional development.”
Among other things, there is a proposal to invest approximately NOK 450 million in real estate, buildings, and infrastructure next year. Of this amount, NOK 200 million is designated for the military camp at Porsangmoen, and NOK 30 million for the camp at Høybuktmoen.
”Strange and Disappointing”
Jensen is calling for investments that make living in this border county attractive.
“A safer Finnmark is not built solely with barracks and tanks, but with vibrant local communities, good services, and optimism about the future throughout the county. That perspective is too weak in this budget.”
Wenche Pedersen, chair of the East Finnmark Council and Labour Party mayor of Vadsø, shares a similar sense of disappointment.
“There is a major push regarding defense and emergency preparedness, but there is insufficient investment and coordination with what is happening in the civilian sector in East Finnmark.”
County Mayor Hans-Jacob Bønå (Conservative Party) takes issue with the fact that Finnmark is described as the country’s most important geopolitical area, yet no funds are allocated for key measures within the county.
He is among those puzzled that the Strømmen Bridge on the E6 in Sør-Varanger has not been moved higher up the priority list, despite being included in the National Transport Plan. For a year, the road has been restricted to one-way traffic controlled by traffic lights.
“I find that strange and somewhat disappointing. It is the only road out of Sør-Varanger in the event of a serious crisis. One can easily imagine a bottleneck on the bridge if the military needs to move in while residents are trying to evacuate,” says Bønå.
Expects More
The government proposes allocating NOK 44.4 million in grants for the further development of specialist health services in Alta. Furthermore, the government proposes allocating NOK 38.9 million in grants for emergency preparedness and acute care services in Kirkenes.
Helse Nord (Northern Norway Regional Health Authority), which covers Finnmark, Troms, and Nordland, is proposed to receive NOK 222.5 million in grants to recruit and retain staff.
“Although it appears to be a significant sum set aside to strengthen health services, a large portion is consumed by the vast distances involved and our steadily aging population,” says Jensen. She therefore does not believe that the people of Finnmark will see any positive impact from these millions.
Measures such as free kindergarten in the North Troms and Finnmark incentive zone are also being continued into next year.
“I had expected far larger and more ambitious investments in the civilian sector of Finnmark at a time when the government is asking the county to shoulder increasing responsibility for national preparedness.”
Defending the Budget
MP Sigurd Rafaelsen (Labour Party) believes the government is delivering a great deal for Finnmark in the budget and argues that measures already initiated must not be overlooked.
“After all, the incentive zone has been strengthened by NOK 2 billion during this period. That commitment remains in place. Those initiatives are being continued. And, of course, we are also earmarking funds for both the Alta Clinic and Kirkenes Hospital.”
Rafaelsen also points to a major investment in the Armed Forces. However, the procurement of ammunition does not take place in Finnmark—and perhaps not much else does either, judging by what Bønå hears from the business community.
“I was in Kirkenes yesterday, and representatives from the construction industry reported that they see no—absolutely no—impact from any expansion at GSV.”
Source: NRK (in Norwegian)