The European Union and Norway

The EU and Norway are close partners, united by shared values and a commitment to upholding democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

Norway is closely linked to the EU through its membership in the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA), which extends the EU single market to three of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries: Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. Much of the cooperation and political dialogue between the EU and Norway takes place in the EEA joint bodies, including the EEA Council, Joint Committee, Parliamentary Committee, and Consultative Committee. Norway is furthermore a member of the Schengen Area, which allows Norwegian citizens to travel within it without a passport, and a signatory of the Dublin Regulation on asylum policy.

The EU and Norway are very much aligned on main foreign policy issues. Norway shares the EU’s support for the multilateral system and often aligns itself with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) declarations and restrictive measures. For instance, Norway has by and large harmonised its national sanctions policy with the European Union's restrictive measures against Russia. In May 2024, Norway and the EU signed a security and defence partnership. 

Norway is a Member of the Arctic Council. It supports the EU in obtaining formal observer status in the Arctic Council. 

The EU is Norway's biggest trading partner. It represents 62.6% of Norway's total trade in goods in 2025. That year, Norway was the EU's 6th most important import partner for trade in goods.

Norway’s economic relations with the EU are mainly governed by the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA Agreement ensures the incorporation of all EU legislation relevant to the internal market. This covers the four freedoms, i.e. the free movement of goods, services, persons and capital, along with horizontal and flanking policies (i.e. transport, competition, social policy, consumer protection, environment, statistics and company law). The EEA Agreement guarantees equal rights and obligations within the Single Market for citizens and economic operators across the EEA. Like all members of the Single Market, Norway contributes financially towards social and economic cohesion in Europe through the EEA and Norway Grants.

Some policies remain outside the EEA Agreement: common agriculture and fisheries policies; the customs union; common trade policy; the EU development aid policy; common foreign and security policy; or the economic and monetary union. Justice and home affairs are also not included in the EEA Agreement, but cooperation is managed through the EEA EFTA States participation in the Schengen Area.

As the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy and the Common Fisheries Policy are not part of the EEA Agreement, free movement of goods within the framework of the Agreement does not apply to all products. Nevertheless, Article 19 of the EEA Agreement provides a legal basis the progressive liberalisation of agricultural trade. The latest agreement under this article dates from 2018. Norway is the EU's largest supplier of fish, with exports of fishery products to the EU valued at approximately 8.3 billion EUR in 2025. 

For more information on EU-Norway trade relations, have a look at the European Commission’s website.

Norway is a long-standing partner of the EU in Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions and operations.

Norway has a Framework Participation Agreement (FPA) and a Permanent Security of Information Agreement with the EU, as well as a cooperation agreement with the European Defence Agency (EDA). Norway also contributes equipment and personnel to the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex. 

EU-Norway CSDP High-Level consultations take place regularly. In 2019, it was agreed to establish the EU-Norway Structured Security and Defence Dialogue to further strengthen security cooperation. On 28 May 2024, the EU and Norway signed a Security and Defence Partnership.

Norway was one of the first third countries to participate in the EU’s Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) in the area of security and defence. Norway takes part in the Military Mobility project, a strategic platform to enable the swift and seamless movement of military personnel and assets throughout and beyond the EU, whether by rail, road, air or sea. This is important to our common security and defence, our preparedness and resilience, as well as to EU CSDP missions and operations.

Norway and the EU work closely together to provide long-term support for Ukraine in response to Russia’s war of aggression. This cooperation includes support for the training of Ukrainian armed forces through the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine), Norwegian contributions to the European Peace Facility, energy support through the Ukraine Investment Framework (UIF), and cooperation on medical evacuations through the EU UCPM. The EU and Norway are committed to strengthening their joint efforts to support Ukraine’s defence capabilities and resilience.

EU-Norway cooperation in the defence industry is deep and closely integrated. Norway participates in a wide range of EU programmes and its defence sector benefits from several EU instruments, including the European Defence Fund (EDF), Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP), European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP), EDIRPA, Security Action for Europe (SAFE) and AGILE. Together, these initiatives are designed to expand manufacturing capacity, scale up joint procurement, and support urgent defence investment. 

Norway also participates in the EU Space Programme 2021–2027, including five key components: Galileo, EGNOS, Copernicus, GOVSATCOM and Space Situational Awareness (SSA). Moreover, Norway has concluded an agreement with the EU to participate in its Secure Connectivity Programme, including IRIS².

Norway and the EU share similar views on sustainable development, as well as the need to promote the green economy, including by ensuring the competitiveness of our industry and a just transition. 

Through the EEA Agreement, relevant EU environment and climate laws apply in Norway. Since 2008, Norway (and Iceland) have participated in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). In 2019, the European Union, Iceland and Norway agreed to deepen their cooperation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.. To support this cooperation, key EU climate measures covering sectors outside the EU ETS — including agriculture, transport, waste management and buildings — were incorporated into the EEA Agreement through the Effort Sharing Regulation for 2021–2030. The Regulation on land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) for 2021–2030, which aims to strengthen carbon removals from land and forests, was also included.

In April 2023, the EU and Norway signed the Green Alliance, the most comprehensive form of engagement established under the European Green Deal. This agreement will strengthen joint climate action, environmental protection efforts, and cooperation on the clean energy and industrial transition. 

Norway participates in a large number of EU programmes of which the largest are research and development programmes and mobility programmes, such as Horizon Europe and Erasmus+. Norway participates on an equal footing with EU countries in these framework programmes. Association of Norway to the EU's research and innovation framework programmes takes place through an amendment to Protocol 31 of the EEA Agreement. Norway has been very successful in competing in EU programmes. Norway also participates in the Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) 2021-2027.  

Through the EEA Agreement, Norway also participates in the EU’s internal market for telecommunications and postal services. Various initiatives under EU digital policy   with EEA relevance, apply in Norway. Norway also takes part in EU agencies in the field of ICT, such as the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity and the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC).

Norway and the EU are involved in several cultural public diplomacy activities, in addition to Norway participating in Creative Europe. Norway also supports European cultural works through the EEA Grants.

In 2024, Bodø was the European Capital of Culture, and in 2026, Tromsø the European Youth Capital. The Delegation also supports the promotion of international cultural relations through the European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC) and its cluster in Norway. This is a network of EU National Institutes for Culture and cultural sections of the EU Member States’ embassies in Norway.