At the joint press conference with Prime Minister Erna Solberg, Chancellor Angela Merkel pointed to the close and cordial bilateral relations that the two countries enjoy, particularly in the field of international security policy and in refugee and economic policy.

"One third of German gas imports come from Norway. Gas is still a very important energy source for Germany," she said.

Prime Minister Erna Solberg stressed, "Along with Sweden, Germany is not only our most important trading partner. It is also an important political actor and ally." This is reflected in their common views on many international issues.

Cooperation in the field of security policy

Commenting on Germany’s close cooperation with Norway within NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), the Chancellor said, "We have undertaken together to implement the Warsaw resolutions, and to cooperate on an increased forward presence in the Baltic states. We believe that we can step up this cooperation further."

Nevertheless, other military challenges must still be addressed, including the fight against IS, in which both Germany and Norway are involved.

Partner of G20

With a view to Germany’s coming G20 presidency, Angela Merkel stressed, "We have invited Norway to attend as a partner nation." For this reason, the agenda of the German G20 presidency was another item on the agenda.

There was a great deal of common ground, on education issues, especially education for girls and women, and on heath issues and questions relating to migration.

Prime Minister Erna Solberg declared, "We will try to support Germany’s goals and efforts. Education and women’s empowerment in the working world are definitely areas in which Norway has something special to contribute."

Joint fight against epidemics

Following the Ebola crisis, Germany, Norway and Ghana launched an initiative designed to combat epidemics ("Lessons Learnt from Ebola"). The Chancellor added, "One focus of our G20 presidency will be to work with the World Health Organization, the United Nations and the World Bank to demonstrate the successes of these efforts. This is an area in which Germany and Norway will continue to cooperate very closely."

Erna Solberg also underlined the importance of joint international initiatives. "We must see how we can prevent major epidemics in the world in future and improve the situation in this context. Above all, we must see how we can better protect vulnerable states."

Cooperation in Europe

Like Germany, Norway too is following the UK’s departure from the EU with great interest. "We agreed that the United Kingdom can and must trigger Article 50 before we can act," said Angela Merkel.

A stable economic environment is crucially important, not only for Germany and Norway, but for all of Europe, declared Erna Solberg. For this, it is important that the EU and the United Kingdom first explore what form any future cooperation can take.

In conjunction with migration, the Norwegian Prime Minister said, "We must find means of lessening the pressure on Europe." To this end, said Erna Solberg, ways must be found in cooperation with Turkey of "preventing smuggling, human trafficking and similar activities". Norway is also cooperating with its partners on the question of relocating and settling refugees.

With respect to the situation in eastern Ukraine and the humanitarian situation in the Donbas region, she said, "I am pleased that Germany is working to find appropriate solutions, within Europe and within the Normandy group, in order to improve the legal situation for Ukraine."

Economic relations
More than 80 per cent of Norway’s total exports go to European Union member countries. Conversely, approximately 65 per cent of Norway’s goods imports come from EU countries. Germany is Norway’s largest trading partner and exported primarily motor vehicles, machinery and chemical and pharmaceutical products to Norway in 2015. From Norway Germany imported fish, chemical products and aluminium goods for the German automotive industry, as well as oil and gas.