Two German Social Democrat MEPs have asked the European Commission what diplomatic and policy instruments it is using or plans to use to pressure Norway into ending whaling, following Oslo's announcement of a 2026 commercial quota of 1,641 minke whales — up 235 from the previous year. The written question, submitted on 28 April 2026, targets the EU's bilateral relations with Norway and its role in international bodies, and could affect EU-Norway trade and fisheries ties as well as the integrity of the EU's internal market if transit bans are considered.
The question, filed under Rule 144 by Delara Burkhardt and Birgit Sippel (both S&D), challenges Norway's framing of whaling as 'sustainable ocean management', arguing it contradicts scientific evidence on whales' ecological role and growing public opposition in Europe. The MEPs ask three concrete things: first, what diplomatic and policy tools the Commission is already using or plans to use — particularly through the International Whaling Commission, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, and with like-minded partners — to increase pressure on Norway. Second, they ask to what extent whaling is taken into account in EU-Norway relations under the European Economic Area and existing trade and fisheries agreements. Third, they ask whether the Commission is considering EU-level action to prohibit the transit of whale meat through European ports, as the European Parliament called for in 2017, or other measures.
Policy direction and ambition
The question signals a desire for the EU to move from general diplomatic demarches to concrete trade or regulatory levers. By linking whaling to the EEA and fisheries agreements, the MEPs imply that Norway's whaling practices could be incompatible with the spirit of those partnerships. The specific mention of a transit ban — already endorsed by Parliament eight years ago — suggests the MEPs want the Commission to revisit that proposal and possibly extend it.
Expected follow-up
The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. Its answer will reveal whether it views whaling as a bilateral issue best handled through the IWC or as a matter that could affect EU-Norway economic relations. A willingness to consider a transit ban would signal a tougher stance; a focus on diplomatic channels only would indicate continuity with past practice.