EU-Norway Rift Over Arctic Oil and Gas Drilling

The European Union and Norway are at odds over new oil and gas drilling in the Arctic. The EU maintains its opposition to new hydrocarbon extraction projects in the region, while Norway argues that current exploration will be necessary to maintain a stable gas supply to Europe for the next decade.

Norway has become a central supplier to the European gas market, contributing 31% of the European Union's natural gas imports in 2025, up from 24% in 2021. The country is betting on exploration before production falls, with many of its fields entering a mature phase and facing declining production levels during the 2030s.

The EU forecasts lower gas demand in Europe, with a 19% decrease in gas consumption between August 2022 and January 2026. Brussels believes that opening new fields would have a limited effect on current energy pressures, as new projects can take a decade or more from exploration to production.