Press remarks by President António Costa at the press conference following the meeting with Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre 13:46 Press remarks by President António[...]

Good afternoon and thank you for your presence today.

First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister of Norway, my dear friend Jonas Støre, to welcome me with this wonderful weather today, cold but sunny.

Norway is not only one of our most like-minded partners but an integral member of the European family and one of our closest friends. Especially in challenging times, friends must stand together.

Norway and the European Union have proven ourselves, again and again, as a steadfast allies. And we are now striving for even more ambitious cooperation. For over three decades, the European Economic Area Agreement has served as the bedrock of cooperation between the European Union and Norway.

It has enabled to build a relationship that goes beyond economics, now covering key areas such as foreign policy, security, and defence.This Agreement gives us a shared lens to navigate global challenges and respond jointly to the changing geopolitical landscape.The most significant challenge we face today is the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Since the beginning, Norway has played an indispensable role as a key partner in European security and international stability. Its support to Ukraine has been invaluable:

• Militarily;
• Financially;
• And in solidarity.

Later today, I will visit the Oslo University Hospital, where hundreds of Ukrainian patients have been evacuated to receive treatment, an illustration of our joint preparedness and resilience efforts. I will also pay a visit to the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, a partner with which the European Union has the honour of collaborating.

As Europe accelerates its work to become more autonomous and resilient, tackling our dependencies is crucial. Here, Norway is our most reliable partner contributing to Europe's energy security, playing a vital role in our diversification strategy and helping to reduce reliance on Russian oil and gas. Europe's security landscape is also increasingly influenced by developments in the Arctic.

As military build-ups and hybrid threats increase, Europe must take a united stand on the Arctic region. The European Union is stepping up its presence in the region. In consultation with European Union member states in the region, we're taking a more proactive stance. And we are working together with our closest allies: especially with Norway. Your know-how is highly valuable for us.

Today Prime Minister Støre, and I discussed Norway's continued support of the European Union's security and defence objectives. Norway was one of the first countries signing a Security and Defence Partnership, as Prime Minister said and we are committed to further consolidating our cooperation and implementing that framework.

Norway's participation in European programs, on equal footing with the European Union member states, is bringing our defence industries even closer together.

In light of the current geoeconomic challenges, we also discussed how to enhance the competitiveness of our Single Market and boost our economic growth and security. We all benefit from the Single Market. Even more so if we can complete it, to truly become One Market, and reinforce it against external pressures as we plan to do.

Being part of the European Economic Area goes well beyond market access: It's about sharing the same core values, the same principles, and the same commitment to defend the rules-based international order and to promote cooperation at international level.

In a world where multilateralism is under threat, this bond is more important than ever. The depth of our discussions today clearly reflects the enduring partnership - and friendship - between Norway and the European Union.

Looking ahead, I am glad to reaffirm our steadfast commitment to further deepening our relationship. Together, we will continue to strengthen our ties for the benefit of our peoples and global stability.

Thank you