The EU rejects extracting gas and oil in the Arctic despite the energy crisis
Brussels understands that the operations to obtain these raw materials would take a decade to be ready and is confident that it will not need fossil fuels by then.
The European Union has reaffirmed its opposition to drilling for oil and gas in the Arctic region, citing the area's fragile ecosystem. The EU's new strategy for the region, presented by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, aims to keep fossil fuels in the ground and instead focus on extracting critical raw materials, such as rare earths.
According to the Commission, any new fossil fuel projects would take up to a decade to become operational, by which time the EU's climate goals, including a 90% reduction in emissions by 2040 and climate neutrality by 2050, would have reduced the need for fossil fuels. The EU will not acquire hydrocarbons from other countries if they are obtained from the Arctic and will ensure that any extraction of raw materials in the region meets the highest environmental standards.
Written by urgent.news from Expansion ES's report — not a translation of it. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
