Bilateral relations and diplomacy
The Embassy is committed to strengthening bilateral relations between Norway and Italy in the political, economic, cultural and scientific fields. In the field of political diplomacy, Italy and Norway share fundamental values, have similar positions and often converge on the main international issues. Political relations are developed both bilaterally and through common membership in the main international organizations (UN, NATO, OSCE, Council of Europe) and thanks to participation in multilateral programs (IGAD, Sudan, Somalia, Afghanistan, Middle-East, Sri Lanka). Italy participates as observer in the Arctic Council, the Euro-Artic Barents Council, the Council of the Baltic Sea States.
Italy and Norway share fundamental values and share similar, often convergent, positions on key international issues (multilateralism, international law, human rights, human security -disarmament and proliferation- poverty reduction). Both countries are actively present in international missions (Balkans, Afghanistan, Hebron-TIPH 2) and both countries are committed in fostering peace and stability through their involvement in a number of facilitation efforts towards the solution of crises and conflicts, even “of minor importance”.
Italy was among the first countries to recognize Norway as an independent state in the autumn of 1905 and the bilateral relations between the two countries are traditionally excellent at all levels.
In the diplomatic relations between two countries, a moment of particular importance is the State Visit.
The first Norwegian King to undertake a State Visit to Italy after the second world war was King Olav V in April 1967. The first President of the Italian Republic to visit Norway was Giuseppe Saragat in June 1965. King Harald V and Queen Sonja paid a state visit to Italy in October 2001 and President Carlo Azegio Ciampi and Franca Ciampi visited Norway in September 2004.
In June 2011 Crown Prince Haakon was in Rome to represent Norway in the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of Italy’s unification.
On 5-8 April 2016 King Harald V and Queen Sonja, accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende and the Minister of Petroleum and Energy Tord Lien State undertook the last State Visit to Italy (Rome and Milan).
The President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella, accompanied by his daughter Laura, paid a three days visit in May 2023. After the greeting ceremony in front of the Royal Palace, welcomed by Queen Sonja, Princess Mette-Marit, Prince Haakon and the official authorities, the President laid a wreath at the Monument to the of the Akerhus Fortress and visited the President of the Norwegian Parliament, Masud Gharahkhani. He attended laso a meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt, at Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre’s Residence.
In the context of economic diplomacy, on the other hand, bilateral relations between Rome and Oslo are characterized by an ever-increasing number of trade exchanges, as well as promising growth prospects. The Embassy provides assistance to Italian entrepreneurs on trade, market opportunities, investments and contact with local companies through the ICE/ITA (Italian Trade Agency) commercial office.
As far as scientific cooperation is concerned, the Embassy is actively committed to supporting and strengthening collaboration between Italy and Norway in the sector of science and technology and works to encourage all forms of collaboration between schools, universities, research centers, associations, organizations and institutions.
Finally, cultural diplomacy is a priority dimension in Italian foreign policy. Through the activity of the Italian Cultural Institute, the Embassy actively works to strengthen bilateral cultural relations, promoting the knowledge and dissemination of literature, visual arts and the Italian language in Norway. The Embassy also supports the activities of other Italian entities active in the sector of promoting the Italian language and culture, such as the Norwegian groups of the Dante Alighieri Society and Comites.
Agreements, accords and treaties
Agreements, accords and treaties, bilateral and international, concluded between Italy and Norway are available, in Italian, on the website of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, on the page Archivio Internazionale dei Trattati, and in Norwegian, on the Lovdata website “Register of Treaties of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs”.