Norway: Arctic seabed mining decision

The European Parliament is concerned about Norway's decision to open Arctic areas for potential seabed mining exploration. This resolution urges Norway to apply the precautionary principle and calls for an international moratorium on such activities until their environmental impacts are better understood.

This decision affects Norway, the EU, and its Member States, particularly those with fishing interests in the Arctic. It also impacts financial institutions and companies that have expressed concerns or called for a pause on seabed mining.

The Parliament reiterates calls for an international moratorium on deep-sea mining, emphasizing the need for sufficient research on its effects on marine ecosystems and biodiversity. It stresses Norway's international obligations to protect the marine environment and calls for continued dialogue and knowledge exchange with the EU.

The resolution highlights that Norway's decision allows for exploration but requires further parliamentary approval for extraction plans. It also notes that international fishing interests were not considered in the initial impact assessment.