Norway agrees to closer energy cooperation with EU

Oslo (dpa) - Following a heated debate, the Norwegian parliament voted on Thursday to cooperate more closely with the European Union‘s energy authority.Based in the Slovenian capital Ljubljana, the European Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) oversees the EU‘s energy regulation authorities.Opponents of closer cooperation with ACER fear that Norway is giving away sovereignty over its own energy production and that the move will lead to higher energy costs for Norwegian consumers and the loss of jobs in the energy industry.Ninety-nine per cent of Norway‘s energy comes from hydro-electric production. A cable called NorthConnect exports electricity to Scotland, and another called NordLink does the same for Germany. The cables are expected to boost exports to Europe.The Norwegian government also hopes the cables will help it to reach its climate goals.