Increased energy cooperation between the EU and Norway

This content is more than 1 year old.

The EU and Norway will cooperate even closer in the field of energy. This is clear following today’s meeting between the Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Terje Aasland, and Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans.

Minster of Petroleum and Energy Terje Aasland in at meeting with Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans in Brussels 23th June 2022.
Minster of Petroleum and Energy Terje Aasland in at meeting with Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans in Brussels 23th June 2022. Credit: Arvid Samland / Ministry of Petroleum and Energy

— We had a good and constructive meeting, where we agreed to cooperate even closer on energy. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has made closer cooperation necessary. Our ambitious climate targets increase the speed of the energy transition, making cooperation even more important, says Minister of Petroleum and Energy Terje Aasland.

In the meeting between Aasland and Timmermans several topics were discussed, including hydrogen, offshore wind, and carbon capture and storage (CCS). The two agreed to step up work with the aim to increase Norwegian gas deliveries both in the short and longer term.

Norway is the largest producer of oil and gas in Europe, and hence contributes substantially to European energy security. The companies on the Norwegian Continental Shelf produce at very high capacity, and gas deliveries are expected to increase by around 100 TWh from 2021 to 2022.

— The EU and Norway has a common interest in developing the petroleum sector, making Norway a large exporter of oil and gas also after 2030, says Aasland.

In the meeting, the EU and Norway agreed on a joint statement, which can be read here.