Oil and gas companies including Norway's Equinor and industry groups backed by Shell, TotalEnergies, and ConocoPhillips have launched a coordinated lobbying effort to persuade the EU to drop its de facto ban on Arctic drilling. More than 10 companies and industry associations seized on energy security arguments in response to an EU consultation on Arctic policy, warning that European energy security depends on continued access to Arctic hydrocarbons.

The lobbying push comes as the EU reviews its Arctic strategy, which was established before Russia's invasion of Ukraine disrupted energy markets. Industry groups like Norway's KonKraft argue there is "no European energy security without Arctic energy," while critics say this represents an "alarming push" for fossil fuel development that threatens climate progress. The Arctic region is believed to hold significant undiscovered oil and gas reserves, though exploration would carry substantial environmental risks including ecosystem damage and climate impact.

Vår Energi, one of Norway's largest gas exporters, called for a more precise definition of the Arctic, arguing that the Barents Sea area is ice-free year-round. The company noted that a third of gas consumed in the EU comes from Norway, with about a third of that produced in Arctic and sub-Arctic waters. Meanwhile, the US has launched Arctic drilling auctions in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve, drawing $163 million in bids under the Trump administration. This global push for Arctic resources highlights the tension between energy security concerns and climate commitments as Europe navigates its post-Ukraine energy transition.