Energy & transport international relations

Norway is the world’s third largest exporter of oil and gas after Saudi Arabia and Russia. Norway is a member of the European Economic Area Agreement. It applies most of the EU acquis including legislation on the internal energy market and related flanking policies (competitions, environment, consumer protections, research and development programs etc.) Bilaterally, the EU-Norway Energy Dialogue principally aims at the coordination of energy policies in a wider sense, including research and technological development in the energy sector and relations with other energy producing countries. Issues related to the possible exploration of the energy resources in the High North, i.e. the Barents Sea, are also discussed in the framework of the Dialogue.

On 6 July 2005, the Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs and the Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy met in Oslo. Both parts confirmed their interest to cooperate on energy issues, specifically in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and security of energy supply, including exploration and production activities in the Arctic area.

The European Commission was invited to join Norway, the UK and Denmark in an informal forum to discuss issues related to the use of CO2 capture and storage and enhanced oil recovery in the North Sea.

Meetings between the EU and Norway at Ministerial level takes place yearly.

On 25 June 2007, the EU-Norway Energy Cooperation Meeting will take place in Stavanger (Norway).

Useful Links:

DG External Relations, EU Commission, EU relations with Norway
European Commission Delegation in Oslo.
The Government of Norway: The European Portal: Information on the relations with the EU.
Norwegian mission to the EU: Policy areas - Energy
Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy.
European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA) secretariat