Norway’s Epstein commission granted access to classified intelligence

A unanimous Storting presidency has proposed a new law giving the Epstein commission full access to classified intelligence, rejecting earlier government attempts to restrict its scope.

The commission, led by former Dagens Næringsliv editor Amund Djuve, will investigate Norwegian foreign service and other agencies in the wake of the Epstein documents, with a mandate dating back to before the 1993 Oslo Accords. It is tasked with delivering a final report by 31 January 2028.

Under the proposed law, the commission may request the Storting’s EOS committee—which oversees Norway’s intelligence services—to retrieve information from the intelligence, surveillance, and security agencies on its behalf. The commission must justify the necessity of accessing classified material, with the Storting’s administration serving as the clearing authority. Members will be bound by confidentiality obligations.

The proposal follows criticism of the government’s initial push to exclude intelligence from the E-service. The presidency’s recommendation instead emphasizes dialogue with the commission on the level of detail in disclosed information, noting the potential for serious harm if sensitive data is mishandled.

The commission’s work is funded with 22 million kroner in this year’s state budget.