00:01A ban on new oil and gas drilling in the Arctic will remain the European Commission's official
00:07position in a revised strategy Brussels is due to unveil, a Commission spokesperson told your news,
00:13despite fierce pressure from oil rich Norway to drop the ban. The revised version of the EU's 2021
00:19Arctic strategy will be announced next month as the region gains increasing strategic importance
00:26for the bloc's defence and climate ambitions. For the Commission, new Arctic fossil fuel development
00:31is incompatible with its climate goals. Maintaining the moratorium underscores Brussels' determination
00:38to uphold that position despite calls from the International Energy Agency to reconsider it
00:44and despite pressure from Norway, a key energy supplier and ally as the bloc faces an energy crunch.
00:50The ban is nevertheless expected to remain non-binding, potentially avoiding a direct
00:56clash with Norway as the EU faces concerns over energy supplies. Oslo has described gas exploration
01:03in the Arctic as insurance for the EU as the bloc grapples with rising energy prices.
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