The Presidium of the Storting has decided that the intelligence services must hand over all information requested by the Epstein Commission. Minister of Defence Tore O. Sandvik did not want the Commission to receive all information. A unanimous Presidium has now agreed on a recommendation requiring full access to whatever information the Commission requests.

The proposal provides that the Commission may request the EOS Committee of the Storting, which oversees the secret services, to obtain information from the intelligence, surveillance, and security services on behalf of the Commission.

– The assessment of the level of detail of information to be conveyed shall take place in dialogue with the Commission, the recommendation for the new law states.

The First Vice President of the Storting, Morten Stordalen (FrP), believes that the Commission has now been given a framework that will enable it to do a good job.

– It is important that when we say we want an investigation and a review, it should be a full review. It is important that the investigation enjoys public confidence and that the Commission receives the broadest possible access, he tells NTB.

– And I believe that is what we have now achieved.

Labour Party representative Lise Selnes, who has served as rapporteur for the matter, is also satisfied with the special legislation.

– It is important that the Commission receives the legal authority it needs to obtain information while at the same time ensuring that fundamental principles of legal certainty, privacy, and confidentiality are upheld. This law ensures that, she says.

Two technically appointed members are to handle requests for access.

When the Epstein Commission was appointed, the Storting emphasised that none of its members should have any party-political affiliation.

Since the EOS Committee includes several former politicians among its members, the new law stipulates that only the two members of the Committee appointed on the basis of their technical and legal expertise shall process the Commission’s requests for access.

– It was important to us that those handling this should have no party-political connections, so that there is consistency in the process, says Stordalen.

However, restrictions of a general nature are being introduced, and everything depends on how those limitations are defined.

Should not seek access to too much

Certain safeguards are also being introduced. Among them is a provision that the Commission shall not seek access to classified information to a greater extent than is necessary.

– The provision is intended as a reminder to the Commission that special considerations apply when access is sought to classified information, and that serious harm may result if such information becomes known to unauthorised persons, the explanatory notes to the recommendation state.

The administration of the Storting is being given an oversight role, and how this is exercised will be decisive for the effectiveness of the Commission.

The members are also subject to a duty of confidentiality, and the administration of the Storting shall serve as the security clearance authority for the Commission and for persons performing service or work on behalf of the Commission.

Rødt’s Martine Sneve Martinussen finds it striking that the Commission must take foreign intelligence services into account.

– The Commission is being asked to take foreign intelligence into consideration, not merely to establish the facts of the case. Rødt considers that unnecessary. (NTB)

Given that there is reasonable suspicion that intelligence services were behind Epstein, this constitutes a serious limitation.