The International Energy Agency (IEA) has called on the European Union to reconsider its opposition to new oil and gas exploration in the Arctic, as Europe seeks to strengthen its future energy security.
IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol made the call in Brussels, urging the European Commission to closely review the issue amid concerns over the reliability of future energy supplies.
The European Union currently supports a ban on new Arctic drilling on environmental grounds but is considering revisiting its position as it faces pressure to secure alternative sources of oil and gas.
Speaking to reporters, Dr Birol said energy security remains a critical concern for Europe and emphasised the importance of supplies from trusted partners.
He described Norway as a reliable energy supplier, stating that “the world needs every drop of oil from Norway” and noting that the country would not use energy as a geopolitical tool.
Norway, which is not a member of the European Union, is currently Europe’s largest gas supplier. However, production is expected to decline in the 2030s unless new discoveries are made beyond existing mature fields.
Norwegian Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg also argued that maintaining production levels remains important, while acknowledging the need to consider environmental concerns.
The debate comes as Europe works to phase out oil and gas imports from Russia by late 2027 and replace them through a combination of renewable energy and fossil fuel supplies from trusted partners.
Opponents of lifting the Arctic drilling ban argue that new fossil fuel projects could take more than a decade to begin production and may not address Europe’s immediate energy challenges.