Frank Bakke-Jensen, the Norwegian Minister of EEA and EU Affairs, and Ambassador Helen Campbell, Head of Delegation of the European Union to Norway, also participated in the meeting.

Øyvind Halleraker (Conservative Party), Vice Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence co-chaired the annual interparliamentary meeting between the European Parliament and the Storting with his colleague from the European Parliament, Jørn Dohrmann.

“Norway and the EU enjoy close and positive ties. These meetings are very important for both parties, not only to discuss mutual challenges, but also to talk about matters where our interests diverge. The migration crisis and relations with Russia are issues in which we have a close and positive dialogue with the EU,” said Mr Halleraker.

In his speech, Frank Bakke-Jensen underlined the importance for Norway of collaboration with the EU, and stressed what a valuable role parliamentary cooperation has to play in this. “Rather than discrediting the results, we must do our best to protect what we have achieved through so many years of European cooperation,” he said.

The European Parliament is currently working on a report on EU Arctic policy. The draft report advocates placing a blanket ban on petroleum activities in the Arctic. Norway considers this to be an ill-conceived proposal and is urging the European Parliament to remove it from the final report.

“The Arctic and the Norwegian child welfare services are examples of issues that it is important to discuss face to face. These meetings provide us with the opportunity to gain a better understanding of each other’s viewpoints and to present our own views,” said Mr Halleraker. “Such dialogue is vital for making sure that collaboration remains positive in the years ahead,” he continued.

The next annual interparliamentary meeting between the European Parliament and the Storting will take place in Brussels in 2018.

Read the joint press release from the meeting.