Sittings · Document
Follow up to the European Parliament non-legislative resolution on Norway’s recent decision to advance seabed mining in the Arctic
Resolution tabled pursuant to Rule 123(2) of the European Parliament's Rules of procedure
Reference numbers: 2024/2520 (RSP) / B9-0095/2024 / P9_TA(2024)0068
Date of adoption of the resolution: 7 February 2024
Competent Parliamentary Committee: N/A
Brief analysis/ assessment of the resolution and requests made in it
The European Parliament’s resolution on Norway’s recent decision to advance seabed mining in the Arctic highlights the institution’s concerns regarding the harmful consequences of the possibility of commercial deep-sea mining on the marine environment.
The Parliament acknowledges that Norway’s decision mentions an exploration process that does not automatically lead to exploitation activities, as those would require the approval of Norway’s Parliament.
The Parliament’s resolution calls on the Commission to promote a moratorium on deep-sea mining and recalls Norway’s obligation as a Party under several treaties and international conventions (Svalbard Treaty, Agreement on the on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR)). Finally, the Parliament calls on both the Commission and Norway to continue to engage in a dialogue on this issue.
Response to the requests and overview of the action taken, or intended to be taken, by the Commission:
The Commission takes note of the European Parliament’s resolution and is engaging with Norway on the issue.
As regards specific calls in Parliament’s resolution:
Paragraph 3: The Commission notes the European Parliament’s call on it to promote an international moratorium on deep-seabed mining, including at the International Seabed Authority, until the effects of deep-sea mining on the marine environment, biodiversity and human activities at sea have been studied and researched sufficiently and deep-seabed mining can be proven to be manageable in a way that ensures no marine biodiversity loss, degradation of marine ecosystems and no pollution. The Commission’s position on deep-sea mining in international seabed is very clear and stated in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the Council Conclusions on biodiversity - the need for urgent action from October 2020 and the Commission’s international ocean governance agenda adopted in June 2022. The Commission advocates for prohibiting deep-sea mining until scientific gaps are properly filled, that it can be demonstrated that no harmful effects arise from mining and, as required under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas, until the necessary provisions in the exploitation regulations for the effective protection of the marine environment are in place. This strong and longstanding position is science-based and in line with the precautionary principle. The EU, via its Research and Innovation framework programmes, has invested more than EUR 80 million in research projects related to both the impacts of deep-sea mining on the marine environment and to environmentally friendly technologies. Their main findings show that our current understanding of deep-sea ecosystems’ functioning and recoverability is still very limited, and that there is considerable uncertainty about the effects of mining on these processes. Long-term studies are needed to gauge the full range of impacts of mining on ocean biodiversity and ecosystem services and their potential for recovery. The Commission has been consistently promoting this precautionary approach to its partners and will continue to do so.
Paragraph 5: The Commission also notes the call on the Commission and Norway to engage in a continuous dialogue and to exchange scientific research and knowledge on the seabed and the sustainable management of the ocean. The Commission keeps an open line of communication with Norway and will continue discussing and sharing our concerns to ensure the protection of the marine environment and the fragile Arctic ecosystems, as well as the protection of the EU’s fishing rights and interests, including in international organisations where both Norway and the EU are members, such as the OSPAR Convention for the protection of the Northeast Atlantic. Moreover, under the EU-Norway Green Alliance, the two parties agreed, among others, to pursue their joint commitment to clean and healthy oceans in international organisations and processes and to cooperate in implementing the outcomes of the Convention on Biological Diversity on ocean protection, including through 30% coverage by Marine Protected Areas or other effective conservation measures. On the issue of deep-sea mining, scientific knowledge is key and the Commission strongly hopes that the Norwegian Parliament will take into account scientific data, the recommendations of the scientific community, and international agreements, such as the newly agreed international legally binding instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, when deciding whether to move from mining exploration to mining exploitation.