Norwegian-Portuguese relations

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Norwegian-Portuguese relations
Location of Norway and Portugal
NorwayNorway PortugalPortugal
Norway Portugal

The Norwegian-Portuguese relations include the bilateral relations between Norway and Portugal . The countries have enjoyed uninterrupted diplomatic relations since 1906. Until Norway gained full independence in 1905, its interstate relations were determined by the Danish-Portuguese relationship , and from 1814 by the Portuguese-Swedish relationship .

Relations between the two Atlantic seafaring nations, Norway and Portugal, are considered friendly and problem-free. The mutual immigrant communities and the growing bilateral trade are noteworthy links, they are also partners and others. a. in NATO , in the OECD , in the Council of Europe , in the OSCE and in the European Space Agency . You both belong to the Schengen area .

Historically, Norway was of some importance for Portugal primarily as a supplier of the Bacalhaus , and the Portuguese Nordland fleet also operated its own fishing there. To this day, Norway also stands for stockfish in Portugal, while Portugal is primarily known as a holiday destination in Norway.

history

Until 1905

Spread and area of ​​activity of the Vikings in the 8th to 12th centuries: on the Portuguese coast there were virtually no Viking settlements, but regular trade contacts, but also frequent robberies by the Vikings

In the Viking Age , Northmen from Norway also traded with Portuguese coastal towns until the 11th century. Vikings also repeatedly undertook raids as far as today's Portugal. The raids in the year 844, in the course of the Viking raids into the Mediterranean Sea , in which the mouth of the Tejo in the Lisbon area in particular was plundered for thirteen days are particularly worth mentioning . The last notable raids occurred in the 960s.

A boy carries landed stockfish to dry in Northern Norway: Stockfish has been of central importance in the Norwegian-Portuguese trade since the 17th century

In the early 17th century, the Norwegian export of stick and clipfish to Portugal began, which as bacalhau is still an essential element of Portuguese cuisine today. The Bacalhau for Portugal became one of Norway's most important export goods and is still an important part of bilateral trade today.

From the personal union with Denmark in 1380 and the Norwegian affiliation to the Kalmar Union , the relations were determined by the Danish-Portuguese relations , up to the temporary independence of Norway in 1814. After that Norway came into a personal union with Sweden, so that the Norwegian-Portuguese relation of the Portuguese - Swedish relations was determined.

The Norwegian government also developed its own initiatives in parallel. Norway and Portugal signed their first shipping and trade agreement in Lisbon on December 31, 1895.

The Portuguese embassy opened in 1906 in the Norwegian capital Oslo.

From 1905 to 1974

In 1905 Norway dissolved its personal union with Sweden. The Kingdom of Portugal then de facto recognized the independent Norway and opened a first legation in the capital Christiania in 1906 (renamed Oslo since 1924). The Portuguese Republic , proclaimed in 1910 , finally recognized Norway's full independence on September 13, 1911 de jure.

From 1914, Prohibition in Norway prevented the importation of Portuguese wine . As a result, the pressure from Portugal in particular increased not to import any Norwegian fish, so that in 1922 Norway lifted prohibition again.

During the First World War (1914-1918), both Norway and Portugal initially remained neutral until Portugal went to war on the side of the Allies after the German declaration of war in 1916. Norway was able to maintain its neutrality until the end of the war.

In 1921 Norway opened its first embassy in Lisbon.

Norway and Portugal signed a new shipping and trade agreement on November 13, 1930, again in Lisbon.

During the Second World War (1939–1945), both Norway and Portugal, meanwhile under the semifascist Salazar dictatorship, remained neutral. While this time Portugal was able to maintain its neutrality until the end of the war and became one of the few European rescue ports for refugees, Norway suffered the occupation by Nazi Germany on April 9, 1940.

Signing of the Norema treaties by the Portuguese State Secretary and the Ambassador of Norway in Lisbon in 1981

After the end of the Second World War, the western defense alliance NATO was founded in 1949 , co-founded by Norway and Portugal.

Norway and Portugal were both among the founding members of the EFTA , which was launched on January 4, 1960 , a free trade area that was intended as an alternative to the European Communities . Joint membership in the EFTA free trade area provided some impetus, including the founding of the Portuguese furniture and furnishings manufacturer TemaHome in 1981 as a joint venture between the Norwegian Norema SA and the Portuguese Mendes Godinho SA. The company, based in Lisbon and production in Tomar, is now considered the market leader in Portugal. Well-known designers such as Filipe Alarcão work for TemaHome, and they export to around 40 countries around the world.

