[EXPRESS.CO.UK] Ever since Norway brokered its European Economic Area deal with the EU 22 years ago, the oil industry has been an area of conflict. Now the EU has again attempted to pressure the Scandinavian country into giving bureaucrats direct influence over the oil and gas industry.
However, Norway's Ministry of Petroleum and Energy (MPE) has said Brussels has no business meddling in individual nations affairs.
MPE officials said: “The government does not consider the Offshore Directive of EEA relevant.
“This has been conveyed to the EU on several occasions. Norway's position on this issue remains unchanged.”
Brussels bureaucrats want Norway to introduce EU rules on health, safety and environmental matters relating to the offshore industry, however the oil-rich nation is refusing to bow to the pressure.
Government officials added that Norway has unique expertise in the area, a brilliant safety record and EU meddling is unwanted.
The EU and Norway have been in a tug of war for decades, but the disagreement deepened three years ago when Brussels introduced its own directive called Safety of Offshore Oil and Gas Operations Directive.