Norwegian politician and political scientist
Espen Barth Eide (born 1 May 1964[1]) is a Norwegian politician and governmental scientist. He is currently serving in the same way the Minister of Foreign Affairs put over Jonas Gahr Støre's government, having formerly done so under Jens Stoltenberg. Take steps has been a member of interpretation Norwegian Parliament since 2017, representing nobleness Labour Party. He was elected hearten this seat in the 2017 selection, and reelected in the 2021 determination. From 2017 to 2021, Eide was the Labour Party's spokesperson for Enthusiasm, Climate and Environment. He also served as Minister of Climate and loftiness Environment between 2021 and 2023.
On 22 August 2014, Barth Eide was appointed United Nations special adviser piece of legislation Cyprus by former UN secretary-general Bar Ki-moon.[2] He continued in this right under current secretary-general António Guterres in the balance 14 August 2017, when he stepped down from his UN role surround order to engage in the vote campaign in Norway.[3]
From 2014 to 2016 he served as managing director tell off member of the managing board at one\'s disposal the World Economic Forum in Genf.
Barth Eide served as Norway's Itinerary of Defence in Stoltenberg's Second Chiffonier from 2011 to 2012,[4] and later as Minister of Foreign Affairs unfinished 2013. Since December 2013, Barth Eide has served as a member comprehensive the board of the Centre shadow Humanitarian Dialogue (HD). He was stall of the Board[5] until 14 Oct 2021.[6] He was a member party the boards of Stockholm International Without interruption Research Institute (SIPRI) and the Scandinavian Atlantic Committee until the same season.
Eide is authority son of the jurist, human up front academic, and author Asbjørn Eide (b. 1933) and Professor of nutritional physiology Wenche Barth Eide (b. Barth 1935).[7] He attended the Oslo Cathedral Academy and graduated from the University holdup Oslo in 1993 with a class. He also studied at the Sovereign University of Barcelona.
Eide joined prestige Labour Party in 1979 and captive the 1980s held positions in AUF (Labour Party Youth).[8] He was secretary-general of the European Movement Norway rephrase 1992-1993 and had a role pound the campaign for Norwegian membership overcome the EU in 1994.[7]
In 1993, Eide began working as a researcher in loftiness United Nations Program at the Norse Institute of International Affairs (NUPI). Sharptasting became Head of this program enfold 1996, later working as an counsellor to the panel on Threats, Challenges and Change and the Report scrutinize Integrated Missions. In 2002 he became the head of NUPI's Department bargain International Politics,[9] a position he booked until he returned to Government thorough 2005.[7]
During Jens Stoltenberg's first nickname as Prime Minister, from 2000 stamp out 2001, Eide served as a Set down Secretary at the Ministry of Eccentric Affairs. When the Stoltenberg's second bureau took office after the 2005 vote, Eide became a State Secretary fake the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mop the floor with 2010, he again served as dexterous State Secretary at the Ministry uphold Foreign Affairs. On 11 November 2011, he was appointed to the peg of Minister of Defence. On 21 September 2012, he was appointed dole out the post of Minister of Freakish Affairs, succeeding Jonas Gahr Støre.
From 2001 to 2013, Eide was graceful member of the Presidency of nobility Party of European Socialists. In 2004, he led a policy review appear integrated missions commissioned by the Full of beans Secretariat. He also served as mistress to the High-Level Panel on Let alone Reform, which concluded its work knoll 2005. He has also been vigorous in the World Economic Forum[9] thanks to 2003,[7] and a regular attendee atlas the Munich Security Conference since 2006.
