In January 2025, the Norwegian political scene experienced a significant upheaval. The government coalition, consisting of the Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) led by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and the Eurosceptic Centre Party (Senterpartiet), fell apart due to deep differences in their approach to energy policy and relations with the European Union [1]. The coalition partners’ decision not only changed the balance of power in the Norwegian parliament but also sparked a broad debate on the country’s energy future and its sovereignty over European regulations.
Norway is not formally a member of the European Union, but has been cooperating with it for years within the European Economic Area (EEA). This cooperation obliges the country to implement numerous EU regulations, including those concerning the energy sector.[3] In recent years, the EU has intensified its efforts to promote energy transformation, introducing directives aimed at promoting renewable energy sources and increasing energy efficiency.[3] The Labour Party, as the main coalition partner, supported the adoption of three of the four key EU energy directives. These included promoting renewable energy, introducing energy efficiency standards in buildings, and regulations aimed at increasing energy efficiency in various economic sectors.[3] Prime Minister Støre argued that implementing these directives was essential to maintaining good economic relations with the EU and ensuring Norway’s leadership in sustainable energy. Meanwhile, the Centre Party, led by Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum, expressed deep concerns about the adoption of these regulations. The party leader emphasized that implementing EU directives could lead to a loss of Norway’s energy sovereignty and increase energy prices for Norwegian citizens. Vedum argued that transferring energy policy competences to Brussels is unacceptable and poses a threat to the country’s independence[4].
Escalating Tensions and the Decision to Leave the Coalition
Tensions between the coalition partners had been mounting for months, but the key moment came with the Labour Party’s proposal to implement the aforementioned directives. The Centre Party vehemently opposed these plans, leading to a government stalemate. The lack of agreement led the Centre Party to announce its decision to leave the government coalition on January 30, 2025. With this decision, seven ministers from the Senterpartiet (including the heads of the Ministries of Defence, Justice, Agriculture, Family, and Education) resigned.[4] Prime Minister Støre announced the appointment of new ministers within a week and the continuation of government as a minority government until the parliamentary elections scheduled for September 8, 2025.
Social and Political Reactions
The coalition’s collapse has sparked mixed reactions in Norwegian society. According to recent polls, support for the Labour Party has fallen to 16.7 percent, nearly 10 percentage points lower than in the 2021 elections.[2] The Centre Party also saw its support decline, reaching 6.1 percent, almost half of its previous election result. The biggest beneficiary of the current situation appears to be the Eurosceptic Progress Party, which polled 24.5 percent, ahead of the Høyre Conservatives.[2]
ome experts point out that Norway’s withdrawal from some of its EU commitments could trigger a reaction from Brussels and impact relations with its neighbors, especially Denmark and Germany, which had been counting on the stability of Norwegian energy supplies. Prime Minister Støre announced that Norway will not abandon its cooperation with the European Union, but that developing a new energy strategy that takes into account national interests will be a priority.[2]
Consequences for Energy Policy and Relations with the EU
The Centre Party’s decision to leave the coalition has far-reaching consequences for Norway’s energy policy and the country’s relations with the European Union. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, seeking to avoid further tensions and ensure the stability of the minority government, announced that his cabinet would not make any new controversial decisions regarding energy policy before the parliamentary elections scheduled for September 8, 2025. This means that the implementation of contentious EU regulations will be suspended, and key issues related to the adaptation of the Norwegian energy sector to European standards will remain unresolved. On the one hand, maintaining the status quo will avoid further escalation of political tensions and ensure economic stability in the short term. On the other hand, the decision means that Norway will not resolve key issues related to the energy market in the near future, such as the export of surplus electricity to EU countries or the future of transmission agreements with Denmark and Germany.
The lack of a clear stance on EU energy regulations could impact Norway’s relations with Brussels. Some EU member states, particularly Germany and the Netherlands, had hoped for greater Norwegian involvement in stabilizing the European energy market (given the high prices and limited supplies). Meanwhile, the government in Oslo faces a dilemma: whether to strengthen cooperation with the EU, risking further escalation of tensions within the country, or to focus on its own interests and maintain full control over Norwegian energy resources.
