– We must be prepared for the worst, including war
Preparing Oslo for crises and war will be a key priority when the Oslo budget is presented on Wednesday.
Summary of the story:
The Oslo City Council plans to allocate nearly 400 million kroner for emergency preparedness over the next four years, of which 330 million will go toward upgrading and renovating public shelters.
City Council Leader Eirik Lae Solberg admits that shelters have been neglected for decades, by Oslo Municipality, other municipalities, and the national government.
In 2023, the Municipal Audit Office sounded the alarm about poor maintenance and shelters that could not be made ready within the 72-hour deadline.
Oslo is preparing for both serious crises and war, including plans for information security and communication in the event that mobile networks and the internet go down.
The government is considering new requirements for municipalities, including simpler and less expensive “shelter spaces,” such as those in parking garages.
Oslo has around 3,000 private shelters, but many vary in quality, and building owners are responsible for maintenance, signage, and preparation.
Now the city’s shelters are to be made ready for the day the population needs to take cover.
“This has been neglected for decades,” admits City Council Leader Eirik Lae Solberg (H).
According to the City Council leader, Oslo, other municipalities, and the national government have all deprioritized shelters.
330 million
That is why emergency preparedness is a key focus as the City Council presents its proposal for Oslo’s 2027 budget on Wednesday.
Nearly 400 million will be set aside to strengthen emergency preparedness over the next four years.
Most of this will be spent on the shelters.
“We are now taking action and setting aside 330 million kroner to upgrade and renovate the shelters in Oslo so that they are ready for use,” says Eirik Lae Solberg.
Raised the alarm in 2023
NRK meets with the city council leader inside the mountain across from Vulkan on Maridalsveien.
This is the location of one of 33 public shelters in Oslo.
They are primarily intended for residents who are outdoors or on the move if the air raid siren sounds.
Most of them are located in the city center, and some are down in the subway.
The city council is focusing its efforts on public shelters.
And it’s clear that something must be done.
The municipal audit
sounded the alarm as early as 2023.
Due to their poor condition and lack of maintenance, some of them were impossible to prepare within the 72-hour deadline.
Here you will find public shelters in Oslo
Akersgata 41
Akershus Fortress – Akershusstranda
Bentsegt 21–25
Bogstadveien 30
Fagerheimgt 22
Filipstadveien 15
Fred Olsensgt 11
Fredrik Stangsgt 37
Hegdehaugsveien 36
Holmlia Baths, Holmlia Sentervei 34
Jordalsgt 11
Kingosgt 17
Klemetsrud, Lofsrudveien 6
Majorstuveien 38
Maridalsveien 14
Nobelsgt 30
Olav Schousvei 2–8, Plan A
Olav Schousvei 2–8, Plan B
Schwensensgt 3/5
St. Hanshaugen, UllevĂĄlsveien
Metro – Carl Berners plass
Metro – Enerhaugen – Åkebergveien
Metro – Grønland Station
Metro – Jernbanetorget, entrance at Hotel Clarion
Metro – Nationaltheatret Station
Metro – Oscarsgate 19
Metro – Stortinget Station
Metro – Valkyrien Station
Thorvald Meyersgate 7
Tollbugata 40 / Nedre Vollgate 11
Trondheimsveien 80
Tullinsgate 2
Vøyensvingen 4
Source: City of Oslo
Prepared for the Worst
The city council leader has announced that he will present a separate proposal to the city council later this fall regarding the municipality’s emergency preparedness.
Among other things, it will address information security and IT-related emergency preparedness.
For example, how the municipality will reach the public if cell phones and the internet go down.
“Are you preparing for war, quite simply?”
“Unfortunately, we are in an entirely new security policy situation. We must be prepared for the worst.”
“So we are preparing for both a serious crisis and war, in line with what the national authorities are also doing,” says Eirik Lae Solberg.
“Shelter Facilities”
He notes that the government has announced stricter requirements for municipalities and that Oslo will take the lead.
A new government regulation on “shelters” was sent out for public comment in June.
“We need to rethink how we protect the population in the event of war,” said Minister of Justice and Public Safety Astri Aas-Hansen (Ap) when the proposal was presented.
Among other things, she plans to create so-called “shelter rooms,” which are intended to be simpler and less expensive than traditional bomb shelters.
These could be located in parking garages, for example.
In addition, Oslo and other municipalities that are particularly vulnerable to air attacks will be given greater responsibility for ensuring sufficient shelter capacity.