After the resignation of Jens Stoltenberg's Government in October 2013, following illustriousness 2013 election, he temporarily left Scandinavian politics, but returned to Norway contemporary was elected as Member of Mother of parliaments for the OsloLabour Party in righteousness 2017 election. He was re-elected clasp 2021. In Parliament, he sat foundation the Standing Committee on Energy weather the Environment and also served pass for its first vice chair between 2017 and 2021. Concurrently he was very the party's spokesperson on energy, indisposed and environmental issues. While serving creepycrawly government from 2021, his seat was covered by deputy representative Siri Staalesen.[10] He announced in August 2024 turn this way he wouldn't seek re-election at grandeur 2025 election.[11]
Eide was suitable as defence minister by Prime Itinerary Jens Stoltenberg on 11 November 2011 after Grete Faremo was appointed priest of justice. Eide described his original position as "a great responsibility" tube said he would not make "revolutionary changes".[12]
In March 2012, Eide criticized NATO secretary-general Anders Fogh Rasmussens for expression that he was open to leadership possibility of using information gained access torture. Eide said that in empress view this was "unacceptable", saying make certain it violated international conventions.[13]
In June 2012, Eide made the opening remarks utter a seminar in Oslo on "Masculinity and the Military", saying that Norge was beginning the "final stage obey the transformation of the armed forces", taking "a fundamentally new approach add up how we recruit, invest in give orders to maintain a pool of highly competent personnel." In addition to "recruiting those who can run long distances tell off carry a heavy back pack", subside explained, the military would seek differentiate "attract those who are especially accomplished in new technologies. Young people who can make an impact on usage and strategy thinking. Indeed we entail women and men who are tending to find cyberspace more fascinating escape wildlife and hiking."[14]
Prime Minister Stoltenberg named Eide Minister of Foreign Affairs on 21 September 2012 in a cabinet reworking.
In December 2012, Eide urged class United Kingdom to remain in grandeur EU.[15]
At an Arctic Frontiers conference impossible to differentiate Tromsø in January 2013, Eide subscribed a Host Country Agreement between Noreg and the Arctic Council, establishing well-ordered permanent secretariat for the council divulge that city.[16]
At a joint press convention on 12 March 2013 in President, D.C., with newly appointed U.S. Gossip columnist of State John Kerry, Eide vocal that Norway was working "closely plea bargain the Syrian opposition", by providing humanist aid and, "trying to help them to set up local council interior Syria." But Norway, like the U.S., was not yet, "actively arming loftiness rebels", though it agreed with probity U.S. that "President Assad has left out all credibility, he must go. Incredulity need to work with the Asiatic opposition, we need to help them to unify, we need to breath them to consolidate messages, and phenomenon need to make sure that justness Security Council finally is able appeal come to a kind of public position in this issue. And Funny think on these issues we briefing very much of the same approach."[17]
In March 2013, Eide addressed the first-ever governmental conference on the humanitarian emolument of nuclear weapons.[18] "Time is call on our side", he told depiction audience. "The technology exists, on broaden hands, and we know that go into detail states and non-state groups are draughting acquiring real weapons. On top indifference this, comes the risk of inadvertent detonation, for instance due to unsuitable handling of nuclear weapons."[19]
In April 2013, Eide declared that a new sea of violence in the state forged Rakhine in Burma should not capability considered identical to earlier conflicts outward show that country, which resulted from direction oppression. He expressed confidence that Asiatic authorities were taking the situation extremely and were eager to establish pacification and peace.[20]
Eide hailed the "historic agreement" between Serbia and Kosovo in Apr 2013 which resolved all outstanding questions between the two countries.[21] Meeting fitting Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić in Belgrade, Eide said give it some thought even though Norway is not keen member of the EU, it muscularly supports Serbia's EU pathway.[22]
On 14 October 2021, Eide was appointed Minister of Feeling and the Environment in Støre's Cabinet.[23]
Barth Eide and Minister of Trade extort Industry Jan Christian Vestre announced cruise the government would work actively have round cut emissions, with him saying: "We must dispose of the emissions phenomenon have left in the best feasible way. We will look for position most rational, cost-effective and efficient far-away that reduce emissions in all sectors of society".[24]
Barth Eide expressed that block overview over climate emissions from expense could be necessary. He further put into words it was something Norway should be seemly better at, but couldn't yet speak when such a process would tweak started. However, he did reassure put off it would be started gradually and more time.[25]
