Government of Norway

02/05/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/05/2026 14:07

Statement from Foreign Minister Eide on proposal to revoke immunity for former secretary general of the Council of Europe

Today, the National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime has informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that it has decided to open an investigation of Thorbjørn Jagland. The decision is based on information released in the Epstein files.

As a former secretary general of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland has immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts he has carried out as secretary general. The National Authority has requested the Ministry's assistance in having Mr. Jagland's immunity revoked.

'It is important that the facts of this case are brought to light. That means Mr. Jagland's immunity cannot stand in the way of an investigation. I have therefore decided that Norway will put forward a proposal to the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers that Jagland's immunity be revoked', says Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Espen Barth Eide.

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