Construction ceased in 1998
Both in Oslo and elsewhere, bomb shelters were built steadily throughout the Cold War.
In 1998, construction came to a halt. At that time, the requirement to build bomb shelters in new buildings was temporarily suspended.
Should we start building bomb shelters again, for example, when constructing new schools in Oslo?
Eirik Lae Solberg will wait to see what the government has to say about this once the new regulations are in place.
“We must ensure that we have shelters in schools, office buildings, and nursing homes.”
“But we are completely dependent on the state providing funding if the municipalities are to take on this responsibility,” says the city council leader.
Private Shelters
This type of shelter falls under the “private” category, even if the building is municipally owned.
A private shelter is defined as one intended for the people inside the building.
These can include office buildings, schools, daycare centers, housing cooperatives, businesses, stores, and hotels.
Here, too, the City of Oslo is not without fault.
According to an analysis by Multiconsult, 132 shelters owned by the municipal enterprise Oslobygg have serious deviations from the requirements.
3,000 in Oslo
According to the Civil Defense, approximately 3,000 private shelters have been built in Oslo since the first regulations were introduced in 1948.
The standard varies, according to Civil Defense Adjutant Rune Larsen of the Oslo and Akershus Civil Defense District.
– Normally, even shelters that are in poor condition can provide good protection against the most common effects of weapons, such as shrapnel, explosions, and the collapse of overlying structures, he says.
The Owner Is Responsible
Larsen says that the building’s owner is responsible for maintenance and for preparing the shelter in an emergency.
The owner is also required to post signs indicating the location of the shelter inside the building and to inform residents and users of its existence.
“Routine maintenance includes, among other things, lubricating door hinges, checking gaskets, and testing the functionality of ventilation systems and generators,” says Rune Larsen.
Germany Struggles to Find Enough Troops for Europe's Largest Army
The EU wants to be able to defend itself. Germany plans to build Europe's most powerful army, but is struggling to find enough soldiers.
Ronja and Jonathan are standing in an infinitely long line in a fair hall.
Along with thousands of other young people, they have come to the Ideen Expo Education Fair to get help figuring out what they want to be.
They are standing in line for the German Federal Defense helicopter simulator.
“Oh, my God, this was so much fun! You just have to try this! You'll love it!” Hylja exclaimed to her friend after she “flew” the helicopter over Berlin.
The two teenagers have already made up their minds. They both want to become pilots, and the military can help them take to the skies.
“You have to do what you love, and I love flying!” says the 14-year-old girl, who already spends her free time at the local flying club.
“I’ve already enlisted in the military,” her 17-year-old friend said.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Deadlines for Free Education
The exhibition hall features fire departments and automakers, but the defense sector clearly has the largest booth.
“We need all kinds of people in the defense sector. Germany needs people who are willing to take on responsibility,” Lieutenant Colonel Steven told NRK.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has said Germany needs 80,000 new soldiers so the country can be prepared for war. The first step is a campaign to encourage the country’s young people to volunteer.
“We’re seeing growing interest in the defense sector,” the lieutenant colonel told NRK at the education fair.
If so, it's no wonder why. In addition to a base salary of 2,400 euros a month, the military offers training in everything from medicine to aviation. The training is free, and the admission requirements are lower than at civilian universities.
“The salary is great! I've enlisted. I'm also looking forward to the physical challenges,” said 17-year-old Laila. To prove it, she crawls through the obstacle course at the defense booth.
“Hefty, I like it!” she shouts breathlessly after doing boxing exercises and pull-ups.
79,500 soldiers missing
Although there is excitement in the exhibition hall in Hanover, it has so far not caught on among most German youth.
Several surveys show that nearly half of Germans under the age of 40 oppose the reinstatement of the draft. 300,000 draft notices have been sent to the country’s 17-year-olds. Only 530 have signed up for service so far. Thus, they are still far from the target of 80,000 new soldiers.
Never again war!
In the square in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, there is a swirl of homemade posters and angry high school students.
Never again conscription! They shout during one of many school strikes this year. About a thousand young people have skipped school that day to protest against conscription.
“I’d rather miss one day of school than have to sacrifice half a year for military service,” said 17-year-old Pavel.
The young people are lining up at shredders to destroy the draft notices they’ve received. Attending military training is still voluntary, but Pavel fears it might become mandatory.
“There’s one thing we can learn from history: when we in Germany start spending money on defense, it ends in war.
The protest has a historic undertone. The day marks Nazi Germany’s surrender after World War II. The young people shout “never again war,” just a stone’s throw from the site where Hitler’s bunker once stood.
