MPs Geir Pollestad, Trygve Slagsvold Vedum, Bjørn Arild Gram, and Bent-Joacim Bentzen introduced a proposal asking the government to present an updated Svalbard plan by the 2027 state budget. The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence recommends the Storting reject the proposal, though members from several parties have submitted minority amendments calling for voting rights for long-term residents, a ban on short-term rentals, infrastructure investment, and support for the Global Seed Vault.
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These are the proposals in the document, not decisions. See the votes for the outcome.
The Storting urges the government to present an updated Svalbard plan by the 2027 state budget, designed to increase the population, reduce housing and living costs, renew infrastructure, strengthen emergency preparedness, and build a stronger local community.
The Storting urges the government to grant voting rights in local elections to all residents of Longyearbyen with at least five consecutive years of residency.
The Storting urges the government to ensure that individual accommodation and support arrangements apply to Longyearbyen school.
The Storting urges the government to support the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources so that more countries will deposit seeds in the vault on Svalbard.
The Storting urges the government to introduce a flexible cap on the number of dwellings in Longyearbyen during the period when a large share of housing is being renovated or newly constructed.
The Storting urges the government to ban short-term rental of residential property on Svalbard.
The Storting urges the government to present a plan by the 2027 state budget for government investment in Svalbard's infrastructure, including housing, energy, water and sewage, roads, and airport. The plan must ensure contracts go to local suppliers by requiring local presence.