EU and Norway to Strengthen Cooperation for Green Transition – New Report Offers 10 Recommendations
COMPLEX: Several mining projects in Norway highlight the complexities surrounding the extraction of critical minerals. These projects face opposition from local communities and indigenous groups, in addition to regulatory and environmental obstacles. ´Balancing economic growth with environmental protection is essential,' says Research Professor Kacper Szulecki. The image is from a public meeting in Kvalsund after Nussir was granted authorization to extract coppes.
Their collaboration will focus on the mineral and battery sectors. But what opportunities – and challenges – might this partnership present?
Research Professor Kacper Szulecki (NUPI), along with three former graduate students, explores these questions in a new report titled “EU-Norway Green Alliance between Vision and Reality: Exploring the Potential and Barriers in the Critical Minerals and Battery Sectors”.
Batteries: A Core Element of the EU's Climate Goals
The demand for batteries is expected to rise dramatically as more sectors transition to electrification.
The European Commission aims to lead global climate efforts. However, the EU remains heavily reliant on imports of critical raw materials such as cobalt, lithium, and nickel—resources currently produced primarily in Asian countries, with China leading the market.
To mitigate risks linked to foreign dependency, the EU is accelerating efforts to secure access to battery-related resources within Europe.
‘For Norway, which possesses some of these critical resources, this presents an opportunity to develop both a strategically important and profitable mining industry while also strengthening its presence in key areas of the battery value chain,’ says Kacper Szulecki.
Norway as a Strategic Partner
‘As a supplier of clean energy and critical minerals, Norway is a preferred partner for the EU,’ Szulecki emphasizes.
Norway produces critical minerals such as nickel, cobalt, and graphite, which are essential for green technologies like electric vehicle batteries.
The country's mineral reserves and expanding battery industry could play a significant role in securing strategic raw materials for the EU.
However, the report points to the need for improvements in both national and international regulations to fully realize this potential.
The EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) and Norway’s Green Industrial Initiative are examples of measures already in place. Nonetheless, the report highlights that Norway must align its regulations with EU standards to enable more effective collaboration.
Norway is not an EU member and is not always aligned with EU regulatory frameworks. This can create challenges in accessing the European market.
‘The post-Brexit negotiations between the EU and the UK also impacted the Norwegian battery industry as Norway was initially treated as a “third party”. It is crucial for Norway to be fully integrated into the EU market and maintain full access,’ Szulecki explains.
Challenges and Local Conflicts
Three major mining projects in Norway—Nussir (copper), Nordic Mining (rutile and garnet), and Skaland Graphite (crystalline graphite)—highlight the complexities surrounding the extraction of critical minerals.
These projects face opposition from local communities and indigenous groups, in addition to regulatory and environmental obstacles.
´Balancing economic growth with environmental protection is essential,' says Szulecki, stressing the need for conflict resolution and the inclusion of all stakeholders in the policymaking process for such projects.
The report concludes that closer cooperation between the EU and Norway is essential for achieving a successful green transition. With the right policy measures, both parties can reap economic and environmental benefits while reducing their vulnerabilities in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.
Publications
Policy Recommendations for the Road Ahead
To ensure the success of the EU-Norway partnership, the report proposes several policy measures:
- Regulatory Improvements: Simplifying licensing processes and aligning regulations.
- Social Inclusion: Engaging local communities and indigenous groups in decision-making.
- Public Awareness: Launching campaigns to educate the public about the role of minerals in the green transition.
- Environmental Standards: Enforcing strict requirements for waste management and ecosystem protection.
- Workforce Development: Investing in education and training to ensure a skilled labor force.
- Financial Support: Providing tax incentives and funding mechanisms for sustainable projects.
- Enhanced Collaboration: Integrating Norway into relevant EU policies and fostering international cooperation on standards.
- Circular Economy: Emphasizing recycling and sustainable product design.
- Innovation: Promoting public-private partnerships to drive technological advancements.
- Monitoring: Establishing performance targets and conducting regular evaluations of initiatives.
Note: The research for this report and writing of the first draft was conducted while A.S.L., B.L. and P.L.G. were graduate students at the University of Oslo. All further research, writing and editing, as well as the final formulation of policy recommendations was conducted by K.S.