Ideology or Free Education
On the wall of Pavel’s bedroom hangs a personal greeting from the German Federal Ministry of Defense, among anti-war posters. On the desk stands a flight simulator. He loves airplanes and hates the military. Pavel dreams of becoming a pilot, but civilian flight training costs between 50,000 and 100,000 euros.
“The Air Force offers a free education, but that doesn’t apply to me. There’s an industry that wants us to die for them. They and the government are warmongers,” Pavel recalls as he crash-lands the plane on the simulator.
While not everyone is as politically convinced as Pavel, there are many young Germans who do not want to join the military. They believe that all talk of war is nothing more than intimidating propaganda.
If Germany is to succeed in its goal of building Europe’s strongest army, the country must be able to recruit more troops. If enough people share Pavel’s attitude and refuse to enlist, the government has announced that it will take stronger measures.
Universities Are Receiving Unprecedented Funding for EU Military Projects
Never before have Danish defense contractors and universities been involved in so many military research projects in the EU. At the same time, the universities refuse to provide any insight into what the projects entail.
Danish universities set a record in military research for the EU.
Last year, Danish universities and research institutions received EU funding for eight military development projects totaling 1.3 billion kroner—to be distributed among the other research institutions and defense contractors participating in the projects.
Develops missile systems, mortar rounds, and drone ammunition.
Arbejderen has documented the eight projects—and the days when universities conducted research on “soft” projects such as mine clearance, bulletproof vests, and lightweight materials designed to protect soldiers from gunfire and mines are over.
Today, Danish universities are conducting research on offensive military EU projects aimed at inflicting maximum death and destruction on the “enemy.”
The projects cover a wide range—from developing new cockpit technology to make fighter jets more effective to researching ammunition for drones and missile systems.
For example, Aalborg University has joined the Spider2 research project alongside Europe’s largest defense contractors—such as Thales, Kongsberg, Airbus, Leonardo, and Saab—which aims to build a large network of military satellites in space that can be used for surveillance and intelligence gathering. The EU is supporting the project with a staggering 487.5 million kroner.
Danish universities set a record for military research funded by the EU. Last year, Danish universities received EU funding for eight military development projects totaling 1.3 billion kroner.
Aalborg University has also partnered with major European defense contractors, such as Thales, on Project Sword, which aims to develop advanced sensors for missile launch systems that will enable EU warships to detect, track, and destroy submarines and underwater drones. The EU is providing 150 million kroner in funding for the project.
Finally, Aalborg University—together with Terma A/S, Airbus, SAAB, and a number of other major European defense companies—has received 405 million Danish kroner in EU funding for the EPIIC2 project, which will conduct research into new cockpit technology designed to make fighter jets more effective.
EU funding for military research projects is certainly not a new phenomenon at the university: Since 2021, Aalborg University has received funding for a total of 15 EU military research projects, the university told Arbejderen.
FACT: EU Military Research Projects in Denmark.
Here are the projects for which the EU’s military “Defense Fund” (EDF) provides funding to Danish defense companies and Danish universities:
Project SHIELD
Will conduct research on unmanned vessels, sensors, and AI-based microservices, which together will form a network designed to carry out coordinated military operations in European waters.
Project SWORD
Aims to conduct research on advanced sensors for launch systems that enable the EU military to detect, track, classify, and neutralize enemy submarines and underwater drones.
Project EVOLVE
EVOLVE aims to define a future EU-level reference concept for live, virtual, and constructive (LVC) exercises that enable effective, cost-efficient, and sustainable training in multi-domain operations (MDO) across nations, encompassing the air, land, sea, cyber, and space domains. By developing a new LVC architectural framework, a new training paradigm, and ensuring seamless integration of live and simulated systems, EVOLVE will enable coherent MDO scenarios across multiple scales and levels.
The DEEP-TECH Project
DEEP-TECH promotes the development of groundbreaking technologies for mobile and robot-controlled landing units on the seafloor, as well as autonomous underwater infrastructures and base stations.
The project will integrate the latest advances in docking, energy storage and wireless transmission, communication, autonomous detection and neutralization of incoming threats, and sensor networks to improve the endurance, resilience, and capabilities of unmanned systems in high-risk, deep-water scenarios, thereby providing protection against current and future threats using large, autonomous, long-range vessels.