The energy issue will therefore become one of the main topics… in the upcoming election campaign for the Norwegian parliamentary elections in 2025. [4] Opposition parties, especially the conservative Høyre and the populist Progress Party, are already exploiting the political chaos to strengthen their message and criticize the government. Possible post-election scenarios include a return to a coalition government with the Labour Party, this time with different partners, or a right-wing government that could adopt a more Eurosceptic approach to energy policy. For now, however, the situation will remain unchanged – the Labour Party’s minority government will strive to maintain stability until the September elections, avoiding any radical decisions that could further polarize the political debate.
The collapse of Norway’s ruling coalition between the Labour Party and the Centre Party is unlikely to affect Norway’s support for Ukraine. Both parties support continued aid to Kyiv, and the newly formed minority government will need to seek support from other political parties, including right-wing parties that traditionally have a more assertive stance on military support. Consequently, there is cautious optimism that military aid to Ukraine may even increase. [5]
Author: Mateusz Gibała
Endnotes:
[1] https://pl.euronews.com/europa/2025/01/30/norweski-minister-finansow-obwinia-polityke-energetyczna-ue-o-upadek-rzadu
[2] https://www.aftenposten.no/norge/politikk/i/kw1x6k/naa-skal-regjeringen-diskutere-saken-som-kan-sende-dem-ut-i-krise
[3] https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/news/government-collapse-in-norway-as-antieu-party-leaves-stores-cabinet/423918
[4] https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/01/30/norwegian-finance-minister-blames-eu-energy-policy-for-government-collapse
[5] https://www.fvn.no/mening/debattinnlegg/i/alpraA/forberedt-paa-krise-og-krig-er-vi
[6] https://www.eurointegration.com.ua/eng/news/2025/02/5/7204254/
NO
Autor foto: Public Domain
Norwegian energy policy a catalyst for the crisis
February 14, 2025
Author: Mateusz Gibała
NO
Autor foto: Public Domain
Norwegian energy policy a catalyst for the crisis
Author: Mateusz Gibała
Published: February 14, 2025
In January 2025, the Norwegian political scene experienced a significant upheaval. The government coalition, consisting of the Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) led by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and the Eurosceptic Centre Party (Senterpartiet), fell apart due to deep differences in their approach to energy policy and relations with the European Union [1]. The coalition partners’ decision not only changed the balance of power in the Norwegian parliament but also sparked a broad debate on the country’s energy future and its sovereignty over European regulations.
Norway is not formally a member of the European Union, but has been cooperating with it for years within the European Economic Area (EEA). This cooperation obliges the country to implement numerous EU regulations, including those concerning the energy sector.[3] In recent years, the EU has intensified its efforts to promote energy transformation, introducing directives aimed at promoting renewable energy sources and increasing energy efficiency.[3] The Labour Party, as the main coalition partner, supported the adoption of three of the four key EU energy directives. These included promoting renewable energy, introducing energy efficiency standards in buildings, and regulations aimed at increasing energy efficiency in various economic sectors.[3] Prime Minister Støre argued that implementing these directives was essential to maintaining good economic relations with the EU and ensuring Norway’s leadership in sustainable energy. Meanwhile, the Centre Party, led by Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum, expressed deep concerns about the adoption of these regulations. The party leader emphasized that implementing EU directives could lead to a loss of Norway’s energy sovereignty and increase energy prices for Norwegian citizens. Vedum argued that transferring energy policy competences to Brussels is unacceptable and poses a threat to the country’s independence[4].
Escalating Tensions and the Decision to Leave the Coalition
Tensions between the coalition partners had been mounting for months, but the key moment came with the Labour Party’s proposal to implement the aforementioned directives. The Centre Party vehemently opposed these plans, leading to a government stalemate. The lack of agreement led the Centre Party to announce its decision to leave the government coalition on January 30, 2025. With this decision, seven ministers from the Senterpartiet (including the heads of the Ministries of Defence, Justice, Agriculture, Family, and Education) resigned.[4] Prime Minister Støre announced the appointment of new ministers within a week and the continuation of government as a minority government until the parliamentary elections scheduled for September 8, 2025.