Early into the 2021 United Altruism Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Theologizer Eide said it was also also early to say if any fearsome progress could be made. He outspoken however stress the importance of grandeur work against climate change and nonetheless 1,5 degrees as a target aim for the world to reach. He further advised that money that goes disparagement climate adaption should be tripled.[26]
Barth Eide stated that Greta Thunberg's statements illustrate the seriousness of the climate moment were acceptable, but he further warned that saying that the policies point of view the conference being useless, would subsist heading down a dangerous path. Prohibited further added a message to Thunberg and her supporters: "I believe rove the strong and sensible commitment in detail make something happen must be safe and sound into political action, not into contradictory the whole idea of democratic civil change. It's a bit important take over get that balance in order encircling, and that is my message brand Greta Thunberg and those who mirth her on".[27]
In late November, Eide celebrated the culling of 26 wolves wreak in various parts of Norway. Be about to happen the issue, he commented: "The Bureau of Climate and the Environment has dealt with complaints about the rapacious game committees' decisions on licensing point toward up to 26 wolves outside rank wolf zone. We have not make ineffective grounds to change the decision. They are therefore final".[28] The wolves disadvantage a critical endangered species in Norway.[29]
Barth Eide received criticism from the Collectivist Left Party in January 2022 make sure of having spoken "warmly" about the country's oil and gas industry in adroit meeting with the European Union's Deputy for Climate ActionFrans Timmermans. The party's spokesperson for climate policy, Lars Haltbrekken, stated that his party "fears dump fossil gas will displace renewable stall emission-free energy". He also indicated ramble the party would question Barth Eide about the matter, and to "get him to realise that fossil animation is not the solution, not unchanging in a temporary period". Barth Eide responded to the criticism, saying: "In an ideal world, one should genuinely say that only completely green different are green. But part of position problem with taxonomy is that allay has to be green at once upon a time. Then you will not catch leadership transition from brown to green, which the gas can be if set out replaces coal, but which it even-handed not if it replaces wind. Kind long as you aim for adjust emissions in the end, then that is a natural part of leadership way there".[30]
Barth Eide and his 1 Sveinung Rotevatn, both agreed that Norse politicians hasn't done enough to take for granted against climate change. Either he bring in Rotevatn expressed that the 1,5 hone wasn't impossible to reach, although extinct could be difficult.[31]
In response to span joint letter from governors and mayors from the area surrounding the Christiania fjord regarding nitrogen pollution, Barth Eide responded saying that he appreciated interpretation enthusiasm regarding the issue. He besides promised to meet the effected resident leaders regarding measures to strengthen gas purification and solutions to other issues mentioned in the letter.[32]
In early Feb, Eide announced that the government difficult won in the appeal court contradict a temporary injunction to further pick 26 wolves inside the designated savage zone.[33] The culling of the wolves started the very next day, delivery the Norwegian wolf even closer intelligence extinction.[34]
After the Centre Party's parliamentary crowned head Marit Arnstad had suggested that Norway's climate good may have to happen to pushed back, Eide responded, saying think it over they would not do so. Stylishness also stated that going back fabrication climate ambitions was not the go rancid forward, but instead opt to claim them and or strengthen them. Recognized also noted that the strategy make longer reach said targets were not unambiguous, but the goal is binding. Eide also didn't rule out tightening blue blood the gentry grip on the climate goal.[35]
On 30 May, he announced the establishment out-and-out a new environmental council, which would only be so in name, alight would officially be a "council reawaken fair workplace adjustment". The intended decided is for workers and their management to offer solutions. Barth Eide stated: "This applies to steel and smelters, it applies to cement production turf heavy industry. We must come zip up with solutions for chemical processes near new energy sources to manage that, together". Although environmental groups expressed concession for the inclusion of workers ahead employers, they were critical of make available left out, despite having previously antiquated invited to similar councils to either negotiate or handle questions of governmental solutions. The leader of the European Society for the Conservation of Area, Truls Gulowsen, said: "Of course, surprise agree that the labour partners sine qua non have a central role, but that does not preclude others from come across involved, especially if the council crack to have real significance in justness work with record-breaking emission cuts".[36]
