EU-Norway energy talks

EU efforts to secure energy imports will see the spotlight turned on Norway, the world’s third largest oil exporter.

Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs and Norwegian Energy Minister Odd Roger Enoksen will meet next week (15 September) to discuss working together more closely on energy.

The meeting will focus on security of supply, ahead of an EU energy policy review expected next year.

The two will also discuss international energy issues, following stormy talks with Middle Eastern oil producers and increased fears over the stability of Russian supplies.

Only Saudi Arabia and Russia currently export more oil than Norway. But a Commission spokesman denied that improving energy relations with Norway, which accounts for 15% of EU gas supplies, was a way to safeguard European energy in the wake of fears over the volatility of other supply regions.

"This is not about being against anyone. Norway has always been a reliable energy supplier for the EU and we want to make sure that continues," he said.

The meeting next week follows an agreement on 30 August to set up an EU-Norway energy co- operation group. The group will consider energy developments between now and 2020 and will come up with proposals to improve EU-Norway energy co-operation. Brussels would like to see greater involvement of EU companies and technologies in the Norwegian energy market.

Enoksen said the new group will focus on energy from oil and gas. "The EU is our largest market for oil and gas," he said. "Our supplies represent a considerable part of the oil and gas consumption in the EU."

EU efforts to secure energy imports will see the spotlight turned on Norway, the world’s third largest oil exporter.