Social and Political Reactions
The coalition’s collapse has sparked mixed reactions in Norwegian society. According to recent polls, support for the Labour Party has fallen to 16.7 percent, nearly 10 percentage points lower than in the 2021 elections.[2] The Centre Party also saw its support decline, reaching 6.1 percent, almost half of its previous election result. The biggest beneficiary of the current situation appears to be the Eurosceptic Progress Party, which polled 24.5 percent, ahead of the Høyre Conservatives.[2]
ome experts point out that Norway’s withdrawal from some of its EU commitments could trigger a reaction from Brussels and impact relations with its neighbors, especially Denmark and Germany, which had been counting on the stability of Norwegian energy supplies. Prime Minister Støre announced that Norway will not abandon its cooperation with the European Union, but that developing a new energy strategy that takes into account national interests will be a priority.[2]
Consequences for Energy Policy and Relations with the EU
The Centre Party’s decision to leave the coalition has far-reaching consequences for Norway’s energy policy and the country’s relations with the European Union. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, seeking to avoid further tensions and ensure the stability of the minority government, announced that his cabinet would not make any new controversial decisions regarding energy policy before the parliamentary elections scheduled for September 8, 2025. This means that the implementation of contentious EU regulations will be suspended, and key issues related to the adaptation of the Norwegian energy sector to European standards will remain unresolved. On the one hand, maintaining the status quo will avoid further escalation of political tensions and ensure economic stability in the short term. On the other hand, the decision means that Norway will not resolve key issues related to the energy market in the near future, such as the export of surplus electricity to EU countries or the future of transmission agreements with Denmark and Germany.
The lack of a clear stance on EU energy regulations could impact Norway’s relations with Brussels. Some EU member states, particularly Germany and the Netherlands, had hoped for greater Norwegian involvement in stabilizing the European energy market (given the high prices and limited supplies). Meanwhile, the government in Oslo faces a dilemma: whether to strengthen cooperation with the EU, risking further escalation of tensions within the country, or to focus on its own interests and maintain full control over Norwegian energy resources.
The energy issue will therefore become one of the main topics… in the upcoming election campaign for the Norwegian parliamentary elections in 2025. [4] Opposition parties, especially the conservative Høyre and the populist Progress Party, are already exploiting the political chaos to strengthen their message and criticize the government. Possible post-election scenarios include a return to a coalition government with the Labour Party, this time with different partners, or a right-wing government that could adopt a more Eurosceptic approach to energy policy. For now, however, the situation will remain unchanged – the Labour Party’s minority government will strive to maintain stability until the September elections, avoiding any radical decisions that could further polarize the political debate.
The collapse of Norway’s ruling coalition between the Labour Party and the Centre Party is unlikely to affect Norway’s support for Ukraine. Both parties support continued aid to Kyiv, and the newly formed minority government will need to seek support from other political parties, including right-wing parties that traditionally have a more assertive stance on military support. Consequently, there is cautious optimism that military aid to Ukraine may even increase. [5]
Author: Mateusz Gibała
Endnotes:
[1] https://pl.euronews.com/europa/2025/01/30/norweski-minister-finansow-obwinia-polityke-energetyczna-ue-o-upadek-rzadu
[2] https://www.aftenposten.no/norge/politikk/i/kw1x6k/naa-skal-regjeringen-diskutere-saken-som-kan-sende-dem-ut-i-krise
[3] https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/news/government-collapse-in-norway-as-antieu-party-leaves-stores-cabinet/423918
[4] https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/01/30/norwegian-finance-minister-blames-eu-energy-policy-for-government-collapse
[5] https://www.fvn.no/mening/debattinnlegg/i/alpraA/forberedt-paa-krise-og-krig-er-vi
[6] https://www.eurointegration.com.ua/eng/news/2025/02/5/7204254/
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