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

–having regard to its resolution of 8 February 2024 on association agreements for the participation of third countries in Union programmes,

–having regard to its recommendation of 26 November 2025 to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the EU’s diplomatic strategy and geopolitical cooperation in the Arctic,

–having regard to the joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 13 October 2021 entitled ‘A stronger EU engagement for a peaceful, sustainable and prosperous Arctic’ (JOIN(2021)0027),

–having regard to Rule 121 of its Rules of Procedure,

–having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (A10-0000/2026),

A.whereas the EU and Norway are long-standing and close, like-minded partners, united by shared values and a common commitment to democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and the rules-based multilateral order; whereas they enjoy close economic ties and share a common interest in sustainable economic prosperity;

B.whereas the EEA Agreement and the Schengen Association Agreement provide the foundation for a close partnership between the EU and Norway, enabling extensive cooperation across a wide range of policy areas despite Norway not being an EU member;

C.whereas Europe is facing an increasingly volatile geopolitical environment, marked by multiple conflicts and crises, including Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, growing hybrid threats, rising tensions in the Arctic and High North, and growing challenges to the rules-based multilateral order;

D.whereas these challenges require the EU and Norway to further deepen their cooperation, jointly strengthen Europe’s security and resilience, and work together to uphold the rules-based multilateral order, as well as the rule of law, peace and stability in Europe and beyond;

1.Recommends that the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy:

(a)further strengthen the EU-Norway strategic partnership across all areas of common interest in response to the evolving geopolitical landscape and the growing need for closer European cooperation;

(b)make full use of the potential of the EEA Agreement and other current cooperation frameworks, while exploring new avenues to expand cooperation in areas of mutual strategic interest;

(c)intensify political dialogue, institutional exchanges and joint initiatives, including through regular high-level meetings, to enhance coordination and jointly address common geopolitical, security and economic challenges;

EU-Norway cooperation in foreign security and energy policy

(d)fully implement the EU-Norway Security and Defence Partnership and strengthen strategic dialogue between the EU and Norway on foreign and security policy by moving towards earlier and more structured consultations on matters of common interest, in particular on Arctic and maritime security, without prejudice to the EU’s decision-making autonomy;

(e)further deepen cooperation in support of Ukraine by maintaining unwavering political, military, financial and humanitarian support for as long as necessary, strengthening coordination on restrictive measures against Russia and their effective implementation, and working together to uphold accountability for Russia’s crime of aggression and other serious violations of international law;

(f)reinforce cooperation in the Arctic and North Atlantic in response to Russia’s growing military presence, threats against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Denmark and Greenland and the self-determination of the Greenlandic people, and China’s increasing interest in the region; strengthen coordination on maritime security, freedom of navigation, situational awareness and resilience, including in strategic areas such as the Greenland–Iceland–United Kingdom (GIUK) gap;

(g)strengthen cooperation to counter hybrid threats and protect critical infrastructure, including offshore energy installations, pipelines and submarine cables, by enhancing information-sharing, cybersecurity, resilience against foreign information manipulation and interference, and coordinated responses to malicious activities affecting the North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Barents Sea and Baltic Sea regions;

(h)ensure Norway’s full inclusion in EU resilience frameworks for critical underwater infrastructure, treating Norwegian maritime surveillance, subsea monitoring and infrastructure protection capabilities as integral to Europe’s collective security architecture;

(i)make full use of the opportunities offered by the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument and other relevant EU defence initiatives to deepen EU-Norway cooperation on defence capabilities and the European defence industrial base, including through joint procurement, defence innovation, military mobility and integrated defence supply chains, to strengthen Europe’s defence readiness, industrial resilience and interoperability;

(j)ensure consistent and equitable treatment of EEA/European Free Trade Association states across all windows of EU defence programmes under the next multiannual financial framework, including those covering the defence industry, dual-use technologies and space, to match the industrial and security commitments of partners such as Norway with a possibility of genuine participation in European defence cooperation;

(k)strengthen strategic cooperation with Norway on energy security, including through deeper dialogue on long-term supply planning, joint investment in energy infrastructure, and coordinated development of pipeline and liquified natural gas transport capacity; explore a comprehensive EU-Norway energy security partnership formalising mutual commitments on energy supply, infrastructure investment, climate cooperation and critical infrastructure protection as a key tool to achieve European strategic autonomy;

(l)take note that Norwegian oil and gas supplies have been essential to Europe’s ability to phase out Russian energy imports and have gained further strategic significance in the light of the ongoing disruption of global energy flows;

(m)develop joint initiatives in areas such as carbon capture and storage, offshore wind power, hydrogen production and the electrification of offshore operations, building on current synergies between Norwegian and European partners;

(n)facilitate regulatory cooperation on methane emission requirements affecting energy trade and security of supply, including through implementation arrangements that support methane emission reductions while ensuring secure, predictable and uninterrupted supplies of natural gas and crude oil from Norway to the EU;

Arctic and ocean governance

(o)deepen cooperation to address the impact of climate change on the Arctic through research, environmental monitoring and the protection of biodiversity, while promoting sustainable development and ensuring that the rights, interests and knowledge of Indigenous peoples and local communities are duly reflected in policymaking;

Education, research, innovation and people-to-people ties

(p)further strengthen cooperation in education, research and innovation by making full use of Norway’s participation in EU programmes such as Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ and by encouraging further exchanges between researchers, students and educational institutions; recognise the important contribution of the EEA and Norway Grants to strengthening cooperation, reducing disparities and fostering partnerships across Europe;

(q)further develop EU-Norway cultural cooperation by supporting the mobility, visibility and professional opportunities of emerging artists and cultural professionals;

Concluding remarks

(r)continue building a genuine partnership of equals between the EU and Norway, based on trust, shared values and common interests, while further strengthening cooperation across all levels of governance;

(s)further strengthen efforts to promote democracy, the rules-based multilateral order and the rule of law, and jointly address global challenges through effective cooperation;

(t)strengthen cooperation and the exchange of good practices on equality and inclusion, including on LGBTIQ equality, the inclusion of Roma and other minorities, and equality and participation of Indigenous peoples, building on the EU’s Union of Equality and Norway’s experience in advancing Sámi people’s rights;

(u)further enhance cooperation on migration, border management and combating organised crime and terrorism, building on Norway’s participation in the Schengen area and current and new mechanisms for coordination and information exchange;

(v)strengthen engagement beyond the central level by encouraging participation of local and regional authorities and civil society in EU-Norway cooperation, to foster mutual understanding and support a broad-based partnership;

(w)calls for the resumption of the Northern Dimension Parliamentary Forum as a platform for parliamentary dialogue between the European Parliament and like-minded Northern Dimension partners, reflecting the new European security environment and without the participation of Russia;

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2.Instructs its President to forward this recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and, for information, to the Government and Parliament of Norway.