The Norwegian government has appointed a committee to develop proposals for a new veterans act. The aim is to create a unified regulatory framework for the recognition, rights, and follow-up of veterans, their families, and surviving dependants.
According to the Norwegian government, the new act is to be forward-looking, clear, and easily accessible. It should also contribute to a predictable and efficient administration of veterans' rights.
"I am pleased that we have succeeded in assembling a highly competent committee with broad and relevant experience. The rights of veterans and their families must be clear and predictable. I look forward to the investigation of a new act that ensures this," says Norway's Minister of Defence Tore O. Sandvik in the government's press release.
The inquiry will be led by Professor Bjørn Henning Østenstad at the University of Bergen (western Norway). The committee includes representatives from the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (Statens pensjonskasse), the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV), the Norwegian Board of Health Supervision (Helsetilsynet), the veterans' organisations SIOPS and NVIO, as well as the Norwegian Officers' and NCOs' Union (Befalets fellesorganisasjon, BFO). The mandate is to be submitted in the form of an official Norwegian government report (NOU, Norges offentlige utredninger) no later than 31 December 2027.