The European Commission will keep its moratorium on new oil and gas drilling in the Arctic, a spokesperson confirmed to European Pulse, ahead of the 20 October unveiling of the bloc's revised Northern Neighbourhood strategy. The decision comes despite intense lobbying from Norway, a key energy partner, to drop the ban.
“Moving forward, our approach on the moratorium will remain unchanged: our policies have objectives to address climate change and environmental degradation and support sustainable economic development,” the Commission spokesperson said.
The revised Arctic strategy, an update of the 2021 version, is being finalised as the region gains growing strategic importance for EU defence and climate goals. For Brussels, new fossil fuel extraction in the Arctic is incompatible with its commitment to the Paris Agreement and the goal of climate neutrality by 2050.
Norway's pushback
Norway has argued that continued exploration in the Barents Sea is a form of insurance for European energy security, especially after the disruption of Russian pipeline gas and recent shocks in the Middle East. Norwegian Energy Minister Terje Aasland recently said that “continued activity in the Barents Sea serves both Norwegian and European interests,” and made clear Oslo would proceed regardless of the EU's stance.
The issue is delicate for Brussels because Norway is deeply embedded in the EU's energy architecture. Between January and June, Norway supplied 54.4% of the bloc's LNG imports, up from 52.1% in 2025, according to EU data. With Russian gas largely sidelined, Norway has become the EU's largest supplier.
Yet environmental groups question the strategic value of new Arctic gas. A new analysis by WWF-Norway shows that Norwegian Arctic gas accounts for just 1.4% of EU gas imports, and that new Barents Sea fields would not come online until 2045 — too late to address immediate needs. The report also notes that EU gas demand is projected to fall sharply, from around 329 billion cubic metres (bcm) in 2024 to roughly 85 bcm by 2040 under a pathway aligned with a 90% emissions reduction.
“Significant new Arctic supplies would arrive as EU gas demand is expected to fall sharply,” WWF-Norway said. The group does not challenge existing Norwegian production, but argues that clean power, electrification and efficiency can reduce Europe's reliance on imported fossil fuels faster than new Arctic projects.
There is potential common ground: Norway leads the world in electric vehicle adoption, with battery-electric cars making up 95–99% of new passenger car sales. That progress could align with EU ambitions for a competitive, emission-free economy.
Paal Frisvold, coordinator of the NGO Alliance to Preserve the Moratorium on Oil Drilling in the Arctic, called the Commission's decision an “important victory” for the climate. “It sends an important signal to Norway and the petroleum sector of the EU's firm commitment to accelerating the transition to a competitive and emission-free Europe in line with the Paris Agreement,” he said.
The ban is expected to remain a non-binding political commitment, as in the 2021 strategy, which avoided a direct clash with Norway. The Commission said the “process is ongoing” when asked whether the revised strategy would be more than symbolic.
The Arctic was a key topic at the summit hosted by Finland in Rovaniemi on 13–14 September, attended by Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and leaders from eleven EU member states, including Germany, France, and Poland. European Council President António Costa, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, and Commissioner Jozef Síkela also took part. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo called for a “comprehensive approach” to Arctic security, noting intensifying competition from China, Russia, and the United States.
As the EU finalises its strategy, the moratorium sends a clear signal that climate commitments will not be traded away for short-term energy gains. The bloc's Arctic role is set to grow, but on Brussels' own terms.
