Norway, currently the largest gas supplier to European markets, has intensified lobbying efforts to lift the ban. The country maintains that the current geographic restrictions on exploration in the Barents Sea are arbitrary and hinder essential resource development. Following a meeting in Brussels with Norwegian Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg, Birol emphasized that the global market requires every available barrel of Norwegian oil to maintain stability.

Stoltenberg defended the push for expanded exploration, acknowledging environmental obligations while asserting that a blanket prohibition on Arctic activity is illogical for Norway’s economic and strategic interests. The proposal faces significant opposition from European investors, who continue to pressure the European Commission to uphold the existing climate-focused moratorium. This friction highlights a deepening divide between the immediate demands of energy security and the EU's broader environmental commitments.