Norway to Continue Arctic Drilling Despite EU Opposition

Norway will continue oil and gas extraction in the Arctic despite the EU's position.

Consensus

Norway will continue oil and gas drilling in the Arctic.
The Norwegian government disagrees with the European Union's position on new Arctic drilling projects.
The Norwegian energy minister, Terje Oslund, stated that Arctic development is a sovereign right of Norway.
Norway aims to maintain oil and gas production and exports at current levels at least until 2035.
The development of resources in the Barents Sea is considered crucial for achieving this goal.
Norway views continued Arctic drilling as serving both Norwegian and European interests.
The European Union is currently the main gas supplier to the European Union, with Norway being a key provider.
The EU has expressed opposition to new Arctic drilling due to environmental concerns.
There is a possibility that the EU may reconsider its position due to energy security concerns.
If European countries reject Arctic hydrocarbons, Norway could export oil to global markets and gas as LNG.

In 2021, the European Union opposed the development of new oil and gas fields in the Arctic as part of its climate policy. — vedomosti
Norway became the main gas supplier to the EU in 2026. — vedomosti
In 2022, Norway became the largest gas supplier to Europe, providing about 30% of the gas needed for the EU and the UK. — kommerstant
In 2025, gas production in Norway approached record levels, and oil production reached its highest levels since 2009. — kommerstant
Official forecasts in Norway suggest that production will sharply decline after 2030 unless new fields are discovered. — kommerstant
Norway is actively engaging with EU institutions ahead of the expected publication of a new Arctic strategy by the end of September. — vedomosti
In February, Russian President's press secretary Dmitry Peskov stated that the Arctic region requires international cooperation and noted that Russia is an Arctic state, unlike most EU countries. — vedomosti