Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender visited the Kingdom of Norway on 4 and 5 November.

The Federal President was received by King Harald V in Oslo, and met members of parliament and government representatives for political talks. He also visited the Peace Research Institute Oslo. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre invited the guests to view the exhibition and dine at the Munch Museum with him.

On the second day of the visit, the Federal President went to Utøya island with the Prime Minister to commemorate the victims of the 2011 attack. Discussions and public debates on ensuring that democracies are capable of defending themselves and the transition to a post-fossil world followed.

Elke Büdenbender’s programme focused on women in management positions – an area in which Norway has long been a trailblazer in Europe.

Overview of the programme:

Thursday, 4 November

• Arrival in Oslo
• Storting (parliament)
  Talks with Eva Kristin Hansen, President of the Storting
• Harbour
  Visit to the fleet replenishment ship Berlin of the German Navy
• German-Norwegian School
  Visit to the school and discussion with pupils on the topic of sustainability and environmental protection
• Royal Palace
  Talks with King Harald V of Norway and Queen Sonja
• Luncheon hosted by King Harald V of Norway and Queen Sonja
• Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)
  Panel discussion on diplomacy and mediation in times of new conflicts
• Official residence of the Prime Minister
  Talks with Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Norway
• Joint press conference
• Munch Museum
  Guided tour of the exhibition
• Dinner hosted by Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Norway

Friday, 5 November

• Utøya island
  Visit to Utøya island together with Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Norway, as well as wreath laying ceremony
• Høvik, Det norske Veritas (DNV)
  Talk on the subject of the energy transition – transformation to a post fossil world
• Oslo, Opera House
  Reception hosted by the German Ambassador at the Oslo Opera House in honour of the visit by the Federal President
  Speech at the ceremony to award the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany to singer and actress Wencke Myhre and to Gunnar Stålsett, Bishop emeritus of Oslo (Church of Norway)
• University of Oslo
  Panel discussion on the topic of vigilant democracy – perspectives from Norway and Germany, together with Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Norway
• Flight to Berlin