The European Commission has confirmed to media outlets that it will maintain its ban on new oil and gas drilling in the Arctic. The Commission plans to make its announcement on 20 October when it will present its updated Northern Neighbourhood Strategy.

The EU’s support for the ban, fiercely opposed by some countries and companies, comes after a summer that has shown the dangers of climate breakdown for humankind’s survival and rights.

The decision is the result of an unprecedented civil society mobilisation that saw over 1,600 submissions, including by FIDH, to the EU’s consultation process.

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A moratorium on all new fossil fuel projects and the phaseout of existing ones are essential to the respect of human rights obligations. A moratorium is also a crucial, science-based piece of the puzzle to save the 1.5-degree temperature target, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) said.

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For months, Norway - not an EU member, but a close ally - has been lobbying the bloc to drop its opposition to drilling in the Arctic. The Iran war and the biggest oil and gas supply disruption in history have added to Norway’s arguments that Europe needs reliable supply from places outside of conflict zones.

However, the EU is not willing to change its position on Arctic drilling.

“Moving forward, our approach on the moratorium will remain unchanged: our policies have objectives to address climate change and environmental degradation and support sustainable economic development,” the spokesperson for the Commission told Euronews.

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