Norway’s system for reimbursing petroleum exploration costs does not constitute illegal state aid, a European watchdog said this week, quashing a complaint from environment group Bellona.
The decision was issued midweek by the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA), which monitors compliance of the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement between the European Union and countries, including Norway.
“Having scrutinised it on the basis of a comprehensive complaint, the ESA is satisfied that this tax rule does not entail state aid,” ESA president Bente Angell-Hansen said in a statement, vindicating the view of Norway’s Finance Ministry that had claimed the measure was in line with European law.