The authoritarian Estado Novo regime of Portugal stuck to the Portuguese colonial empire and has thus been in conflict with the zeitgeist since the 1960s at the latest. While Norway has experienced an enormous upswing, especially since its oil exports increased in 1969, Portugal has remained behind despite some economic development since joining EFTA, also because of the enormous costs of Portugal's colonial wars . In addition, liberal Norway was one of the donors of humanitarian aid, which also supported the independence movements in the Portuguese colonies. However, relations remained largely good, shaped by shared EFTA membership and economic issues. Both states signed a double taxation agreement on June 24, 1970 .

Since 1974

After its Carnation Revolution in 1974, Portugal ended the colonial wars and democratized itself profoundly. Liberalization and the integration of Portugal into the West brought the country closer to Norway. On February 8, 1977, they signed a bilateral cultural agreement, followed by a mutual social security agreement on September 1, 1981 .

The European Parliament in Brussels: despite Portugal joining the EU in 1986 and Norway remaining in the EFTA, bilateral economic relations also remained good.

After that, the countries moved somewhat economically after Portugal left EFTA in 1986 and converted to what is now the EU, but relations remained good.

The bilateral relations developed steadily, which is evident in mutual state visits at all levels and in bilateral agreements. Both countries signed a road traffic agreement on July 23, 1993, a tax treaty on November 24, 2000, and a revised agreement on the prevention of double taxation and tax evasion on March 10, 2011 (entered into force on June 15, 2012), on May 4 In 2015 a declaration of intent on cooperation in defense and a cooperation agreement between the ports of Lisbon and Oslo, and in May 2017 a cooperation agreement in the areas of marine use and renewable energies, with which the already existing cooperation in these areas is to be further intensified. Most recently, the then Portuguese President Cavaco Silva visited Norway in 2015.

The Portuguese community in Norway, which has grown since 2010, has also recently strengthened relationships. After the euro crisis and the subsequent deep economic crisis in Portugal, thousands of Portuguese, especially academics (mainly engineers and health professions), emigrated to Norway, where they were quickly accepted into the labor market and are generally considered to be very well integrated.

diplomacy

The Norwegian consulate in the historic Ribeira district in Porto.

Norway has had an embassy in Portugal's capital Lisbon since 1921 , which has resided on Avenida Don Vasco da Gama in the Restelo district in the Belém district since 1977 . In addition, four Norwegian honorary consulates have been set up, in Porto , in Portimão on the Algarve, in Funchal on the island of Madeira, and in Ponta Delgada on the Azores.

Portugal has had its own embassy in the Norwegian capital Oslo since 1906 , at Josefines gate No. 37. There are also Portuguese honorary consulates in Bergen , Kristiansand , Stavanger and Trondheim .

migration

794 Norwegians were registered in Portugal in 2018, most of them in the greater Lisbon area (362) and in the Algarve (243). The total of their remittance was EUR 0.77 million.

In 2018, 4,452 Portuguese citizens were registered in Norway, while 3,328 Norwegian residents were born in Portugal. 3.30 million euros were transferred to Portugal.

economy

Baclhau from Norway in a supermarket in Cascais , Portugal: to this day, Portugal imports a lot of stockfish from Norway, but petroleum products are now the most important Norwegian export good to Portugal, from where zinc ore comes to Norway as the most important single export.

The Portuguese Chamber of Commerce AICEP has a contact office at the Portuguese Embassy in Oslo.

The bilateral trade volume in 2016 amounted to 432.8 million euros, with a trade balance surplus of 173.8 million euros in favor of Norway. In 2016, 867 Portuguese companies were trading with Norway.

In 2016, Norway imported goods and services worth EUR 303.3 million from Portugal ( 2015 : 323.6 million, 2014 : 292.2 million, 2013 : 312.3 million, 2012 : 507.8 million Million). The share of goods amounted to EUR 176.5 million, of which 16.6% minerals and ores (mainly zinc ores), 10.6% metals, 8.9% plastics and rubber, 7.9% shoes and 6.6% machines and devices . Well over half of the roughly EUR 154.6 million for services (EUR 86.2 million) comes from spending by Norwegian tourists in Portugal.