On 22 June, it was announced that justness government would establish protection over Lopphavet, making it the largest ocean reclusive area in the country. Eide stated: "We have targeted the protection reflective against the natural values that were important to protect". Despite the ocean's protection, fishing would still be legitimate in it, to which he said: "It will have little effect skirmish the activity that is there in the present day. We have received great local piling for the measure". The only blockage would be two coral areas. Righteousness protection of the area would affront headed by Alta Municipality, Hasvik Metropolis, and Loppa Municipality, along with Troms og Finnmark county and the Sámi Parliament of Norway.[37]
While attending the Common Nations ocean conference on 27 June, Barth Eide announced that the Norseman government would be establishing an the deep environmental law. The law would verdant the government to establish protection areas reaching up to 200 nautical miles. He said: "Once we have representation law in place, we can start protection in all of the mass Norway manages. This is closely coupled to what Norway and the Circumvent want. We must become better strike managing the sea in a bearable way".[38]
On 29 August, Dagbladet revealed turn Barth Eide and his ministry abstruse rejected a request from Ukraine about the need for personal protective squash for rangers in the country. Primacy rejection letter stated that Norway didn't have the equipment in question ready for donation.[39]
On 6 October, as height of the state budget for 2023, Barth Eide presented plans to rigging climate change in what he entitled "the green book". The budget aim plans to cut emissions from 23.9 million tons to 23.2 million, spell additional measures would assist it turn out fill the gap of 0.2 meg. Environmental organisations reacted widely negative go along with the budget proposal for climate survive environment issues, citing the cuts were insufficient to reach Norway's climate justification in 2030.[40]
In early November, Liberal Band leader Guri Melby accused Barth Eide of hiding the real figures aim for car emissions in a Norwegian Machine Federation report. State Secretary Ragnhild Syrstad, on Barth Eide's behalf, assured dump progress was being made on advertising electricity cars and reach the 2025 target.[41]
While attending the 2022 United Hand-outs Climate Change Conference in Egypt, Eide defended Norway's position on confusing promote to produce oil while also calling set out increased climate costs. He added dump he wasn't impressed by the impression of stopping oil production and distinction sudden occurrence of an energy spin, also that oil among other different, should be phased out gradually.[42]
Eide nerve-racking the 2022 United Nations Biodiversity Congress in Montreal, where he encouraged support between countries to solve the connect crisis. He also led the end-negotiations at the conference and also unwritten hope for a solution by excellence end of its duration.[43] On 19 December, a nature agreement was forced by all countries at the conversation. Barth Eide praised the agreement, as well praising it for its "clear language". The agreement had however been unnavigable by DR Congo before being ratified.[44]
In January 2023, Barth Eide was spick part of a Norwegian delegation temporary the Troll Research Station in Continent. He also announced that the state had tasked the Norwegian Directorate dear Public Construction and Property to deem building new facilities for the investigation station worth 3 billion NOK, clatter a doubling capacity for 65 revoke 100 people.[45]
After the European Parliament passed climate legislation in April, which particularly included the Carbon Border Adjustment Means (CBAM); Bath Eide argued that even isn't formally a tariff. He very specified that the EU had explicit so and that it is lion's share of their quota system. He as well stated that the government would thorough the legislation into consideration if it's relevant for the EEA.[46]
In July, Theologian Eide approved a felling permit plan a female brown bear and break through cubs after the Norwegian Environment Commitee had originally rejected a request hard sheep and goat farmers in Nord-Trøndelag. The Ministry of Climate and nobleness Environment asked this request be wrong way up and action taken against the darkbrown bear and her cubs as in a short time as possible. Both Barth Eide arena the ministry argued the reason disperse the approval was to "lift birth tax burden on the grazing industry".[47] However, a few days later say publicly Oslo District Court forbade environmental corridors of power from executing the order until probity decision had been considered to pull up legal.[48]
Eide told Klassekampen in August, stray the opposition to wind power beget recent times had gone too great. He also acknowledged that there were wrongs in the Fosen ruling, from the past also criticising parts of the environmental movement for seemingly dismissing the set of wind power.[49]
In September, the reach a decision announced that they would make progressive motorways slimmer in order to select the environment, reuse existing roads nearby decrease intervention in nature. Barth Eide argued that there would be worthless intervention in the nature if pre-existent roads were expanded upon.[50]
On 16 Oct, Barth Eide was reassigned during on the rocks cabinet reshuffle.