The FAST-TRAIN Project
The project will integrate miniaturized brain and body signals: helmet-compatible functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), washable impedance cardiography (ICG), and a textile-integrated inertial measurement unit (IMU) with secure, body-worn edge artificial intelligence (AI) to transform raw data into real-time cognitive and physiological measurements, all without relying on the cloud.
EM-Mortar Project
EM-Mortar proposes an electromagnetic mortar that can replace traditional chemical propellants with pulsed electromagnetic acceleration.
This innovative concept ensures silent operation and adjustable muzzle velocity with extreme precision—two characteristics that provide crucial tactical advantages in modern warfare—especially in close combat and urban environments, where traditional mortars reveal their positions through powerful acoustic and visual signals.
The SALUBRIS Project
SALUBRIS aims to fill a critical gap in battlefield medical support by developing and validating an ecosystem of autonomous robotic systems (RAS) for the triage and evacuation of the wounded (CASEVAC).
The project focuses on multimodal CASEVAC, utilizing a combination of unmanned vehicles across different domains (land, sea, air) to perform the localization, rescue, and evacuation of casualties through swarm coordination across domains. In addition, the project utilizes data fusion from available sources, including both wearable and nearby sensors, to enable autonomous triage based on the START methodology, which employs explainable AI techniques to prioritize the injured.
The SHIMBAD Project
SHIMBAD aims to develop the first fully European multiband and multifunction radar architecture for naval platforms.
SHIMBAD will design, build, and validate a scalable 4D Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) demonstrator capable of operating simultaneously across multiple frequency bands to ensure wide-area surveillance, precision tracking, and electronic protection in contested electromagnetic environments.
Project ECC2
The ECC2 project delivers an independent, federated command and control (C2) solution for cyberspace, designed to enable the EU and its member states to coordinate, plan, and conduct operations in cyberspace.
The ECC2 project delivers an independent, federated solution for cyber command and control (C2), designed to enable the EU and its member states to coordinate, plan, and conduct operations in cyberspace. The platform is built around three core components: the intelligence module, the planning and operations module, and the activation module. A unified environment serves as their federated digital backbone, inspired by the EU’s and NATO’s digital transformation strategies, ensuring interoperability, data federation, and security at multiple levels.
The SPIDER2 Project
SPIDER2 aims to conduct research and development on military satellites for space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.
SPIDER2 is a follow-up to the SPIDER feasibility study. The project focuses on developing cost-effective, multi-purpose satellite constellations dedicated to space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) for defense purposes, which are compatible with national and EU initiatives.
SPIDER2 will enable high response rates, short revisit intervals, and low end-to-end system latency, building on the foundation laid by the original SPIDER feasibility study.
EPIIC2 Project
EPIIC2 aims to develop new cockpit technologies for fighter aircraft to “increase operational effectiveness.”
The university is not the only institution conducting research on EU military projects.
The Danish Technological Institute is participating in the 67.5 million kroner Eurodamm project, which aims to develop inexpensive, mass-produced drone ammunition.
And the Danish Technological Institute is participating in the EM-Mortar project, which aims to develop a silent mortar cannon designed to make warfare more effective—especially in urban close-quarters combat.
The University of Copenhagen, together with major defense contractors such as Thales, has received 87 million kroner for the Deep-Tech project, which will conduct research on “autonomous detection and neutralization of incoming threats” in connection with EU military operations on the seabed.
Lukker ned for oplysninger om projekterne
The information about Danish universities’ military EU research projects comes from publicly available data from the EU’s so-called Defense Fund.
Arbejderen has contacted Aalborg University and the Danish Technological Institute to obtain more information about the projects they are involved in, as well as to find out how many researchers are working on these projects.
Arbejderen has also requested interviews to ask why the two research institutions are investing so heavily in research for EU military projects—and whether this has raised ethical concerns. Additionally, the newspaper asked which areas are now being neglected because researchers are focused on developing advanced military equipment.
Neither of the two research institutions is willing to grant an interview.
Aalborg University writes in an email to Arbejderen that, “for security reasons” and out of consideration for “national security” and “the defense of the realm,” it does not wish to comment on the projects.
The university uses the same rationale to deny access to project documents.
Nor does the Danish Technological Institute wish to discuss its participation in the EU military research projects.
In an email to Arbejderen, the institute refers to the rules governing projects under the EU’s European Defense Fund (EDF) and emphasizes that “… the procedure is perfectly clear: As a partner, we may not comment on the project or its research content until both the Grant Agreement (the agreement with the European Commission) and the Consortium Agreement (the agreement among all project partners) have been finalized, signed, and the project has officially been launched.”