Norway to Continue Arctic Drilling Despite EU Moratorium

Norway will continue to develop oil and gas resources in the Barents Sea regardless of the European Union's moratorium on Arctic drilling, Energy Minister Terje Aasland said on August 24, 2026. The declaration, made ahead of the country's major energy conference in Stavanger, underscores a growing rift between Europe's largest gas supplier and the bloc over energy security and climate policy. Aasland stated that continued activity in the Barents Sea serves both Norwegian and European interests, particularly in the current geopolitical and security environment.