LO and the Progress Party clash over support for the green transition

The EU is in a particularly vulnerable position on the global market, as there are insufficient mineral reserves on the European continent for the EU ever to become self-sufficient. This represents a highly critical situation for Europe’s defence capability, as minerals are absolutely essential for the production of defence equipment. The EU is not able to defend itself in the long term without assistance from outside.

Back to the smelter in Kyrksæterøra and whether it should receive support for the green transition. The EU has defined 34 minerals as critical. Silicon, which is produced at this smelter, is on that list and should therefore receive support in exchange for a Norwegian ownership stake (there is German ownership).

Samfunn og Politikk has asked the Progress Party how it positions itself on the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) without receiving a clear answer, but on a general basis the Progress Party supports the mineral industry as a new sector and Norwegian ownership in Norwegian industry. The Labour Party wants to implement CRMA into Norwegian law through the EEA Agreement in the next parliamentary term. In contrast to the Progress Party, it may appear that EU-friendly parties have made rapid decisions on CRMA without familiarising themselves with what the regulation actually entails. A regulation is the EU’s strictest form of legislation; the power cables and ACER were merely a directive, and CRMA will lead to the EU taking control over Norwegian mineral resources. This would be more intrusive than if Norway had given the EU control over oil in the previous century. More information on CRMA and the parties’ positions can be found here.