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| Politics of Norway |
TheSvalbard Act of 17 July 1925 no. 11, normally referred to as theSvalbard Act (Norwegian:lov om Svalbard or colloquiallySvalbardloven), is alaw of Norway which governs the major aspects of theSvalbard archipelago. The law was passed by theParliament of Norway on 17 July 1925, establishes Norwegiansovereignty of the island, and states that Norwegiancriminal law,civil law andprocedure law are enforced on the island. Otherwise, other provisions and laws only apply when specified. The act further established the policy for administration, including creating theGovernor of Svalbard, and since 2002,Longyearbyen Community Council. The act also establishes rules for real estate and environmental protection.[1]
The act was passed as a response to theSpitsbergen Treaty of 9 February 1920, which established Norwegian sovereignty of Svalbard, but limited the archipelago to afree economic zone anddemilitarized zone. The act established the basis for an orderlycivil society on the islands, which had until that point been prone to lawlessness among miners, fishermen and hunters.[2]
The law has been amended several times, and consists of 6 chapters and 46 paragraphs. Chapter One (§§1–4) covers the relationship between Norway and Svalbard; Chapter Two (§§5–13) pertains to governance and courts; Chapter Three (§§14–21) concernsfamily law; Chapter Four (§§22–28) governs property law; Chapter Five (§§29–44) establishes the Longyearbyen Community Council, and Chapter Six (§§45–46) consists of miscellaneous provisions.[3] From 1 July 2002, theSvalbard Environmental Act of 15 June 2001 nr. 79 supplements theSvalbard Act, regulating all environmental aspects of the archipelago.[4]
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