SVT Nyheter1 hour agoPolitics1 min read

Hearing on Norwegian foreign administration and connections to IPI and Epstein

Quick Look

The Norwegian Constitutional Committee is holding a hearing on the foreign administration's connections to the think tank IPI, which received over SEK 130 million from the state 1997–2018, with increased funding during Jonas Gahr Støre's time as foreign minister.
IPI was close to the United Nations in New York and had ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who was a contributor and allegedly opened doors to other wealthy donors.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

The hearing in the Norwegian constitutional committee is formally called 'Control and culture in the foreign administration' and focuses on the foreign ministry's relations with the think tank IPI, which received over 130 million kroner from the Norwegian state between 1997 and 2018, with increased grants during Jonas Gahr Støre's time as foreign minister.

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The formal name of the hearing in the Norwegian Constitutional Committee is "Control and culture in the foreign administration". One of the respondents is incumbent Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2005-2012.

The hearing is about the Norwegian foreign administration's connections to the think tank IPI, the International Peace Institute, which was led by the Norwegian top diplomat Terje Rød Larsen.

In total, IPI received more than SEK 130 million from the Norwegian state from 1997 to 2018. And the financial support increased sharply when Støre was foreign minister, according to the foreign ministry's own overview.

Links to Epstein

The IPI think tank was right next to the UN headquarters in New York and was a meeting place for diplomats and politicians.

When the Epstein files were made public last winter, it appeared that Terje Rød Larsen and IPI had close ties to convicted sex offender Jefferey Epstein. Jefferey Epstein was one of the contributors to the IPI, as was the Norwegian state.

The convicted sex offender also allegedly acted as a door opener for other wealthy individuals who could contribute financially to IPI.

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

The Constitution Committee will require additional documentation about IPI's funding and possible irregularities in the State Department's handling of grants.
Likely · Within weeks
The media attention surrounding the links between IPI and Jeffrey Epstein may lead to renewed scrutiny of other government-backed think tanks with links to controversial figures.
Possible · Within months

Open Questions

What specific steps will the Constitution Committee take after the hearing?
How much of IPI's funding came directly from Jeffrey Epstein or his network?
Has any Norwegian official committed a crime in connection with these connections?