During the same period, Portugal imported goods and services from Norway worth EUR 129.5 million ( 2015 : 115.5 million, 2014 : 92.2 million, 2013 : 147.1 million, 2012 : 173.9 million .). The share of goods amounted to 106.4 million euros, of which 78.1% fuel, 13.6% metals, 3.4% chemical-pharmaceutical products, 2.6% agricultural products and 1.9% minerals and ores .

In Portugal's foreign trade in goods, Norway was 31st as a buyer and 44th as a supplier. In Norwegian foreign trade in goods, Portugal was in 20th place as a buyer and in 35th place as a supplier.

Culture

The Portuguese cultural institute Instituto Camões is not represented locally in Norway, nor does Norway have a comparable cultural institute . The cultural exchange takes place through initiatives of the embassies, but above all through private and public institutions in both countries.

Filmmakers from Norway and Portugal are regular guests at film festivals in the other country. For example, Norwegian director Hans Petter Moland was awarded the Golden Dolphin for A Man of the World at the Portuguese Festróia Festival 2010 , and Kim Holm won the award for best music video for her video clip for Matta's song Release the Freq at the Curtas Vila do Conde short film festival .

Sports

Soccer

The Norwegian striker Haavi in a duel with an American at the Algarve Cup 2015: Norway won the most titles in the Portuguese Algarve Cup after the USA .

The Norwegian national football team and the Portuguese men's national team have played against each other eleven times. They met for the first time on June 12, 1966 in Lisbon, the friendly game ended 4-0 for Portugal. Overall, Norway won one game, Portugal won eight times, and twice they were drawn (as of July 2019).

Norwegian players rarely play for Portuguese clubs. Such was Azar Karadas 2004-2007 at Benfica under contract, where he 2005 Portuguese Champion was. Portuguese players play even less often in Norway.

The Norwegian women's national soccer team and the Portuguese women's national team first played against each other on March 13, 1996 in Vila Real de Santo António , Portugal , the match in Group A of the 1996 Algarve Cup ended 3-0 for Norway. The Norwegians have won the Algarve Cup five times so far, making them the second most successful selection there, the greatest success of the hosts so far was third place at the 2018 Algarve Cup . In total, the Norwegians have played against each other seven times, of which Norway won six games and Portugal won once (as of July 2019).

basketball

The Norwegian national basketball team and the Portuguese men's national team are neither among the best in the world. Portugal is 62nd in the FIBA world rankings , Norway 88th (as of August 2019). So far, the youth national teams of both countries have played against each other, for example in the B division of the U-18 European Basketball Championship 2018 in North Macedonia.

Occasionally Norwegian players also play in Portugal, such as the first Norwegian NBA player Torgeir Bryn , who became Portuguese champions with Benfica Lisbon in the 1994/95 season .

Other

At the most important Portuguese badminton tournament, Portugal International , there have already been Norwegian winners several times, in 1989 Norwegians even won the men's singles and doubles. At Norwegian International , there have not yet been any Portuguese winners (as of 2018).

The canoe racing world championships 2018 in the Portuguese city of Montemor-o-Velho finished the hosts in seventh place, Norway finished 19th. Norway has not yet hosted a canoe world championship (as of 2019).

The Portuguese sailor and Olympian Hugo Rocha was born in 1972 in the Norwegian capital Oslo.

Web links

Commons : Norwegian-Portuguese relations  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g Website on Norwegian-Portuguese relations in the diplomatic portal of the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs , accessed on August 30, 2019
  2. ↑ a b c d e Speech of May 4, 2015 by the Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg on the visit of the Portuguese President Cavaco Silva , Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway, accessed on August 30, 2019
  3. ↑ Information about the Norwegian Embassy in Lisbon , website of the Norwegian Embassy in Portugal, accessed on August 29, 2019
  4. ↑ a b c d e f Overview of Portugal's economic relations with Norway , PDF available from the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce AICEP, accessed on August 10, 2019
  5. ↑ Communication on the Norwegian-Portuguese cooperation agreement in the areas of marine use and renewable energies , Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, accessed on 10 August 2019
  6. ↑ List of foreign citizens in Portugal (by district) at the Portuguese Immigration Office Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras, accessed on August 7, 2019
  7. ↑ a b Website on Norwegian-Portuguese migration at the Portuguese Scientific Observatório da Emigração , accessed on August 7, 2019