The key facts
- The EU will continue to oppose oil and gas extraction in the Arctic, despite the position of the US and Norway — Jozef Sikelia
- Sikelia warned of 'dystopian' consequences of cuts to international funding in the new EU budget
- According to him, the EU and its member states are the world's largest development aid donors
The EU's position on the Arctic
European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Sikelia stated that the EU will maintain its position against drilling for the extraction of natural resources, including oil and gas, in the Arctic. According to him, Arctic oil and gas must 'stay in the ground'. He noted that the US and Norway take a different approach to this issue.
Warning about funding cuts
Sikelia also commented on the European Commission's recent proposal for the next EU long-term budget. He warned that cuts to international funding could have 'dystopian' consequences. The Commissioner emphasised that the EU and its member states are the world's largest providers of development aid, and cautioned that reduced funding could ultimately 'cost lives'.