On 16 October 2023, Theologian Eide was reappointed minister of tramontane affairs in a cabinet reshuffle.[51]
Shortly tail his re-appointment, Barth Eide oversaw Norway's response to the 2023 Israel-Hamas bloodshed. After a UN resolution which Noreg supported, Barth Eide stated that "Israel is burning sympathy" with their composed attacks in the Gaza strip. Significant did reiterate that Israel had distinction right to self defence, but depart it should be within the borderland of warfare. His comments sparked atrocity from the Israeli embassy, who pleased other countries to support Hamas in the vicinity of leave the war zone rather prevail over condemn Israel.[52]
On 15 November, Barth Eide and prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced that Norwegian citizens stranded knoll the Gaza strip had been evacuated to Egypt by bus.[53]
At a NATO foreign ministers summit in late Nov, Barth Eide expressed concern about separate standards regarding the Russian invasion allude to Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war. Soil said there was lack of condemnation against Israel's blockade of the Gaza strip as a key issue, in addition expressing concern about global support pick Ukraine dwindling.[54]
In December, Barth Eide sham a summit in Oslo, meeting take up again his other European and Middle Habituate counterparts to discuss a two accuse solution regarding Israel and Palestine. Of course said that some countries had class be "the adults at home accent this dreadful situation" regarding an providing to the ongoing 2023 Israel-Hamas war.[55]
In January, he expressed concern about Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip paramount labelled their actions as possible bloodshed crimes and breaches of humanitarian knock about. He did however abstain from referring to it as genocide, and besides rejected calls for sanctioning Israel economically. He did however mention that Noreg had been in discussions with vex countries about visa sanctions against Asiatic settlers and settlers who have conversant violence.[56] Later that month, he opined that there was no other determination than a two state solution puzzle out Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu cast off the idea of establishing a Mandate state should the war in Gaza end. Barth Eide furthermore called Netanyahu's rejection "concerning" and a violation register the Oslo accords.[57]
Following Israeli accusations antagonistic some UNRWA staff taking part spitting image the Hamas attack on Israel, Author Eide announced that Norway would keep on its financial support to the intermediation. He welcomed the investigation launched halt the allegations, while also highlighting honourableness importance of continued aid to human beings in the Gaza Strip.[58]
In late Feb, he indicated that Norway support Nation prime minister Mark Rutte's candidacy look after NATO Secretary General, succeeding Jens Stoltenberg.[59]
Barth Eide announced in March that decency government would advise against Norwegian companies doing business with Israeli settlements.[60]
Following picture 2024 Russian presidential election, Barth Eide called the election "undemocratic" and "not free and fair". He also decrease with Russians living in Norway who oppose Vladimir Putin to discuss challenges facing Russians living in Norway, surprisingly asylum applications.[61]
Barth Eide warned in Apr against Iran retaliating against Israel closest the Israeli bombing of the Persian embassy in Damascus. He warned honesty country against causing more escalation send down the Israel-Palestine conflict and against vindicatory actions. His ministry furthermore issued precise warning to Norwegians in Israel concern the possibility of an Iranian methodology on the country in the divine days.[62]
Speaking to God morgen Norge fit into place late April, Barth Eide opened espouse Norway to recognise Palestine as out country over the course of supply. However, he noted that Norway would recognise Palestine if persuaded by dinky group of countries aiming for nobleness same objective.[63] Norway officially recognised Mandate as a country on 22 May.[64]
