- To be head of Norway’s largest diplomatic mission and represent the Norwegian government on all EU-related issues is an enormous privilege, the new Ambassador Mr. Atle Leikvoll said.
He succeeds Ms Oda Helen Sletnes, who is now the new president of EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA).
The EU matters to Norway
The Mission of Norway to the EU is unlike most other Norwegian missions abroad, both because of its size but also because there are representatives from almost all Norwegian ministries present which results in a very broad expertise.
Although Norway is not a member of the EU, the EU is of great importance to Norway – both economically and politically. Two thirds of Norwegian export goes to the EU, Norway is a member of the Internal Market through the EEA Agreement and participates in the Schengen cooperation, as well as in many other areas.
- The EU is significant for Norway in most areas. It is not a coincidence that Norway’s largest foreign mission is located here in Brussels, Mr. Leikvoll said.
Many leadership positions
Mr. Leikvoll most recently served as Deputy Secretary General in the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Oslo, the second-highest official position in the Ministry. From 1999 to 2003 he was Consul General in New York. Mr. Leikvoll has also held several management positions in various departments in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has for example led the Department for European Affairs and bilateral relations with North America. Mr. Leikvoll also participated in the membership negotiations between the EU and Norway in the beginning of the 1990ies, in which he had a special responsibility for the environment chapter. Mr. Leikvoll is now looking forward to gain experience on working on EU affairs from the Mission of Norway to the EU in Brussels.
- We will aspire to get the most out of the knowledge and expertise available at the Mission in the efforts to promote Norwegian interest in Brussels, Mr. Leikvoll concluded.