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DRAFT REPORT (2026/2042(INI))

On a European Parliament recommendation to the Council, Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on EU-Norway political relations

AFET-PR-791099

Committee on Foreign Affairs · Rapporteur: Łukasz Kohut

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This is a draft report by Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs proposing a recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the High Representative on EU-Norway political relations. It asks them to deepen the strategic partnership across all areas of common interest, using the EEA Agreement and other frameworks and intensifying political dialogue and high-level meetings. It calls for closer cooperation on foreign and security policy, support for Ukraine, Arctic and maritime security, hybrid threats and critical infrastructure, and defence through the SAFE instrument. It also seeks an energy security partnership, Arctic and ocean governance action, and stronger ties in education, research, culture, equality, migration and local and civil society engagement.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes that Parliament recommend to the Council, Commission and High Representative a broad deepening of EU-Norway political relations, covering security and defence, Ukraine, Arctic and maritime security, critical infrastructure, energy, research, equality and migration.

Key points

  1. Recommends that the Council, Commission and High Representative further strengthen the EU-Norway strategic partnership across all areas of common interest.
  2. Asks them to make full use of the EEA Agreement and other frameworks and to intensify political dialogue, institutional exchanges and joint initiatives, including regular high-level meetings.
  3. Calls for full implementation of the EU-Norway Security and Defence Partnership and earlier, more structured consultations on Arctic and maritime security, without prejudice to EU decision-making autonomy.
  4. Urges continued political, military, financial and humanitarian support for Ukraine, coordination on restrictive measures against Russia and work on accountability for Russia's crime of aggression.
  5. Seeks reinforced Arctic and North Atlantic cooperation in response to Russia's military presence, threats to Denmark and Greenland, and China's interest, including on the GIUK gap.
  6. Calls for stronger action against hybrid threats and protection of critical infrastructure such as offshore energy installations, pipelines and submarine cables in the North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Barents Sea and Baltic Sea.
  7. Asks that Norway be fully included in EU resilience frameworks for critical underwater infrastructure, treating its maritime surveillance and subsea monitoring capabilities as integral to Europe's collective security.
  8. Recommends using the SAFE instrument and other EU defence initiatives for joint procurement, defence innovation, military mobility and integrated supply chains, and equitable treatment of EEA/EFTA states in EU defence programmes under the next multiannual financial framework.
  9. Calls for stronger energy security cooperation, including long-term supply planning, joint infrastructure investment and a possible comprehensive EU-Norway energy security partnership; notes the strategic significance of Norwegian oil and gas.
  10. Proposes joint initiatives on carbon capture and storage, offshore wind, hydrogen and electrification of offshore operations, and regulatory cooperation on methane emission requirements that ensures secure gas and oil supplies.
  11. Asks for deeper Arctic cooperation on climate change research, environmental monitoring and biodiversity, with the rights and knowledge of Indigenous peoples and local communities reflected in policymaking.
  12. Recommends strengthening education, research, innovation and cultural cooperation through Horizon Europe, Erasmus+ and the EEA and Norway Grants, and cooperation on equality, migration, border management and local and civil society participation.

Who is affected

  • Norway: the EU seeks deeper cooperation across security, defence, energy, Arctic, research and migration policy.
  • EU institutions: the Council, Commission and High Representative are asked to act on the recommendations.
  • EEA/EFTA states: they should receive consistent and equitable treatment in EU defence programmes.
  • Indigenous peoples and local communities: their rights, interests and knowledge should be reflected in Arctic policymaking.
  • Ukraine: the EU and Norway should maintain support and coordinate sanctions and accountability efforts.

Legal basis: Article 216 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Title V of the Treaty on European Union on EU external action.