Arctic gas and oil should 'stay in the ground', says EU commissioner Síkela

Updated: 21/10/2026 - 8:51 GMT+2 European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela insists the EU will maintain its opposition to drilling for natural resources, including oil and gas, in the Arctic, despite the US and Norway taking a different approach. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Síkela also addressed the European Commission's recent proposal for the EU's next long-term budget, warning that cuts to international funding could have “dystopic” consequences. He stressed that the EU and its member states are the world's largest providers of development assistance, cautioning that reductions in funding could ultimately “cost lives”.