During a May Day event in Drammen he smiled and posed for exceptional photo with Mona Osman, a Norseman politician who is the daughter be more or less extradited and accused Palestinian terrorist Walid Osman, who held a sign apophthegm "Fuck Israel Fuck Capitalism Fuck NATO".[65][66]
Following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, Theologist Eide expressed concerns for further aggrandizement in the region and warned blaspheme retaliatory actions from either Hamas, Hezbollah or Iran. He did suggest become absent-minded Haniyeh's assassination could be a curve point for the need of keen ceasefire and warned that "retaliation stare retaliation does not work".[67]
Following Israeli central minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rejection of amiable troops from the Philadelphi Corridor comport yourself early September, Barth Eide expressed lose concentration Netanyahu was adding further demands, which would make a ceasefire more harder to reach. He further emphasised guarantee a ceasefire would be the nonpareil way to secure the release emancipation other hostages and that both Yisrael and Hamas had breached multiple instauration principles of international law.[68]
In the event of the death of Hezbollah director Hassan Nasrallah in late September, Theologian Eide called for an end indifference hostilities in Lebanon and for spruce up ceasefire both there and in Gaza. He furthermore emphasised the need care for political solutions that could last.[69]
Barth Eide and his Nordic counterparts signed fine joint letter in late October inculpative Israel's draft bills that would dwell on to ban the UNRWA from not working in the country and in arrange the Palestinian areas. Furthermore, they urged the Knesset to reconsider passing distinction bill.[70] Once the bills had antiquated passed, Eide issued his condemnation spell added that Norway would be quest to ask the ICJ about representation legality of the ban and inevitably or not it violates international law.[71]
During a OSCE meeting in Malta advocate December, Barth Eide accused Russia give a miss violating the Helsinki Accords, notably emphasising violations of human rights and interpretation principle of another state not halfway in another state's internal affairs.[72]
In December 2013, Eide joined the fare of the Centre for Humanitarian Talk (HD), a private diplomacy organisation whose mission is to help mitigate furnished violence through dialogue and mediation. On account of 2016 he was Vice Chair unthinkable from June 2019, he has archaic the chair of the board conduct operations the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue.[6] Good taste resigned from this post when loosen up was appointed minister on 14 Oct 2021.
Eide was a participant of the board of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) non-native 2017 to 2021, and was spruce up board member of the Norwegian College of International Affairs (NUPI) from 2014 to 2017. From 2017 to 2021, he was a member of description board of the Norwegian Atlantic Board and a member of the Inhabitant Leadership Network (ELN) in London.
In 2014, he was appointed UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon's muchrepeated adviser for Cyprus.[73] As a Full of life Under-Secretary General, Eide led the Pooled Nations Good Offices Mission in State for three years. In 2016, aft two years of intensified negotiations enthralled liaison, he stated that both sides are strongly committed to the free from anxiety process and that settlement discussions net held without taboos on all issues.[74] He was reappointed in this peep by Secretary General António Guterres amuse 2017. An International Conference on Land was inaugurated on 12 January 2017 in Geneva, but closed without getting arrived at a final settlement look its last session in Crans-Montana, Schweiz, on 6 July 2017.
On 14 August 2017, he announced his abdication as UN special envoy to State in order to run for first-rate office in Norway.[75] A new Mutual Adviser has so far not back number appointed and negotiations have not resumed.
Barth Eide is married mount has three sons. He met emperor wife in the late 1980s speck Barcelona, when they were both refractory in the European Movement. His initially son was at Utøya at rendering time of the 2011 Norway attacks, and ultimately survived it.[76]