EU rejects new oil and gas drilling in the Arctic

He Oil and gas they are at the heart of the debate between the European Union and Norway over new drilling in the Arctic. The EU maintains its opposition to new hydrocarbon extraction projects in the region, while Oslo demands leeway to continue exploring resources in the Barents Sea. The disagreement reflects two energy strategies with different timelines: while Brussels seeks to progressively reduce fossil fuel consumption through energy efficiency, electrification, and renewable energy, Norway argues that current exploration will be necessary to maintain a stable gas supply to Europe for the next decade.

Brussels maintains its Arctic policy

For now, the European Commission it maintains the approach set out in its 2021 Arctic policy, which stipulates that oil, coal, and gas from new Arctic areas should remain underground. The strategy review is scheduled for October 20, and the core position on new hydrocarbon developments is expected to remain unchanged.

Furthermore, Brussels’ proposal does not amount to a direct legal prohibition on the Norwegian continental shelf. The policy functions as a political and diplomatic position of the European Union. Norway retains jurisdiction over exploration and production licenses in its waters.

Norway gains importance in European energy security

Meanwhile, Norway it has become a central supplier to the European gas market, according to European Commission data cited by EU Today. The country contributed 31% of the European Union’s natural gas imports in 2025, up from 24% in 2021. It also accounted for 54% of the bloc’s pipeline gas imports.

At the same time, the share of Russian gas in European Union imports fell from 45% in 2021 to 12% in 2025, the change is related to the REPowerEU strategy and the accelerated diversification of energy supply following Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Thus, the debate over oil and gas drilling in the Arctic intersects with a question of security of supply, as the European Union wants to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. Norway maintains that Europe will continue to need significant volumes of gas throughout the 2030s.

Oslo is betting on exploration before production falls

On the other hand, the Norwegian government argues that exploration decisions should be made years in advance, as many of the country’s fields are in a mature phase and production could decline during the 2030s if no new projects are undertaken.

In May, Norway expanded its 2026 oil and gas licensing round with 70 blocks or parts of blocks distributed across the North Sea, the Norwegian Sea, and the Barents Sea. Of that total, 38 are located in the Barents Sea.

Furthermore, Energy Minister Terje Aasland has defended the continuation of activity in the Arctic, and Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has also linked exploration to Norway’s ability to maintain production and continue supplying energy to Europe.

From Oslo’s perspective, the key issue is the development timeline, a discovery made today can take years to reach production. Therefore, the Norwegian government believes that waiting for a significant drop in supply would leave little room to replace those volumes.

EU forecasts lower gas demand in Europe

Brussels, however, is working with a different projection: new Arctic projects can take a decade or more from exploration to production. For this reason, the Commission believes that opening new fields would have a limited effect on current energy pressures.

At the same time, European energy policy aims to reduce structural gas consumption. Measures implemented since 2022 combine diversification of suppliers with renewables, electrification, and energy efficiency. According to the Commission, as reported by EU Today, the European Union’s gas demand fell by 19% between August 2022 and January 2026.

Thus, the community strategy is based on the assumption that Europe will need less gas during the 2030s, under this scenario, new hydrocarbon developments in the Arctic could come into operation when demand is much lower than it is now.

The Barents Sea is the focal point of some of the disagreement

Meanwhile, the Barents Sea occupies a central place in the Norwegian strategy, the inclusion of 38 blocks from that area in the 2026 licensing round shows that Oslo is keeping exploration open in the north.

However, the European Union is seeking to limit the expansion of new fossil fuel projects in the Arctic region. Euronews reports that the Commission will maintain this approach in its revised strategy despite Norwegian pressure. It also indicates that the moratorium would remain political and non-binding.

Likewise, the disagreement is not centered on immediate supply, the main discussion is what level of demand Europe will have when potential new projects are ready to produce. Norway is preparing for a scenario with a still significant need for gas. Brussels is designing its policy for a scenario of lower consumption.

Energy security and climate policy operate on different timescales

Ultimately, the dispute reflects a difference in planning: Norway focuses on the investment timelines of the oil and gas industry, while the European Union focuses on the speed at which it can reduce fossil fuel consumption through renewables, electrification, and efficiency.

For now, both sides are maintaining their positions, while Brussels plans to uphold its opposition to new oil and gas developments in the Arctic. Oslo continues to allow exploration within its continental shelf.

The document that the European Commission plans to present on October 20 will provide more details on the revised Arctic policy. Its contents will reveal how the European Union intends to reconcile security of supply with its objective of reducing gas demand over the next decade.

Source: EUToday

Photo: Shutterstock